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West Ham United have made an offer to sign an apparent Carlos Soler alternative late in the summer transfer window.

West Ham summer signings – all ins and outs

Julen Lopetegui is now into his first campaign in charge of the Irons, with technical director Tim Steidten leading transfer activity behind the scenes at the London Stadium.

It has been an eventful transfer market for the Hammers, with the club bringing in nine new players and moving some others on.

West Ham summer signings

From

Fee (Transfermarkt)

Max Kilman

Wolves

€47.5m

Crysencio Summerville

Leeds United

€29.3m

Niclas Fullkrug

Borussia Dortmund

€27m

Luis Guilherme

Palmeiras

€23m

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Man Utd

€18m

Wes Foderingham

Sheffield United

Free transfer

Guido Rodriguez

Real Betis

Free transfer

Jean-Clair Todibo

Nice

Loan transfer

Mohamadou Kante

Paris FC

Undisclosed

West Ham summer departures

To

Fee (Transfermarkt)

Flynn Downes

Southampton

€17.85m

Said Benrahma

Lyon

€14.4m

Thilo Kehrer

Monaco

€11m

Nathan Trott

FC Copenhagen

€1.5m

Ben Johnson

Ipswich Town

Free transfer

Joseph Anang

St. Patrick's Athletic

Free transfer

Angelo Ogbonna

Watford

Free transfer

Mohamadou Kante

Paris FC

Loan

There could be some late activity before Friday’s deadline, too, with Lopetegui addressing the club’s plans last week: "In this time before the market closes, for everyone it's still not certain who might come and go.

"We have to adapt, but the competition is tough. We've tried to adapt with the new players, and we have to balance everything and try to be competitive.

"It's true that you have to keep competing in the market while working towards games. Once the market is closed I think the players are fully focused, but we have to adapt. For sure I would prefer the market to be closed before the start of the season."

One player who has been heavily linked with a move to West Ham is PSG midfielder Soler. The club have been locked in talks with the French giants, however, an alternative target appears to have been identified, with an offer going in for his services.

West Ham make bid for Richard Rios

According to reporter Pipe Sierra, relayed by The Boot Room, West Ham have made an offer of $22m (£16.6m) to sign Palmeiras midfielder Richard Rios. However, that bid has reportedly been turned down by Palmeiras, who don’t want to part ways with the player at this moment in time.

“Palmeiras rejected $22m (£16.6m) from West Ham for Richard Rios (24). The Brazilian team said they did not want to negotiate his departure. For now, there is no further progress from the London team.”

A Colombia international, Rios is primarily a central midfielder who can play in a deeper role or on the left, so would have given Lopetegui a versatile option in midfield.

Valued at a career-high €10m by Transfermarkt, Rios only joined Palmeiras last year and spent time with fellow Brazilian sides Flamengo and Guarani prior to that.

Also linked with Everton and Leicester City earlier this summer, it doesn’t look as if Rios, a "ball-carrying machine" as dubbed by Ben Mattinson, will be moving to England before the deadline.

Celtic may have had their hopes of landing Fabian Rieder this summer boosted significantly, with Blick, via the Daily Record reporting that the player's agent has quashed a move to one rival suitor.

Who is Fabian Rieder?

The 21-year-old currently plays his football for Young Boys in Switzerland, having come through the youth ranks there and worked his way up. He was handed his first taste of Swiss Super League action back in 2020 as an 18-year-old and went on to feature on 23 occasions for the club.

It also led to his first silverware too, with his team storming to the top of the table. His gametime has only escalated from there, with Rieder since managing a further 63 games and yet another league crown to go with it last season. With his confidence flowing, he also managed his best ever goal contribution haul in 2022/23, with seven goals and four assists from the centre of the field in the league.

The youngster predominantly features an attacking midfielder, but can slot in further back if needed. He's also been utilised on the right flank before too, showing that the Swiss star is flexible and can prove to be a useful option in a number of areas.

His showings for Young Boys have also caught the eye of his national team, with the 21-year-old finally given his first-team debut for Switzerland in 2022. He has since made four appearances at international level – and there will likely be more where that came from if he can keep up his form.

Are Celtic signing Fabian Rieder?

Having been so impressive, there are now plenty of teams from across Europe on his tail. Scottish Premiership side Celtic are one of the main teams who are believed to be considering a swoop for the midfielder, although no official bid has yet been tabled for the talent

A move to Germany could also be possible for Rieder according to different sources, with Wolfsburg chasing a deal. However, according to a report from Blick, via the Daily Record, the Hoops have been gifted a boost in their pursuit of the wonderkid.

That's despite talk that he could soon be on his way to either Wolfsburg or Borussia Monchengladbach, the midfielder's agent has revealed that no deal is close yet and that the Wolfsburg talk isn't even correct.

He said: "Not true. Gladbach is one of the interested parties, that's right. We are in contact with the club, that's true too. But not only with Gladbach. And first the path must be cleared financially for an immigration of this dimension. In other words: Gladbach has to sell first. Fabian is at the top of the list at Gladbach."

Even though Rieder is still only 21-years-old, he's already emerged as a real talent who has a lot of potential in the future. Having seen him in action, football talent scout Jacek Kulig has labelled him as one of the "biggest jewels" in the top tier of Swiss football at the moment and also called him a "high-quality" midfielder.

It means that he is already standing out in the entire division despite his youth – and with the potential to get even better, Celtic could have a really exciting signing on their hands if they can beat Monchengladbach to his signature.

Leeds United winger Dan James won’t play for the Whites again after his loan move away this summer, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: James loaned out

The Welshman secured a temporary switch to Fulham during the summer transfer window, having fallen out of Jesse Marsch’s plans at Elland Road.

The signings of Brenden Aaronson and Luis Sinisterra had pushed James further down the pecking order, so a move away made sense for all parties.

He will return to Leeds next summer but a fresh claim suggests he won’t be there for long.

The Latest: Expert makes big claim

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones stated that he believes James has played his last match for Leeds, with a permanent exit on the cards in 2023:

“I mean, all signs suggest that that’s it for him now. I mean, they wouldn’t be letting him out on loan to another Premier League club, which is essentially going to be a kind of rival in terms of league position to season you would imagine, to then bring him back.”

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The Verdict: Easy to see happening

James felt like an overpriced signing at the time when he joined Leeds last year and that is exactly what he has proved to be, following a string of underwhelming performances.

Just four goals and five assists in 40 appearances for the Whites simply isn’t good enough, and while his work ethic is admirable, Marsch will feel he can buy a far higher calibre of player.

James will eventually be viewed as a huge waste of money – a rare error from the legendary Marcelo Bielsa – and it will make sense for everyone if he departs for a reasonable fee next summer.

Two of Tottenham Hotspur's most talented young players are incredibly keen to impress new boss Ange Postecoglou ahead of the upcoming campaign.

Which youngsters want to impress Postecoglou?

The Australian has not yet had time to fully immerse himself into life at Spurs but that will soon be possible as players begin returning for pre-season in early July.

It will take Postecoglou time to decide which players he considers worthy of his new Spurs side and the upcoming pre-season could be pivotal in the careers of some of the club's young talents.

According to Spurs journalist Alasdair Gold, there are two players particularly keen to show the new coach their talents: "There will certainly be some young players he [Postecoglou] can have a real look at as well."

He continued: "Troy Parrott was on international duty with Ireland, so he would be part of that 12 July group [players who are returning for pre-season later due to international football]. But, again, if I'm Troy Parrott, and you're allowed to come back early, you would probably be looking to do so because I know he really wants to make an impression"

"Djed Spence is the same. I know he really wants to make an impression on Postecoglou and try to earn his place in the squad."

Whether Postecoglou will give youth a chance to flourish remains to be seen but Parrott and Spence will be hoping to pleasantly surprise the new boss in July.

How did Parrott and Spence do on loan?

Both Parrott and Spence spent last season on loan at Preston North End and Rennes respectively, but both struggled to make a significant impact at their clubs. The latter only spent six months in France having left Tottenham in the January transfer window.

Parrott found goalscoring difficult in the Championship, only netting three times in 32 appearances, although a significant knee injury did cause him to miss 13 games mid-season. Even so, the 20-cap Republic of Ireland international only managed a 6.66 average Sofascore rating.

For Spence it was more a lack of minutes that hindered his progress, featuring just 10 times for Rennes in all competitions. Nine of those were starts but the 22-year-old always faced difficulties displacing the impressive Hamari Traore from right-back.

Like Parrott, it was a knee injury that curtailed the end of his season in Ligue 1, also forcing the former Middlesbrough man to miss out on the U21 European Championship with England.

Landing back at Hotspur Way on the back of underwhelming 2022/23 campaigns, it will surely encourage Spurs fans that these two youngsters are looking to make an impression rather than looking for a permanent move.

Spurs had a season to forget last term, however, if the first team regulars return with the same hunger to impress as Spence and Parrott, perhaps there can be some optimism for quick improvement under Postecoglou.

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in a Premier League ace, as the Villans bid to take the squad to the next level this summer.

It’s expected to be a busy transfer window for Unai Emery and newly appointed president of football operations Monchi, who have experienced successful business escapades together while at Sevilla.

The latest link could pose to be a significant upgrade to the squad and become the second signing snatched from a newly relegated side, with Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans in agreement to join the club at the expiration of his contract.

Leeds United could be forced to sell one of their stars this summer, after suffering relegation to the Championship, as Villa eye midfielder Tyler Adams.

As reported by the Daily Mail earlier this week, the American international’s future has been ‘enquired’ about by the Midlands side, with Brighton, Everton and Nottingham Forest all interested.

The report states that Leeds have valued the 24-year-old at £25m with interested clubs said to be weighing up bids.

What could Tyler Adams offer to Aston Villa?

Lauded as a “monster” by ex-defender Alexi Lalas, the former RB Leipzig ace made a huge impact in his debut Premier League season, after signing for Leeds from the Bundesliga side last summer.

Despite his best efforts, the New York-born talent was unable to steer the Whites away from relegation, and with Championship football confirmed for next term, the end of his time at Elland Road already looks in sight.

While Leeds’ relegation is upsetting for most in Yorkshire, the timing comes as good news for Villa, who could snatch a true destroyer in midfield by swiping the talent.

The 24-year-old could pose to be a shining light in Emery’s set-up, posing similar attributes to a fellow defensive midfielder already at the club.

Douglas Luiz ranked as Villa’s top performer this campaign via Sofascore, maintaining an average match rating of 7.10 acting as the Villans colossus in midfield.

Emery could repeat the success of the Brazilian at Villa Park by signing Adams, who has performed at a similar level in the engine room this campaign.

As per Sofascore, the £57k-per-week gem averaged a monstrous 3.7 tackles per game with a win rate of 57% of his total duels, cementing his claim to being the controller in deep midfield.

Luiz showed strengths in mirrored attributes to the 24-year-old, averaging two tackles per game and a 52% win rate of his total duels as the enforcer in Emery’s side.

The two fared almost identically in terms of their rate of interceptions with Adams averaging 1.5 to Luiz’s 1.1 per game, with both players also providing a positive outlet going forward, with the Brazilian averaging 1.2 key passes to the Leeds ace’s one per match.

Emery could have the recipe to create the perfect duo of midfield operators, in adding a Premier League-proven whizz in the engine room to his squad. Indeed, it would perhaps be a signing that could prove to be a replica of his middle of the park general.

Tottenham Hotspur do hold an interest in Conor Gallagher this summer but it is not something which is close at this stage in the window.

How old is Conor Gallagher?

Spurs look prepared to press the reset button this summer with a seriously underwhelming 2022/23 campaign now behind them which saw finish in a miserable eighth spot.

Ange Postecoglou has now come through the doors as their new manager as Daniel Levy has finally solved his managerial hunt following Antonio Conte's departure.

However, there are still some glaring areas which are in need of improvement considering the Lilywhites were unable to even secure a spot in the Europa Conference League for the upcoming campaign.

It is believed the north London outfit have identified the Leicester City star James Maddison as a potential option for the summer window with expected competition from Newcastle United.

But another name which is also seemingly on their radar is that of the Chelsea midfielder Gallagher who is also believed to be a target of the Toon.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has claimed someone at Spurs appreciated the Chelsea midfielder but at the moment their attention is on Maddison:

"It's true that also someone at Tottenham appreciates the player. But, at the moment, it's not something concrete and Tottenham's focus is on James Madison."

How many years does Conor Gallagher have left on his contract?

The Chelsea midfielder did not have a campaign he will be wanting to remember in a hurry having only been able to provide a return of three goals and one assist in the Premier League (via Transfermarkt).

And this is a position where Spurs have been in dire need of some creativity and dependability in returning goals and assists.

Tottenham's highest scoring midfielder over the 2022/23 campaign was Rodrigo Bentancur with a total of six goals across all competitions.

But to put that figure into perspective, the Uruguayan has been out of action since February after sustaining a season-ending ACL injury which resulted in him undergoing surgery.

With his 2022/23 returns in mind, perhaps Maddison would prove a safer option for Tottenham considering he was able to provide an impressive 10 goals and nine assists for Leicester City (via Transfermarkt).

And despite having just two years remaining on his deal at Stamford Bridge, reports from Germany (via football.london) suggest Chelsea could still be looking for around £44m for the 23-year-old.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou is seemingly eyeing a move for South Korean starlet, Seong-jin Kang, according to the latest reports.

What's the latest on Seong-jin Kang on Tottenham?

According to the Sunday Mirror (11/06/2023, page 70), the Lilywhites could potentially step up their interest in the promising 20-year-old, with Postecoglou's former club Celtic also in the mix for his signature.

The exciting winger is currently on the books at Korean outfit FC Seoul, where he still has over three years left to run on his existing deal in his homeland.

Who is Kang Seong-jin?

The highly-rated youngster has caught the eye as a result of his displays for both club and country of late, having also scored twice in just two appearances at senior international level, while also racking up ten goal involvements in 57 outings for his current side in all competitions.

Those at N17 may well be hoping that the 5 foot 11 dynamo can replicate the success that his compatriot Heung-min Son has had in north London, with Kang previously stating that he has once labelled himself as "little Son" when meeting ex-national team boss, Paulo Bento.

Stylistically, however, the young left-footer – who typically operates off the right flank – could offer a strong resemblance to another Premier League star in the form of Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, having previously spoken of his desire to learn from the prolific marksman, stating:

"I watch videos of Salah’s routines the day before a game."

That likeness between the pair can already be seen due to their creative prowess from the flanks, with Kang having chipped in with seven assists at first team level to date, while the far more experienced Salah is also an expert provider having contributed 79 assists across all fronts during his time at Anfield.

The two wide men also appear to share the knack for being able to beat a man in attack, with the Korean wizard having averaged 1.8 successful dribbles per game from his six U20 World Cup outings, while the Reds ace averaged 1.3 for that metric in the Premier League in 2022/23 – albeit from 38 appearances.

The younger man will undoubtedly have a way to go to emulate the talent of Salah, although it would certainly be a real coup for Postecoglou if he can find his answer to the former Chelsea and Roma ace.

The 30-year-old has established himself as a leading presence under Jurgen Klopp in recent years after scoring 186 goals in just 305 games for the Merseyside outfit, helping the club to Premier League and Champions League glory since his £34m arrival from Italy back in 2017.

Previously hailed as "sensational" and "one of the best players in the world" by ex-Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger, Salah is certainly a wise player to try and learn from, with the hope being that Kang can follow in the Egyptian's footsteps and becoming a shining light in English football.

Aston Villa have been linked with one of the most in-form keepers in Europe ahead of the transfer window, as Unai Emery looks to bolster his squad this summer.

The Spaniard has enjoyed a formidable first season in the Midlands on his return to the Premier League, and will now look to make further improvements to his side that are set to contend in Europe next campaign.

What’s the latest on Yassine Bounou to Aston Villa?

As reported by Spanish outlet AS, Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has gained interest from Aston Villa.

Known simply as Bono, the 32-year-old has racked up a host of potential buyers this summer, with the report stating further Premier League interest coming from Tottenham.

The report claims that Sevilla won't accept a bid under the €25m (£22m) mark despite his age, due to his integral role in the squad.

What could Yassine Bounou offer Aston Villa?

Lauded as being a “complete goalkeeper” by former teammate and Barcelona defender Jules Kounde during the World Cup, the Morrocan was the star of the show last week as Sevilla claimed their fifth Europa League title.

The shot-stopper saved two penalties from Roma in the decisive shoot-out, just as he did last winter in Qatar against Spain for Morocco at the World Cup.

The 32-year-old was named La Liga goalkeeper of the year last season, averaging a match rating of 7.03 and conceding an average of 0.8 per game, as per Sofascore.

For Villa, the experienced 'keeper could be a steal this summer, as the future of Emiliano Martinez at the club remains uncertain.

As reported by Football Insider last month, the Argentinian could depart Villa Park due to his desire to join a ‘top club’, leaving a potential gap in the squad to fill.

The 30-year-old has faced some criticism this season for his flippancy, most notably during Villa’s loss to Arsenal when Emery publicly criticised his star man for his decision to go upfield in the dying moments that lead to the Gunners scoring.

From potentially leaving to showing mentality mishaps, the Argentine is formidable in Villa’s goal, but certainly replaceable should he wish to depart.

With over 300 career appearances, Villa could sell the expertise of Martinez by landing a gloveman of a similar calibre and experience for a slim price.

In what has been a tough season for Sevilla, ending La Liga in 12th, Bono has been reliable when called into action, as highlighted by his 62% of saves per game, averaging 2.7 as per Sofascore.

While the 6 foot 3 keeper is reliable from open play, as supported by his successful run-out percentage of 92% this campaign, he is a genius from the spot when facing penalties, attributable to his intuition from the experience he has gained over the years.

For a deal worth potentially less than the £30m mark, Emery could sign one of the continent's most talked about 'keepers this summer.

Aston Villa ended their 2022/23 campaign in a successful fashion as they finished seventh in the Premier League and secured Europa Conference League football.

Unai Emery has led the club to European football in his first season at the helm, despite not being in charge for the entire year, and now has his first summer transfer window to tinker with his squad.

Last month, Football Insider reported that the Villans are keen on a deal to sign Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips and are not dissuaded by the player's public intention to remain at The Etihad.

This suggests that the latest report from The Telegraph, which claims that Newcastle are frustrated in their efforts to sign the England ace due to his commitment to Pep Guardiola's side, does not change anything for Villa and their own pursuit.

Would Kalvin Phillips be a success at Aston Villa?

The enforcer, who joined City from Leeds United for £45m last year, could be a big success for the Villans as his form for Leeds in the past suggests that there is a big upgrade on current star Boubacar Kamara that could be unearthed.

Phillips, who ex-England boss Steve McClaren hailed as a "destroyer", only started 20 Premier League matches in the last two seasons combined for City and the Whites but his first campaign in the top flight with his boyhood club showcased his ability at that level.

In 2020/21, the Englishman averaged a hugely impressive Sofascore rating of 7.21 across 29 appearances, made 4.2 tackles and interceptions and 1.2 key passes per game. The midfield battler displayed his quality in and out of possession as he regularly cut out opposition attacks whilst also being able to create chances for his teammates in the final third.

These statistics suggest that the potential is there for Phillips to be a big upgrade on Kamara, who averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.79 and made 3.2 tackles and interceptions and 0.3 key passes per game for the Villans in the Premier League this season.

The City man also averaged more progressive passes per 90 in 20/21 (5.08) than the Frenchman this season (4.25) suggesting that he has the ability to progress the ball more often to get his team into better positions to attack the other team.

Emery has also proven that he has the coaching ability to get the best out of players who were previously out of sorts, with his work with Ollie Watkins this term fine evidence.

The striker had scored just two goals in 14 Premier League matches prior to the World Cup break but went on to score 13 goals and provide three assists in 23 games after the tournament under the Spaniard's management.

This suggests that the ex-Arsenal tactician could repeat a similar trick with Phillips and get him back to his best in the middle of the park.

If Villa sign the Manchester City midfielder and are able to help him rediscover his form then he could be a huge upgrade on Kamara.

Arsenal are “confident” that they will agree a new long-term contract with forward Reiss Nelson, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Reiss Nelson leaving Arsenal?

The Gunners winger is an academy graduate at the Emirates Stadium having worked his way up through the various youth ranks to get promoted to the first-team back in 2019, and despite having made 65 senior appearances since, his future has recently been up in the air.

The England U21s former international’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season meaning that he will become a free agent on the market should he not put pen to paper on fresh terms, and his potential availability has been alerting a trio of potential suitors.

The Athletic report that Premier League rivals Brighton and Hove Albion, West Ham United and also AC Milan are all interested in striking a deal for the 23-year-old, despite him making zero starts in the top-flight this season, but it now seems to be the case that he won’t be going anywhere during the upcoming transfer window.

Have Arsenal offered Nelson a new contract?

Taking to Twitter, Romano revealed that Arsenal are closing in on an internal agreement regarding fresh terms for Nelson. He wrote:

“Arsenal proposal to Reiss Nelson: four year contract, option included for one more season — as revealed two days ago. Short term deal proposal was rejected in April, talks are now advancing for [a] long term contract. Parties are confident.”

Arsenal will know that Nelson hasn’t featured as much as he would have liked this season as a result of his thigh injury sustained in the early stages of the campaign, but he’s proven what he’s capable of when given the chance to play and he’ll be a key player for the future of the club so retaining his services is completely the right decision.

The Gunners’ “explosive” right-winger, as lauded by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, has posted five goal contributions (three goals and two assists) in ten top-flight appearances this term whilst averaging 8.45 shot-creating actions per game which is higher than any other of his fellow teammates, via FBRef.

The Europa League participant, who pockets £15k-per-week, also provides Mikel Arteta with versatility having operated in eight different positions since first emerging onto the scene, and with Aaron Ramsdale and Bukayo Saka having both recently committed their futures in N7, it seems as if Nelson is about to follow in their footsteps.