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Celtic have now completed the acquisition of three players during the summer transfer window but Ange Postecoglou won’t stop there.

The Hoops are keen on landing a few extra faces as they aim to bolster their side ahead of attempts to reclaim their Scottish dominance.

What’s the word?

Postecoglou wrapped up a deal to bring Liel Abada to Paradise on Wednesday evening and after signing a winger, they’re working hard to land a full-back.

Osaze Urhoghide can feature in that third of the pitch but they want a more permanent fixture.

Celtic have been linked with Sacha Boey of Rennes in the last few days but they’re targeting his teammate Brandon Soppy too. He also happens to play at right-back.

Fabrizio Romano revealed the news earlier this week but provided an update on the latest edition of the Here We Go podcast.

The journalist said: “Brandon Soppy is an interesting right-back. I love this player, I’m sure he will be one of the next generation talents from Rennes.

“Celtic want him. They have an interest. Also, French clubs are working on it but Celtic have a strong interest in Soppy.”

A necessity

Supporters should be absolutely elated with the way Celtic are going about their business at the moment.

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Postecoglou and Dominic McKay have seemingly identified players capable of improving the overall feeling of the squad and individuals who will fit his style of play.

The addition of tricky winger Abada demonstrates that while their chase for Carl Starfelt is also impressive. He prioritises distribution of the ball from defence, rather than carrying it forward like Kristoffer Ajer does.

The addition of Soppy would also help the Hoops significantly.

Not since the days of Mikael Lustig have they had a truly consistent full-back. Jeremie Frimpong was described by Neil Lennon as one of the best young players he’s worked with but proved to be inconsistent from a defensive point of view.

Jonjoe Kenny hardly helped their cause either. The Everton full-back spent half a campaign on loan but made a catastrophic number of errors in all three of the Old Firm derbies he played in.

He’s returned to Merseyside and as a consequence, they don’t have a senior right-back apart from Anthony Ralston.

Soppy could fix that headache but also fit seamlessly into Postecoglou’s way of playing.

The Australian prefers his players to press and hound the opposition regularly. Fortunately, Soppy is up to scratch in this department, completing 40% of his pressures – the fifth-best tally at Rennes last term.

Furthermore, he is one of the best in his position in Ligue 1. Last term, he attempted 4.03 tackles per 90 minutes which put him in the 98th percentile for full-backs in the French top-flight.

Per FB Ref, Soppy was in the 96th percentile for successful pressures, the 88th percentile for dribbles attempted and the 94th percentile for progressive carries of the ball. To top things off, he was one of the most fouled players in the division, ranking in the 99th percentile at 2.09 fouls drawn per 90.

On that evidence, he’d be a first-class addition to the Celtic ranks. Supporters should be delighted they’re trying to sign him.

AND in other news, Celtic begin talks to sign “talented” £2.2m-rated machine, Ange really needs him…

An intriguing claim has been made on Serge Aurier’s future at Tottenham Hotspur which is sure to leave many in N17 delighted…

What’s the word?

Speaking in a recent Q&A with supporters on football.london, the ever-reliable Alasdair Gold delivered some insight into where the north London outfit stand with their inconsistent right-back.

He wrote: “It’s quite simple with Aurier. He wants to go, Spurs would be happy for him to go, but they need a reasonable bid (not as high as the 20m euros reported in France last week).

“Tottenham will move for a new right-back if he does head out of the exit door. Tottenham like [Norwich City’s Max] Aarons and they need some homegrown signings but it’s all on Paratici now.”

Time’s finally up

Having joined the club from Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain for £23m back in summer 2017, Aurier’s time at Spurs has been clouded by controversies off the pitch and poor performances on it.

The £18m-rated defender has featured 110 times for the club, in which he has regularly been lambasted as a calamity.

For example, following their Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City, Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool centre-back Jamie Carragher described the 28-year-old as “maybe one of the biggest liabilities in Premier League football.”

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It’s certainly not the first time the word “liability” has been used to slam Aurier, with former Spurs stars Darren Bent and Jamie O’Hara saying the same thing some several seasons apart.

The fanbase has also echoed these thoughts regularly. Again, following that Wembley defeat to City, some called him “dreadful” and urged the club to “get rid,” as relayed by This is Futbol.

Amid interest from his former club PSG, lots of the Lilywhites faithful were buzzing, claiming that it would be a “[Fabio] Paratici masterclass” to offload him for a substantial fee.

During lockdown last year, The Mirror reported that the Ivory Coast international was fined for breaking government guidelines, with further reports suggesting that he stormed home after being substituted against Liverpool back in January.

Therefore, this latest claim from Gold will surely come as immensely exciting news to many in and around the club, as on the above evidence, Aurier is not a player who should be sticking around for the new era.

In short, he wants to leave, Spurs are happy for him to leave, and they will consider a replacement – perhaps Aarons. It’s all very encouraging news.

AND in other news, Levy could find his next Pochettino in 46 y/o who has already “impressed” Spurs’ squad…

Andover’s bid to remain in the ECB Southern Electric Premier League leadership race has been hit by the absence of four key players against all-day specialists BAT Sports at London Road tomorrow, 11 o’clock.Jerry Hayward, all-rounder Ian Langdown and opening bowler Dean Woodhouse, along with fractured wrist victim Toby Radford, are absent against BAT, who have moved menacingly into second place behind Havant.Andover led the field for the first six weeks of the season, but crashed to a heavy defeat in their opening `time’ game at Portsmouth last week.Second XI captain Tim Keighley and teenager Rob James, who hit an unbeaten Hampshire League half-century last week, get the Andover call.BAT, all-conquering in all-day cricket since June last year, are unchanged, with left-arm paceman Dan Goldstraw eager to build upon his six-wicket return against Bashley (Rydal) last week.Leaders Havant are without Steve Snell, on Lord’s groundstaff duty at the Benson & Hedges Cup final, against lowly Burridge at Havant Park.Burridge, in need of a victory after playing only four games so far, surprisingly knocked Havant out of the SEC Cup in midweek.Also in need of a bonus are second-from-bottom Calmore Sports, who entertain Portsmouth at Loperwood Park. Teenager Doug Bellchamber, plagued with back problems, returns for Portsmouth, who otherwise field the side which trounced Andover last week.Bashley (Rydal) have slipped down the table after a series of inept batting performances. Fit-again Chris Sketchley returns from an ankle injury and John Whiting is back for the trip to South Wilts."Lower Bemerton is normally a road," said beleaguered skipper Neil Taylor. "So we have every reason to apply ourselves and get some runs on it."We’ve had one batting failure after another and the fact that Hampshire’s James Tomlinson is playing for Cardiff University tomorrow should boost our chances of getting some runs on the board."South Wilts are also without Tim Lamb, but have Russell Rowe anxious to improve on his 330-run tally for the season.Teenager Tom Webley faces an exhausting 400-mile tea-time trek from Blackpool to play for Bournemouth at Liphook & Ripsley.Webley has been in Blackpool this week playing for Somerset in a Second XI Championship match against Lancashire II."If the game goes the distance, I can’t see myself getting back to Bournemouth until the early hours of tomorrow (SAT) morning," Webley explained from his seaside hotel last night."And I’ve go to be at Chapel Gate for an 8.30am departure, so it looks as though I’ll be eating my cornflakes going along in the car !"Alex Allum, who hit a match-winning 67 not out for Bournemouth’s Hampshire League side at Basingstoke & North Hants last week, could be poised for a first team recall.David Kidner pulled up with a recurrence of a long standing back injury in last week’s drawn match with Calmore Sports and could miss the Liphook trip.

Everton have reportedly contacted Manuel Pellegrini about potentially becoming their new manager.

The Lowdown: Everton still searching

The Goodison Park faithful are still searching for a coach to replace Carlo Ancelotti, who has left the Merseyside club to go and manage Real Madrid.

As per the Daily Mail, Nuno Espirito Santo is still the overwhelming favourite to take charge, but Rafa Benitez, Christophe Galtier, Graham Potter and Roberto Martinez have also been named as potential successors to Ancelotti.

The Latest: Everton eye Pellegrini

According to the Daily Mail, Pellegrini has emerged as another potential target for the Toffees, and has been contacted by intermediaries over the vacant manager’s job.

The news outlet also recalls that Farhad Moshiri spoke to him back in 2016 when he was looking for a replacement for Martinez, who is now the boss of the Belgium national team and will be taking charge of them in Euro 2020.

The Verdict: Pellegrini a good option

Pellegrini is certainly a good option for the Blues, having already shown his credentials in the Premier League by winning the title with Manchester City back in the 2013/14 season.

More recently, the Chilean has done very well with Real Betis, guiding them to a sixth-placed finish in La Liga and thus gaining a UEFA Europa League spot.

At 67 years of age, having also managed the likes of Real Madrid and West Ham United, Pellegrini is clearly very experienced, and so would emulate Ancelotti in this sense.

However, there are other good candidates, and so EFC should not rush into such a decision just yet, with plenty of younger and fresher options perhaps more enticing.

In other news, find out what manager update has left Toffees fuming here!

Nathan Astle’s heroics had the whole cricket world gasping today as reaction set in to what was, and ever will be, one of the outstanding individual achievements in cricket history.His world record-breaking double century has captured the imagination of writers in attendance and word of his feats dominated sports pages around the world.A sample of some of the reaction follows:The Sunday Times: “Relief was etched deep on the weary faces of the England players as they danced around the middle of Lancaster Park and hugged each other with delight. Rarely can a team have so joyously celebrated a victory by the apparently comfortable margin of 98 runs after leaving the opposition the apparently impossible task of scoring 550 to win.”But this was no ordinary match and no ordinary day.”Arguably, there has never been another like it. Such was the mayhem wrought by Nathan Astle in perhaps the most remarkable display of calculated hitting ever seen at this level that another hour of carnage from his bat – and an hour of the day remained when he was out – might have been enough to steal for New Zealand one of the greatest victories in Test history.”Given that New Zealand still required 249 to win when their eighth wicket fell – and nobody was sure that the injured Chris Cairns would even come out to bat – it sounds preposterous to say such a thing. But it was the case.”When it comes to Astle’s knock, the figures speak for themselves. He simply hit the record for the fastest double-century in Test history, set just three weeks ago by Australia’s Adam Gilchrist in Johannesburg, for six. Gilchrist had required 212 balls to reach 200 against South Africa; Astle needed just 153 here. His final score of 222 occupied 168 balls and included an astonishing 11 sixes and 28 fours.”The Sunday Telegraph: “However many spots Nathan Astle knocked off the gloss, England’s 98-run victory was still highly commendable and maintained the revival which this new-look team began in India.”England scrapped as fiercely as young dogs to overcome the handicap of batting first on a pitch that was far too damp and green at the start, and they saw off New Zealand’s puppies when they threatened to become too playful at the end.”It was not an entirely satisfactory victory though, for all the spectacular entertainment. It wasn’t an entirely satisfactory match either, because of the ostentatious umpiring of Billy ‘aren’t-I-a-character’ Bowden and the plain bad umpiring of Asoka de Silva, who is either tired or starting to believe the publicity about being the best in the world.”The quality of New Zealand’s seam bowling, once Chris Cairns was injured out of the series, was also below county, let alone Test, standard.”The unsatisfactory part about England’s victory was that it was the work of a handful of individuals. Nasser Hussain in the first innings, Graham Thorpe and Andrew Flintoff in the second, scored most of the runs (nobody else reached 35); and Andrew Caddick and Matthew Hoggard took 17 of the wickets.”The Observer: “This drop-in pitch allowed no one in the stands to drop off. On both of the first two days, 11 wickets fell; on both of the last two days, 433 runs were scored. Have these two sides no feeling for the traditions of the game? England’s Test matches in New Zealand are supposed to be dour, dreary affairs conducted on rugby grounds where the ball double-declutches upon landing. Not any longer. Much more of this and the locals may even deign to turn up for Test cricket in this country. Without the arrival of so many English tourists, the Jade Stadium would have had all the atmosphere of a morgue for four days. As it is the English punters can’t believe their luck.”For many, Astle’s stunning hitting overshadowed the result – until they saw the faces of the two captains afterwards. Stephen Fleming, so upbeat before the match, was glum. He confessed to ‘mixed emotions’, marvelling at Astle’s individual effort, but despairing at a Test ‘of so many missed opportunities’. He reflected sadly: ‘In my time [as captain] we have never missed so many chances.’ Of course, one of those chances was spurned on Friday by Astle himself when Graham Thorpe, who suddenly seems to have hit a pedestrian double century, was on four. It may be a cruel observation, but ultimately that drop had a more significant bearing on the match than Astle’s sublime hitting yesterday.”The Independent on Sunday: “England outplayed New Zealand for all but an hour of this Test to go 1-0 up in the series, but it will be that 60 minutes, when Nathan Astle laid waste to England’s attack to score the fastest double century of all time, that may yet have the greatest bearing on how this three-match series ends.”Nasser Hussain’s team will deservedly take great pride in winning the match, but when your best bowlers are treated like golf balls at a driving range, a gnawing fallibility works its way in. If he is doing his job, the England captain will rationalise that this was a freak of nature borne of a hopeless situation, and tell his bowlers to put it behind them.”But bowlers, especially fast ones, have macho egos and neither Matthew Hoggard (whose first two overs with the new ball cost 41 runs) and Andy Caddick (who went for 25 in an over) will get over the carnage visited upon them easily, especially when Astle wanders out to bat. Hussain knew as much too, and it was significant that he quickly replaced Caddick with Ashley Giles before the scarring went too deep.”Sunday Mirror: “One of the greatest innings in the history of cricket by Nathan Astle couldn’t deny England victory in this crazy Test match.”Nasser Hussain’s men held their nerve as Astle smashed his way into the record books with the quickest ever double century.”Astle’s fightback as New Zealand chased a target of 550 for what would have been the greatest victory of all time made England sweat before he edged Matthew Hoggard to wicketkeeper James Foster.”England eventually won by 98 runs but it left skipper Hussain wondering just how many runs he needs to put on the board to see off the Kiwis in the second Test.”He said: ‘Perhaps I’ll need to set them 900 to win next time – it’s a frightening thought.'”Sunday People: “Nathan Astle set the Jade Stadium alight with the fastest double hundred in Test history but Nasser Hussain kept his cool as England took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.”Captain Naz summed up a dramatic opening Test saying: ‘If you can lose the toss and be nought for two in the first over then go on and win a Test match, it shows the of character of our side.'””Astle smashed the world record for the fastest Test double hundred by 59 balls, beating Adam Gilchrist’s effort off 212 balls against South Africa last month.”The Kiwi clobbered England for 222, hitting 28 fours and 11 sixes off 168 balls, before being the last man out as England claimed a 98-run victory.”Astle went berserk after passing his century with his second hundred coming off just 39 deliveries with Andy Caddick twice hit out of the ground.”The Sunday Telegraph (Sydney): “Ian Botham’s record for the fastest double century in Test cricket lasted 20 years before Australia’s Adam Gilchrist beat it. Gilchrist lasted only three weeks at the top.”Yesterday in Christchurch, New Zealand’s Nathan Astle didn’t just trump Gilchrist’s record, he obliterated it with a brutal assault on the England attack at Jade Stadium.”Astle took just 153 balls to score his 200 in a performance that almost defied belief. With 28 fours and 11 sixes, he reached his double century in 59 balls less than Gilchrist.”He was eventually the last man out for 222 as England won the first Test by 98 runs but the result was virtually lost against the background of Astle’s performance.”It was a brilliant display, albeit too late to alter the result of the match, but it did ensure the margin of defeat was respectable.”Reuters: “Nathan Astle made England twitch with a record-breaking 222 as New Zealand fought to get 550 runs for victory in the first test in Christchurch on Saturday.”While the chase for the mammoth winning total was in vain, Astle’s maelstrom of an innings beat Australian Adam Gilchrist’s record for the fastest double century recorded in Johannesburg three weeks ago.”Astle beat Gilchrist’s 212-ball 200 by 59 balls. The 200th run came when he swept Ashley Giles backward of square for a single off the 153rd ball of his innings.”He said England’s players got very nervous as the runs kept coming.”‘They were starting to get a bit worried,’ said Astle. ‘You could see they were starting to strain a little bit on the face and get a little bit twitchy.'”

هنأ حسين لبيب رئيس الزمالك السابق، جماهير القلعة البيضاء، بعد تتويج “كوماندوز” كرة اليد ببطولة الدوري المصري، على حساب الأهلي.

وفاز فريق كرة اليد بنادي الزمالك على نظيره الأهلي في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما أمس الخميس، ضمن منافسات الجولة الختامية للمرحلة الثالثة والأخيرة من دوري المحترفين لكرة اليد.

واستطاع نادي الزمالك أن يحسم مسابقة دوري المحترفين لكرة اليد برصيد 19 نقطة، فيما ظل النادي الأهلي في الوصافة برصيد 14.5 نقطة.

وكتب حسين لبيب عبر حسابه الشخصي بموقع التواصل الاجتماعي “فيس بوك”: “ألف مبروك لكل الجماهير الزملكاوية في كل مكان من أنحاء المحروسة بل والعالم أجمع”.

طالع أيضا.. يحيى الدرع: لعبت أمام الأهلي مصابًا.. وأتمنى حصد الزمالك للكأس أيضًا

وتابع: “هذه المنظومة الناجحة على مدار 50 سنة نتيجة الحب والتفاني والإخلاص، ألف شكر لكل اللاعبين وإلى الجهاز الفني والإداري والطبي فعلا رجالة”.

وأضاف: “ألف شكر للجندي المجهول خالد فتحي الذي وقع عليه الاختيار من قبل إدارة النادي لتكوين هذا الفريق العملاق، وللعلم ليس له منصب داخل الجهاز وكل عمله تطوعي وفقط لمصلحة نادينا العظيم”.

وواصل: “وهذه المنظومة تثبت إني كنت على حق عندما قلت إن نادي الزمالك هو أكبر قلعة رياضية في العالم العربي وإفريقيا”.

واختتم: “مبروك لكل عائلة كرة اليد الزملكاوية وعلى رأسهم الكتور كمال درويش والمهندس حسن صقر وهم في الأصل عماد هذه العائلة والتي افتخر طول عمري إني فرد منها”.

A number of Derby County supporters want to see Jack Marriott leave the club permanently this summer, following his return from a loan spell.

The Rams secured survival in the Championship on the final day of the season, following a disappointing campaign at Pride Park.

Wayne Rooney kept his side in the division by the skin of their teeth and it’s time for a productive summer, in order to avoid similar happening again.

It was Derby’s 3-3 draw at home to Sheffield Wednesday that helped them stay up on a dramatic last day – someone who played no part for the Owls was the on-loan Marriott.

Injuries hampered the 26-year-old’s time at Hillsborough and he ended up being restricted to just four league starts for Wednesday.

Marriott’s spell in Sheffield has now ended, meaning Rooney has a decision to make over the midfielder’s future.

Derby fans want Marriott to leave

These Derby fans don’t want to see him stay at Pride Park beyond this summer, saying he isn’t worth persevering with.

“Sell him, if anyone will buy him. Had multiple chances under different managers. On his day brilliant, but has far too few days”

Credit: @lunar_werewolf

“The problem with Marriott is he was never actually that good, made a million times better by Mount and Wilson. Had one truly outstanding game which was the Leeds game and never again repeated that. Get rid and get someone who consistent and won’t get injured all the time”

Credit: @TheWarsmith

“Try and get a few for him. Another terrible signing”

Credit: @DickyTaiwan

“Sell unless he shows improvement in his fitness during pre season. Didn’t pull up any trees at Wednesday and even went AWOL there”

Credit: @Chrissyh2711

“Sell him for whatever you can get”

Credit: @GreatKnowleyRam

“Release him and free up some wages”

Credit: @timjacks1973

In other news, one Derby player is set for a permanent exit this summer. Find out who it is here.

Muttiah Muralitharan and Mike Atherton linked up to give Lancashire acrushing ten-wicket victory over Derbyshire in Liverpool which kept theirhopes of reaching the Benson & Hedges quarter-finals alive

Andy Wilson04-May-2001Muttiah Muralitharan and Mike Atherton linked up to give Lancashire acrushing ten-wicket victory over Derbyshire in Liverpool which kept theirhopes of reaching the Benson & Hedges quarter-finals alive.Lancashire had lost their first two groups games against Durham andLeicestershire but they were always on top after Muralitharan had bowled histen overs for four runs, one of the most economical performances in thecompetition’s 29-year history.Atherton then hit a stylish unbeaten 77 from 111 balls as Lancashirecruised past a target of 118 with more than 16 of their 50 overs to spare.Dominic Cork had won the toss and chosen to bat but Derbyshire were soon introuble with John Wood and Peter Martin reducing them to 30 for three.Muralitharan and Ian Austin then stemmed the flow of runs to a trickle,with Austin picking up the wickets of Wasim Khan and Cork in the 22nd over.Murali’s final figures of 10-7-4-1 were thought to be the best since ChrisOld conceded three runs in 11 overs for Yorkshire against Middlesex atLord’s in 1979.Austin ended with two for 18 from his ten overs, with only two Derbyshirebatsmen offering any real resistance – Mathew Dowman, who made 36, and KarlKrikken, who ended unbeaten on 23.Atherton and Mark Chilton then produced a chanceless unbroken opening standof 121 in 33.3 overs, with Atherton stroking 11 boundaries and Chiltonending unbeaten on 42, to send Lancashire into Sunday’s Roses Match in goodheart.Derbyshire, though, are left without a point from three games, and with nochance of reaching the quarter finals.

Speaking to TMW Radio (via Inside Futbol), former player turned agent Massimo Brambati has lifted the lid on Tottenham Hotspur and their contact with Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini.

The Lowdown: The Italian Job…

Since Jose Mourinho was handed his marching orders last month, Tottenham have been linked with a host of Italian managers. This includes the likes of Gasperini, Maurizio Sarri, Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri and Simone Inzaghi (football.london), who all have ample experience of managing in Serie A.

Indeed, as per reports, Spurs have been looking toward Italy for their possible next manager, but these claims are dismissed by sources closer to home (football.london).

The Latest: Agent lifts lid on Gasperini contact with Spurs

Speaking in an interview with TMW Radio, Brambati has insisted that contact has been made by Spurs for Gasperini despite the manager denying it himself recently.

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Brambati even says that Premier League manager Carlo Ancelotti has advised the 63-year-old to go to London.

“Tottenham and Monaco contacted him,” the agent explained (via Inside Futbol).

“At Atalanta he found the ideal environment, but going to London might be worth more. I know that he has been in touch with Ancelotti, who has advised him to go there, his football would be praised.

“For what he did at Atalanta, it is strange to me that he still has not had the chance to make the big leap.”

The Verdict: Appointment very unlikely…

As explained by Gasperini himself (football.london), the 63-year-old is happy at current club Atalanta – and it’s obvious to see why given the fine job he has done there since being appointed in 2016.

Under his reign, La Dea have qualified for the Champions League in the last two seasons, reaching the quarter-finals last year, and are on course to do so yet again this time around.

Indeed, Atalanta have established themselves as one of the top clubs in Serie A, with journalist Ian McGarry pointing out his ‘hyper-offensive’ footballing philosophy at the Gewiss Stadium (Transfer Window Podcast). They are the highest-scoring team in Serie A this season with 86 goals, having struck 98 in the division last term.

However, due to Gasperini’s public stance, Tottenham may have to look elsewhere for a new manager.

In other news: Tottenham exit talks for 66-cap ace emerge, find out more here.

West Ham are set for a huge boost ahead of their final five matches of the Premier League season…

What’s the latest?

According to the Evening Standard’s Jack Rosser, Irons midfielder Declan Rice has returned to training this week and there is even optimism that he could be involved for their trip to Burnley on Monday evening.

The 22-year-old was also pictured back on the grass, which was shared by popular fan account WestHamViews, though it remains to be seen to what extent he was involved.

Rice, now capped 15 times by England, had picked up a worrying knee injury during the last international break, and it was even thought that it was going to put his place at this summer’s European Championships at risk, as a result.

Huge boost

The Hammers’ impressive and surprising season has taken a turn for the worst in the absence of Rice, having suffered back-to-back defeats against Newcastle United and Chelsea.

David Moyes’ side now sit in fifth, three points behind their aforementioned London rivals, whilst the likes of defending champions Liverpool and Spurs are hot on their tail.

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By the time West Ham kick-off at Turf Moor in under a week’s time, they could’ve sunk to seventh place, results dependent, and that would be a massive blow to their lofty European ambitions.

However, having Rice back will be a monumental boost, as he’s not only been one of West Ham’s best players but one of the best in the Premier League this season, too.

Just this week, former top-flight striker Marcus Bent told Football FanCast exclusively that the 22-year-old “will be one of the world’s best” soon, whilst only three other Irons stars have bettered his average WhoScored rating of 7.02.

The £54m-rated star is also the best at reading the game in Moyes’ squad, having averaged two interceptions per game, on top of 1.9 tackles and 0.7 key passes, via WhoScored.

Rice, who is now thought to earn around £60k-per-week at the London Stadium, has also been hailed as “exceptional” by Keith Gillespie and “outstanding” by Moyes, so clearly having him back around will benefit their season tenfold.

The 58-year-old Glaswegian will undoubtedly be buzzing to see his “special talent” back in training this week.

AND in other news, GSB could deal Moyes another big blow with West Ham swoop for “special” £18m-rated gem…