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Insider ExWHUEmployee has claimed that West Ham United could potentially hire Michael Edwards as a new football director to help with transfers.

Are West Ham looking for a new Sporting Director?

After spending well over £150m on transfers in the summer, it seems as though co-owner David Sullivan is not happy at all with how things have turned out after that notable involvement.

After all, the club have struggled down at the bottom of the Premier League for most of the campaign and it has recently been reported that he will look to take some responsibility away from David Moyes and Head of Recruitment Rob Newman.

With that being the case, Ex how now stated that the club are on the hunt for a new executive to come in for the Irons and it could be former Liverpool sporting director Edwards.

Indeed, in an update shared on The West Ham Way Patreon, the insider explained: "As we discussed on last week's podcast the club is looking at potential football directors to replace Rob Newman.

"David Sullivan has not been happy with the money spent this season. Who takes the ultimate responsibility for this is open to debate but it seems that the club feel that something has to change.

"There are many potential candidates in the mix. None of which have been confirmed because they don’t know whether they are working for a club in Europe next season. Of course, this could be as clear as Thursday but hopefully not.

He went on to say: "Paul Mitchell is an interesting name to emerge as he is close mates with Mark Noble with the pair watching games together last year in Monaco where Mitchell is employed.

"Michael Edwards is another who made a good impression at Liverpool and is available to work now who could be of interest but there are many potential targets. Who the manager may be will also have a bearing on who is appointed so there are a number of key events that need to happen before we know which target we go for."

What did Michael Edwards do at Liverpool?

As Ex mentions, there are other names on the list too right now, with former Monaco sporting director (and current board member for the French club) Mitchell directly named.

Though it's likely that West Ham fans will be most excited by Edwards after what he has achieved in the Premier League with the Reds.

Indeed, under the 43-year-old transfer guru's guidance, the Liverpool recruitment team pulled off great value-for-money signings such as signings of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino – while also selling Philippe Coutinho join Barcelona for £142 million – allowing the club to go on and win the league and the Champions League and other numerous trophies (via ESPN).

With that in mind, it certainly would be a major coup if the Irons were able to bring the Edwards to east London.

قرر السيد الغديري، لاعب وسط فريق 2003 بنادي الزمالك، الرحيل عن القلعة البيضاء، بعد عدم تصعيده للفريق الأول لكرة القدم.

وعلم “بطولات” من مصدر خاص، أن الغديري كان يأمل في تصعيده للفريق الأول طوال الفترة الماضية، لكن هذا لم يحدث، إلى جانب عدم حصوله على مستحقاته المالية منذ انضمامه للفريق من الدوري الإمارتي.

طالع أيضًا | الزمالك يعرض صفقة تبادلية على فيوتشر لضم ناصر ماهر

وأدى ذلك إلى شعور اللاعب بالإحباط، واتخاذه قرارًا بالرحيل عن الزمالك والسفر إلى ألمانيا؛ من أجل خوض فترة علاجية والبحث عن فرصة الانضمام لأحد أندية دور الدرجة الثانية هناك.

يذكر، أن الزمالك يخوض بطولة كأس دبي الودية، خلال معسكره الحالي في الإمارات، ونجح في الفوز على الرجاء المغربي بركلات الترجيح (4-2) وتأهل للمباراة النهائية لمقابلة الفائز من لقاء الأهلي السعودي ووهان ثري تاونز الصيني.

Chelsea's dressing room is reportedly absolutely buzzing over the potential appointment of Mauricio Pochettino.

What's happened to Chelsea this season?

The Blues' season has gone from bad to worse since the sacking of Graham Potter, avoiding defeat just twice in their last eight games and mustering only three victories in their last 17 fixtures. In fact, the Stamford Bridge outfit have had three different managers – including interim – in the time it's taken them to get from 38 to 39 points in the Premier League.

In brighter news however, it looks like Todd Boehly has found his long-term solution, with various reports suggesting the club are on the brink of appointing former Tottenham boss Pochettino. Indeed, according to Sky Sports, Boehly is "edging closer" to wrapping up a deal for the Argentine, who has been out of work since leaving PSG last summer.

What are the players saying about Pochettino?

According to Football Insider, sources in west London report the dressing room sees Pochettino as an "exciting appointment". The tactician is highly respected by the "big-name stars" at the club, and they believe he's a "top-class operator" with the ability to turn their fortunes around. The report also claims an annoucement confirming Pochettino's arrival could even come in the next few days.

This will of course come as a huge relief to Chelsea fans, who have watched their club essentially descend into an almost bizarre level of turmoil this season. The appointment of a young and attack-minded manager who clearly commands the respect of key figures in the squad is perhaps the only route back to normality and success.

Known for utilising an attack-minded 4-3-3 formation that relies heavily on high-pressing and aggressive play off the ball, Pochettino can reinstil the mean streak that for so long was a key part of the spine running through Chelsea's most decorated teams.

Celtic have been dealt a blow after Ange Postecoglou confirmed that Reo Hatate is ruled out of the Scottish Premiership game vs Rangers today.

What's the latest injury news on Hatate?

The Hoops will be the hosts this afternoon when they welcome their rivals to Parkhead for the hugely anticipated showdown but are set to be without the services of the 25-year-old. The Japanese international sustained a suspected hamstring injury during the 3-1 victory over Hibernian before the international break where he was forced off the pitch after just 13 minutes and has not featured since.

The Bhoys boss revealed last weekend that the midfielder was “close” to staging his comeback and that he would “hopefully” be able to make the squad for today’s game, though it sounds like the fixture has arrived ever so slightly too soon.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Postecoglou revealed that Hatate hasn’t recovered in time and therefore won’t be available for selection for the Old Firm derby. As quoted by The Daily Record, he said:

"Reo hasn't come up but Aaron is fine so from last week, the only change is Aaron's available. It is disappointing for Reo more than anything, he loves playing these games, he's had an impact every time he has. You get disappointed for the player and you want everyone available, but from a team perspective, we have depth in that area."

Huge blow for Celtic and Postecoglou…

Hatate has been dubbed a “magical” player by journalist Josh Bunting and having started 24 of Celtic’s 30 league matches this season prior to today's game, it’ll be a massive blow for Postecoglou to not have him at his disposal for such a big fixture.

The £12k-p/w talent has clocked up 17 goal contributions (eight goals and nine assists) in 38 appearances across all competitions in 2022/23 whilst averaging 2.25 shots per game, highlighting the constant prolific threat he provides in the final third. The Glasgow based-star is also an extremely versatile and therefore useful option to have available having operated in defensive and central midfield alongside at right-back since the start of this term.

Hatate has played a significant role in the Hoops’ success this season and the boss will be gutted to not have him available for a tie of this calibre and importance but it doesn’t sound like he’s facing too much longer on the sidelines so supporters will be hoping to have him back as soon as possible.

Miguel Almiron has always provided effort in a Newcastle United shirt but this season has seen a culmination of his hard work pay off on the pitch, as the Paraguayan leads the way for goals in Eddie Howe's squad.

The winger would memorably fail to score in his first 26 games for the club after joining from Atalanta United in what was then a club-record deal but he has performed phenomenally in the final third so far this campaign and could be a big factor in the Toon achieving European football next season.

Unsurprisingly, Almiron's impressive form has seen his market value shoot up over the past 12 months, with the £20m paid in 2019 now starting to look like a bargain.

How much is Miguel Almiron worth now?

Almiron's struggles in front of goal in his first three seasons at the club, which included just one goal and no assists in 30 Premier League outings last season, had seen his market value according to Transfermarkt sink to just €16m (£14.1m).

However, like several other players in Newcastle's squad, the winger has been completely transformed by the positive atmosphere and attacking football that Howe has cultivated since arriving at St James' Park.

The Paraguay international, who earns £42k-per-week, has 11 goals and one assist in 25 Premier League appearances so far this campaign, which is the most goals of anyone in Howe's squad.

His 7.01 rating from WhoScored also sees him ranked as the sixth-best player for the Toon in the top flight, ranking ahead of big-money signings such as Sven Botman and Alexander Isak, which emphasises how he has drastically improved under Howe's coaching.

Newcastle were always expected to improve following the PIF takeover but what has been most impressive about Howe's time at the club has been the improved performances of players such as Almiron, Joelinton and Sean Longstaff, all of whom looked as if they could be victim to a mass overhaul at St James' Park.

After a 4-1 win against Fulham earlier in the season, in which the 29-year-old scored a brace, he earned the praise of journalist Josh Bunting on Twitter who described his efforts as "sensational".

Newcastle fans have certainly had to be patient with Almiron but their faith in the wide man is now paying off, as Transfermarkt now values him at €35m (£30.9m), which represents a mammoth 119% increase in less than a year.

Toon fans won't ever want to see Almiron leave if he can maintain his current form but Newcastle are safe in the knowledge that if he were to depart this summer, they'd make a profit.

Graham Potter has seen his Chelsea side pick up three consecutive victories recently and the former Brighton boss looks set for a long-term project at Stamford Bridge.

After some serious investment in the summer and in January, the Englishman will have to consider carefully how to best manage his squad at the end of the season, with some names surely likely to depart.

If the Blues have aspirations of challenging at the top end of the Premier League once again, then Potter must consider getting rid of 23-year-old academy graduate, Trevoh Chalobah.

What is Chalobah's record at Chelsea?

Chalobah, who is the younger brother of Nathaniel, has been with Chelsea since he was nine and has progressed through the academy and into the first team.

The centre-back would enjoy loan spells with the likes of Ipswich Town, Huddersfield Town and FC Lorient before breaking into Chelsea's senior side last season, featuring 29 times under Thomas Tuchel in all competitions.

He has gone on to make another 22 appearances so far this campaign to take his tally to 51 outings in a Chelsea shirt but his form so far suggests that he cannot be considered a viable long-term option in Potter's squad.

In 15 Premier League appearances, the young defender has averaged a disappointing 6.48 rating from WhoScored, which ranks him as the 23rd-best performer in Potter's inflated squad.

Chelsea's upturn in form has coincided with Chalobah being returned to the bench, with the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly, Thiago Silva and Benoit Badiashile all earning higher average ratings from WhoScored than the academy graduate so far this campaign.

Despite his role as a defender, the English defender ranks 21st for tackles, ninth for interceptions and eighth for aerials won per game in the top flight throughout 2022/23, which suggests that Potter has far better options at his disposal.

Although he still has plenty of time to develop, the age of 23 cannot be considered that young in football anymore, especially when you consider that the likes of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe are widely regarded as two of the best strikers on the planet at 22 and 24 respectively.

Wesley Fofana and Badiashile are both younger than Chalobah yet are arguably more established talents, while the Blues also have the exciting Levi Colwill out on loan at Brighton.

Chelsea did hand the 23-year-old defender a new £50k-per-week contract recently, as he followed in the footsteps of the new signings by agreeing to a long-term deal until 2028.

However, his performances this season indicate that this could have been a mistake by the Blues, as Potter arguably has better and younger centre-backs in his squad.

After some disappointing performances so far this campaign, the 47-year-old boss should ruthlessly bring an end to Chalobah's 14-year stay at Stamford Bridge and cash in on the defender while his stock is still high.

Tottenham star Ivan Perisic has been criticised for his 4/10 display last night as Spurs crash out of the FA Cup fifth round to Sheffield United.

The Lowdown: Spurs defeated…

Antonio Conte’s side, once again lead by assistant coach Cristian Stellini in his absence, failed to exert their quality and ultimately succumbed to a humbling loss at Bramall Lane.

The north Londoners have won four out of their last five Premier League games, keeping four clean sheets in the process, but a plucky United side kept persevering till the final stages.

Stellini’s men created few openings and spurned any opportunities they did have, perhaps highlighted by an uncharacteristic missed free header from star striker Harry Kane late on.

Senegal international Iliman Ndiaye punished the away side with a brilliant solo goal to clinch United a 1-0 win on the night, dashing Tottenham’s hopes of any silverware this season.

The Latest: Media slate Perisic…

Members of the media have criticised Perisic in particular for his performance, stating:

“Offered little in the way of thrust or service from wing-back.” – Journalist Dan Kilpatrick, after giving Perisic a 4/10 match rating (via Evening Standard).

“Possible that despite being a free transfer, Perisic will ultimately still be remembered as a massive waste of money?” – James Maw, editor for The Athletic (via Twitter).

“Son, Perisic, Richarlison made to look average players. Quite a feature.” – Andreas Thau Loftager, Spurs podcaster (via Twitter).

“Of all the players we’ve signed in the last 3-4 years, Ivan Perisic was someone I was convinced would be a success. Instead, he’s been one of the worst. His set piece delivery has meant his stats look respectable to those who don’t watch him every week. But he’s so, so bad.” – Andrew Gaffney, football writer (via Twitter).

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The Verdict: Off night…

In terms of going forward and contributing in the attacking areas, there is a major argument to be made that the former Inter Milan star had a real off night.

According to SofaScore, Perisic lost possession a mammoth 34 times, completing just 58% of his passes against the Championship high-flyers.

The 34-year-old also found just one out of 11 attempted crosses, not to mention squandering over half of his long balls over 90 minutes.

While he did create one big chance and won the vast majority of his duels, both in the air and on the ground, this performance from Perisic could go down as one of his more regrettable.

Journalist Greg O’Keeffe has insisted on the All Together Now podcast that he doesn’t think Dominic Calvert-Lewin will play for Everton this coming weekend.

The Lowdown: Injury woes continue to mount up

In what was only Sean Dyche’s second game as Everton manager, he was immediately met with the same problem that had been impacting Frank Lampard during his time at Goodison Park, as Calvert-Lewin was unable to feature due to injury.

The England international simply can’t get on top of his injury problems, as since the start of last season, he’s managed to start just 23 Premier League games, coinciding with the Toffees’ spiral down the league.

Everton currently rely heavily on Calvert-Lewin, as their only other striker options are Neal Maupay – who’s hit double figures just once in the Premier League – and Ellis Simms, who has just two league starts in the top flight under his belt.

The Latest: Calvert-Lewin expected to miss Leeds clash

Dyche is seemingly facing a challenge to get Calvert-Lewin fit and then keep him fit – and O’Keeffe isn’t expecting to see the striker in what is a huge relegation clash on Saturday afternoon.

Speaking on Dyche’s lack of forward options, O’Keeffe said: “He’s got very little capacity to change it now. Well, he’s got no capacity to change it until the summer. But because of the absolute disaster of January, we’ve left ourselves in such a difficult situation and I don’t think Calvert-Lewin will be fit for Leeds.”

The Verdict: Dyche must cope without Calvert-Lewin

While some may say Everton can move away from the threat of relegation if they can keep Calvert-Lewin fit, the facts are that nobody can rely on the England international because his injury record is simply horrendous.

Therefore, Dyche must find a way to get his tactics clicking without their target man, as that simply didn’t work on Monday night, with Ellis Simms struggling massively at Anfield – he managed zero shots on target and touched the ball just 19 times (as per FBref).

Dyche may well turn to someone more experienced in the form of Maupay, however, given his slight frame and lack of height, Dyche clearly felt starting Simms was the better option at his disposal. And given how he has worked with players such as Chris Wood, Ashley Barnes and Wout Weghorst at Burnley, it may require a change of style to get the Frenchman working under his system.

Glasgow Rangers have enjoyed a recent resurgence in form under Michael Beale, winning ten of their 11 matches on his watch, and the feel-good factor appears to be returning to Ibrox.

After such a fantastic run, morale in the squad must be at its highest level been since the start of the campaign, although one player may be feeling slightly more aggrieved than most, namely Kemar Roofe.

The 30-year-old has struggled with various injury concerns throughout his time at Ibrox, missing 59 matches since joining the club in 2020. However, he has masked this by performing when it matters, scoring 35 goals in 76 appearances and winning Premiership and Scottish Cup medals for his troubles.

This season has been a different story. Roofe hasn’t completed a match in the campaign, playing for a grand total of 82 minutes; and although his extra-time winner against Aberdeen in the League Cup semi-final was the forward at his best, Beale only has so much use for a player who’s constantly on the treatment table.

Instead of scouring the transfer market for a replacement, though, the Rangers boss should take a quick glance at the B team, where he might just find a hidden gem waiting in the wings in Robbie Ure.

The 18-year-old is a slightly different type of player compared to Roofe, more of an out-and-out centre-forward as opposed to the versatile nature of the Jamaica international, who can operate across the front three but has mainly been utilised through the middle during his Rangers career.

Ure has been in sensational form this season for the Rangers B team, scoring 14 goals and registering six assists in the Lowland League, which will surely have caught Beale’s eye in terms of gaining some minutes towards the end of the campaign.

What’s perhaps more impressive are his performances in the UEFA Youth League, with Ure demonstrating his talents by netting against Napoli and Liverpool’s underage equivalents and proving that he can perform against talented opposition from beyond Scotland. Journalist Joshua Barrie even described him as a “standout” performer for the young Gers side in their 3-2 home defeat of their Napoli counterparts.

He gained his first taste of senior action earlier this season by starting against Queen of the South in the League Cup, even scoring on his debut, and it may have given the Ibrox crowd an indication of the future. Scott Arfield dubbed him “magic” following that match, which shows that the 18-year-old is already earning the respect of senior players at the club.

Beale could already have the ideal Roofe heir already at Rangers, and by unleashing Ure in the coming months, the 42-year-old may well save the club millions in the process.

Barcelona would love to bring Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back to the club in January, Fabrizio Romano has claimed.

What’s the word?

The striker joined Chelsea in the summer following the arrival of Robert Lewandowski, but the 33-year-old has been a disaster in west London, scoring just once in nine Premier League outings.

The former Arsenal captain joined Barcelona around a year ago after he was stripped of the armband and exiled from the squad, and enjoyed something of a revival as he netted 13 goals for the Catalans.

As he has played for Barcelona and Chelsea this season, should he move in the January window, he would only be allowed to play for Barcelona as per FIFA rules – but he may be in luck.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that Barcelona would be very happy to have him back, having been impressed by him last season.

He said: “For Barca, what I am told is that they would love to re-sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

“He always had a great relationship with people in the board, with his teammates, with Xavi, he’s always been super professional at Barcelona.

“I’m told that people in the club are super happy with how [professional] Aubameyang was at the club.

A complicated deal

Romano went on to say that Barcelona’s financial situation means they can only bring Aubameyang back if Memphis Depay leaves the club – with the Dutchman linked with Atletico Madri – while they would also need Chelsea to compromise on a fee, and likely need the striker to reduce his salary.

This would be a surprising move given Aubameyang’s poor performances at Chelsea, as well as Barcelona’s current attacking depth.

Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha arrived in the summer, while Ousmane Dembele signed a new contract. Elsewhere, Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati are also capable of playing through the middle and are much younger than the Gabonese striker.

We don’t think signing an ageing, out-of-form player would be a smart move for Xavi, and despite his good spell last season, there is no guarantee that Aubameyang will find his form again.