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Barry Fry has admitted that he was surprised by the initial departure of David Moyes from West Ham United, telling the Transfer Tavern exclusively that he did a good enough job to stay at the club.

Moyes has worked miracles at the Hammers this season and the club are currently fifth in the Premier League table ahead of Monday’s clash with Wolves.

They are just two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and have a relatively soft run in which the only games against clubs ahead of them come against the Blues and Leicester City.

It is Moyes’ second crack at the job, however, as he was first appointed in November of 2017, with the club in the relegation zone.

Moyes was only handed a six-month contract and he managed to steer the Hammers to safety, doing so with two games to spare.

His contract was not renewed, though, and the Hammers instead appointed Manuel Pellegrini as boss.

In 2018/19, Pellegrini did oversee a 10th-placed finish but he was sacked midway through the following season, with the Irons again flirting with danger, and he again kept them up.

And Fry thinks he should have kept his job initially after managing them to survival.

He told TT: “In a year he’s turned it round. To be fair, I thought he did brilliant for them first time round. And I was very surprised when they did didn’t offer him a further contract.

“But as soon as they came calling I know David came rushing down the motorway, he couldn’t wait to sign for West Ham because he loved his time there before.”

A discussion within the Leeds camp over Pablo Hernandez’s potential successor has been going on for a considerable period of time.

On the odd occasion last season, it was thought that the Spaniard’s performances were dwindling. At the age of 35, you can hardly blame those assessments. He’d lost a yard of pace and it was difficult to envisage him playing two games a week in a demanding Championship campaign.

However, once all was said and done, Hernandez walked away with his third successive Player of the Year award.

The attacking midfielder is a cult-hero at Elland Road but this season really has been the one where he’s struggled.

Hernandez has started just twice in the Premier League and despite Rodrigo suffering from an injury over the last few weeks; he’s still struggled to get in the side.

The reason behind that has been Tyler Roberts, someone enjoying somewhat of a rejuvenation in Yorkshire.

In January, he was on the cusp of leaving. Bournemouth were interested in his services but ultimately, the Welshman stayed. His decision to do so has immediately been vindicated.

He has gone from Leeds outcast to the man now looking like the most likely to leave Hernandez in his wake.

Roberts might not have the mouth-watering numbers that Leeds’ Spanish dynamo has recorded in recent seasons but his performances of late have been impressive.

He has had two goals ruled out against West Ham and Chelsea, strikes that would have been fine rewards for his displays.

The West Brom academy product is improving all the time and nothing typifies that more than his performance against Chelsea last weekend.

The 22-year-old was named BT Sport’s Man of the Match and was even included in Alan Shearer’s official Premier League Team of the Week.

Against Chelsea, he was rather wasteful in possession, something he needs to work on to really succeed Hernandez. That being said, he is beginning to make all the right noises.

In offensive areas, he was excellent. Roberts was unlucky to have a goal from close range ruled out while he also struck the bar with a lovely dipping effort from the edge of the box. Roberts completed three dribbles during the contest; the same number as Raphinha and had a further two shots on target.

This was an eye-catching performance, especially against a Chelsea side with five consecutive clean sheets to their name.

Described as “very talented” by Leeds guru Phil Hay, there is evidently a future for Roberts at Elland Road. In January, that didn’t look like the case.

Of course, he still has a considerable way to go to really cement his place in this Leeds team. However, in the absence of Rodrigo he has thrived.

Bielsa has entrusted him ahead of one of the club’s greatest players in the last few years; that is telling. He could just be Hernandez’s replacement.

AND in other news, Forget Gelhardt: Leeds must finally unleash rarely-seen 19 y/o, he’s a “box of tricks”…

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Southampton striker Kevin Phillips has described Danny Ings’ recent injury as a “huge blow” for the Saints.

Despite an injury-hit campaign, Ings is Southampton’s top goalscorer this campaign, but suffered another major setback at Sheffield United last weekend.

Just 13 minutes into Saints’ win at Bramall Lane, the England frontman sustained a muscle problem and is now facing around four weeks on the sidelines.

Ings missed almost the whole of November following a knee injury and also spent the best-part of January out injured.

It means that the former Liverpool striker won’t be available for Southampton’s crucial Premier League meeting with Brighton on Sunday and is expected to miss their FA Cup quarter-final with Bournemouth the following week and home game with Burnley at the beginning of April.

Since Ings’ injury, Che Adams has stepped up to the plate by scoring Saints’ second against the Blades before netting a consolation in their defeat at Man City.

But despite Adams’ impressive form, Phillips was in no mood to underplay the loss of Ings. He told Football FanCast:

“Losing Danny Ings for a few weeks is a huge blow for Southampton”.

Whilst it’s obviously a considerable blow for Southampton, beating Sheffield United was a massive result for them, especially following Fulham’s surprise victory at Anfield later in the day.

Saints head into the weekend just seven points above the relegation-zone, but with Fulham hosting Manchester City, beating Brighton on Sunday will surely but secure Southampton’s Premier League status.

Everton have landed a huge boost with Carlo Ancelotti confirming that Dominic Calvert-Lewin will make his return from injury against Liverpool in Saturday’s Merseyside Derby.

The striker, who has 18 goals to his name in 25 appearances across all competitions this season, has missed his side’s last two Premier League fixtures with a hamstring issue sustained in the FA Cup.

Calvert-Lewin was forced off the field 55 minutes into the 5-4 fifth-round victory over Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month, after scoring the Toffees’ first and assisting two strikes to mount a first-half comeback following Davinson Sanchez’s early opener.

Gylfi Sigurdsson occupied a false nine role as Everton lost 2-0 to Fulham in Calvert-Lewin’s absence, while Richarlison led the line on his own as Manchester City won 3-1 at Goodison Park last time out.

The Blues now head to Anfield striving to record their first win over Liverpool since 2010 and first away victory since 1999, with a chance to draw level on points with Jurgen Klopp’s sixth-placed defending Premier League champions.

And Ancelotti has confirmed that Calvert-Lewin will be fit enough to start on the red side of Stanley Park, along with midfielder Allan who has been out with a hamstring injury since December 16.

“Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Allan are back,” Ancelotti said on Friday.

“For the fact we have a lot of games in this period, it is important to have all the squad available. We are close to having all the players fit.

“This is important. We can rotate a little bit and keep the squad more fresh.

“Allan was out for two months. To have him back is really important for us.”

Having Calvert-Lewin back will be hugely beneficial for Everton in their hopes of recording a rare win over Liverpool on Saturday and at a time when the Reds have lost their last three fixtures held at Anfield.

While Sigurdsson and Richarlison, the Toffees’ two record signings at £45m and £50m, led the attack in Calvert-Lewin’s absence, neither offer the same presence as the England international, who was acquired from Sheffield United for just £1.5m in 2016.

Calvert-Lewin has offered a team-high 2.7 shots per game in the Premier League this season, the eight-most across the division, which is 1.7 more than Richarlison and 2.0 more than Sigurdsson when either has been fielded as a de facto centre-forward, per WhoScored.

He also offers an imperious aerial presence compared to either the Brazilian (1.3/4.7 duels won) or the Iceland international (0/0) with success in 4.6 of his 9.1 contests, only four players across the top-flight win a higher amount per game than the 23-year-old.

That’s on top of his goal output, which makes Calvert-Lewin the joint-third top-scorer in the Premier League and with the third-highest contribution rate, having netted 37% of Everton’s 35 efforts struck home to date.

So, clearly, having Calvert-Lewin back fit and available for Everton’s trip to Anfield will be hugely beneficial for Ancelotti, as he gains a colossal upgrade on his recent stand-in options.

AND in other news, Everton face a £35m asking price to land Carlo Ancelotti’s 21-year-old target…

Amid consistent transfer links to Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, with the most recent claim coming from reliable source ExWHUemployee – who claimed he is someone West Ham ‘will look at’ in the summer – plenty of Irons fans still want to see the Englishman come through the doors at the London Stadium. 

As he is reportedly at the centre of a contract dispute in west London, the Hammers have very recently been linked with Abraham by numerous outlets, with Ex, Eurosport’s Dean Jones and the Daily Star all saying that West Ham hold an interest in the 23-year-old.

The forward looks like a potentially serious transfer target for West Ham – and it’s safe to say that many supporters want to see him come through the door.

Flocking to Twitter in full debate over Abraham, one supporter claimed he would be a ‘fantastic signing’, and it’s hard to argue with that assessment given he bagged 15 goals in 25 Premier League starts last season (WhoScored).

Find some of the best verdicts below.

West Ham fans want Abraham amid transfer links

“I’d take him in a heartbeat”

Credit: @jackjooker

“Take him in a heartbeat, he would be a fantastic signing”

Credit: @Customhouseham1

“Take him all day long”

Credit: @MarkPer74361199

“Would be a good fit for our system…”

Credit: @mark9726

“Top player”

Credit: @miktol52

“Bonkers. One decent season and suddenly were too good for Abraham? He’d be class for us.”

Credit: @Hayds_

“If he’s a 100k a week player how much is Yarmolenko because he’s our highest earner with more than that. I’d say try to get him. Solid addition for me”

Credit: @bradley_eadon

“Would suit us perfect, can’t even believe the comparison to Haller. Chelsea’s main man last season and there’s a reason for that. I’d snap him up straight away”

Credit: @SamGaler1

In other news: West Ham fans loved this club announcement, find out more here.

On Thursday, the news finally broke that Crystal Palace have completed the signing of Mainz striker Jean-Philippe Mateta on an 18-month loan with an obligation to buy.

It won’t have come as too much of a surprise as the story had been circulating for some time, but most fans certainly wouldn’t have predicted that Steve Parish appears to have made a rather shrewd move in the transfer market.

Signing Mateta on loan has given Roy Hodgson try him out on a short-term basis without the need for spending huge sums of money on a transfer fee and wages.

After the Alexander Sorloth debacle which ended in the Danish striker departing Selhurst Park for £20m last year, it is this type of due diligence that suggests Parish has learned from the errors of his ways with a transfer strategy designed to end any further embarrassment and one that is considered vital to their hopes of staying above the Premier League relegation battle.

To Parish’s credit, he has backed Hodgson to the hilt by bringing in marquee signings like Eberechi Eze and Nathan Ferguson, but the Sorloth misstep is still a sour note for Palace over the past few years.

The centre-forward has become a bit of an issue for Palace heading into the second half of the season, as Christian Benteke is 30 and Michy Batshuayi can’t be trusted, especially in front of goal.

There have been several players who have struggled to cope in the Premier League having had stormers in the Bundesliga – former West Ham striker Sebastien Haller is a fine example as his struggles at the London Stadium were well-documented.

The Frenchman was signed for a club-record £45m fee by GSB and scored just 14 goals in 53 games for the Irons before departing for £20m to Ajax earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Newcastle United attacker Joelinton has netted only seven times in 66 appearances for the Tyneside outfit, having cost Mike Ashley a club-record £40m after arriving from Hoffenheim.

Mateta’s form has somewhat tailed off after he enjoyed a sensational start to the season, but anybody who watches the Bundesliga regularly knows how good he is, given his excellent goal return for Mainz.

The 23-year-old bagged ten goals and an assist in 17 appearances across all competitions this season. In an ideal world, you’d expect him to replicate this form for Palace.

Despite this, even in the event the transfer doesn’t work out as planned, the Eagles will still have gained a useful asset for a snip of the price they would have to pay to sign him on a permanent basis.

AND in other news, Crystal Palace should keep Christian Benteke or face consequences…

Aston Villa have yet to sign any players this transfer window despite rumours circulating around Morgan Sanson, but there is now another target on their list in Sivert Mannsverk.

The latest on Sivert Mannsverk

According to Calciomercato.it, Italian sides Bologna, Lazio and Inter, as well as Everton and Aston Villa are monitoring the young star currently playing in Norway.

However, Villa might have to move for the player quicker than expected as the report suggests that 2019 Champions League semi-finalists Ajax, as well as FC Groningen, have made official offers for the player.

Should Villa make a move for the player?

The 18 year-old central midfielder is already captain at Sogndal IL, which clearly shows that the club think they have a real talent on their hands (Transfermarkt). He has made 47 senior appearances, scoring five goals and picking up six assists along the way. The Norwegian also has experience in the UEFA Youth League, where he has scored once and assisted once in four appearances.

Clearly this signing would be one for the future, and the quality of the other sides interested in him suggests that he has the potential to succeed at a top level.

He is only valued at £450,000, so if Villa could get the promising star who also looks to be a leader for such a cheap price then it would be a good move.

In other Villa news, fans have been piling praise on one star at the club following his latest comments. Have a read who it is here!

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must unleash Paul Pogba against Manchester City in a pivotal clash in the Premier League on Saturday evening.

Pep Guardiola’s side will go above the Red Devils if they win at Old Trafford, which is precisely why Solskjaer must put his faith in the Frenchman, irrespective of Mino Raiola’s latest outburst.

As soon as he came off the bench against RB Leipzig, the stage was set for Pogba to make an impact.

Pogba played a big part as he stepped onto the pitch as a second-half substitute for the eighth time this season, this time replacing Nemanja Matic in the midfield in the Champions League clash against the Bundesliga challengers.

He made an impact almost immediately as United tried to fight back from 3-nil down, with his header cannoning off Harry Maguire into the back of the net to put his side within touching distance of the knockout stages.

His efforts were ultimately in vain, as United were unceremoniously dumped out of the Champions League, thanks to goals from on-loan Manchester City full-back Angelino, Amadou Haidara and Justin Kluivert.

With Raiola’s comments triggering an outcry on social media, there are of course concerns about his future at the club, but Solskjaer has moved to dissuade those fears.

Speaking in the post-match press conference, he said: “You have to ask Paul if he is happy or not. I’m not going to speak for him. Paul is focused on doing his best for the team and when he’s here he’s working hard in training just needs to focus on his performances.”

Defeat is not an option for Solskjaer, who also finds himself facing questions about his own future at the club.

Whilst his strained relationship with Pogba and his representatives is well-documented, the club legend cannot allow personal grievances to cloud his judgement.

Beating their arch-rivals would be a big step in the right direction and may go some way towards getting the Red Devils back on track.

Despite his off-pitch issues at Old Trafford, it’s fair to say that Pogba has been one of the club’s best players in recent weeks, with one goal in his past two games in all competitions.

His former boss Jose Mourinho once heaped praise on his “monster” heroics after the 2-1 win over Leicester City in 2018 before things took a turn for the worse.

Valued at £72m via Transfermarkt, the French World Cup winner has scored 34 goals and supplied 35 assists in all competitions, including two goals and an assist against the Citizens. Therefore, he surely deserves the chance to play in what could turn out to be a season-defining game for both manager and player in the Premier League.

AND in other news, Ed Woodward must secure Juventus striker Paulo Dybala as an Anthony Martial alternative…

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former footballer and current pundit Carlton Palmer has been discussing Danny Ings’ future with Southampton.

The striker joined the Saints on a permanent deal from Liverpool in 2019 and has been superb for the Saints ever since, with 39 goals and nine assists to his name in just 78 appearances for the South Coast club.

The 28-year-old striker, who earns £75k per week at Southampton, has enjoyed another superb start to this campaign, after grabbing 22 goals in the top-flight last season, having contributed six goals and three assists in just 10 top-flight appearances, averaging a superb 7.23 rating.

However, there is some concern that the England international could potentially depart Southampton in the near future, with Tottenham Hotspur having been linked with a move for Ings during the summer, whilst his contract with the Saints is set to expire at the end of next season.

Here’s what Palmer had to say about Ings’ future with Southampton when speaking exclusively to Football FanCast…

“If you’re Danny Ings, if you’re the manager and you’re in the top three. Are you going to leave there to go to Leicester [or] Everton? No, because you’re in third position. Unless you’re going to a Man United, and that might be questionable at the moment, but certainly Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, right. Unless those top clubs who you know are regularly going to challenge for major honours, why would you leave?

“With the Premier League the way that it is, and the revenue that comes with the Premier League, I don’t see that there’s going to be an issue for Southampton to pay Danny Ings the wages he would want, or to pay the manager the wages he would want. So, for me, there’s no need to leave.”

Palmer seems confident that Southampton will be able to keep Ings, as he rightly questions why the striker would want to leave when the Saints are performing so well at the moment.

Therefore, unless one of the so-called ‘big four’ come in for Ings in future transfer windows, there seems no reason why he won’t extend his stay with the South Coast club.

And, in other news… Hasenhuttl mistake: Saints should axe Long in favour of academy talent who they can “have a lot of fun with”

Everton are set to continue their impressive moves in the transfer market if emerging reports are to be believed this week…

What’s the word?

According to Citta Celeste, the Toffees are keeping a close eye on Lazio attacking midfielder Luis Alberto ahead of a potential swoop in either January or the summer.

It is claimed that the Serie A outfit are ready to sell amid further interest from league rivals Juventus and Inter Milan, but he will not be offloaded on the cheap.

Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti is said to be a huge fan of the Spaniard, who was once on the books at their arch-rivals, Liverpool.

Playmaking upgrade

The resurgent Merseysiders have also been linked to another Spanish playmaker in Real Madrid star Isco, as per AS, amid claims the 28-year-old wants to leave the Bernabeu.

His asking price of around €70m (£62m) is all too much to even think about, not to mention his reported £123k-per-week wages.

Transfermarkt currently rate Alberto at £45m but given their need for cash in a time like this, you could foresee him being available for a lower amount whilst still not surpassing what would be considered a discount.

His career has come on leaps and bounds since departing Anfield too, providing 27 goals and 44 assists in 143 appearances for Lazio.

Last season was arguably his best-ever as he delivered 15 assists in Serie A alone and also averaged 2.9 key passes and 2.7 shots per game, via WhoScored.

It is no wonder he has been dubbed an “extraordinary player” by teammate Francesco Acerbi in recent times.

Former Reds boss Brendan Rodgers compared him to Philippe Coutinho, he told talkSPORT (via Goal): “He’s another Coutinho-type. Young Luis [Alberto] is exactly the same – a talented, very highly rated young player when he was at Sevilla but obviously spent last season at Barcelona B. He’s a big talent and one for now that can play.”

Everton should be desperate for some added strength in depth and that’s what Alberto can provide next to James Rodriguez. It’s a sobering thought when you see the Italian turning to Gylfi Sigurdsson, who has simply underwhelmed for several seasons now.

Marcel Brands should pull out all the stops to clinch the Lazio wizard this January. It would be one hell of a coup to continue on from their phenomenal summer of business.

AND in other news, Toffees risk Theo Walcott repeat in move for PL outcast…