The Premier League is back after the international break and the weekend’s fixtures kick off with Everton hosting West Ham United at Goodison Park.
The sides have had contrasting starts to the season, with West Ham flirting with the top 4 and Everton in the relegation zone. The Toffees will want to arrest the alarming slump in form, while the Hammers know they could go third with a win.
The match kicks off at 12.30pm and it is live on BT Sport1. Here are the factz you need to know:
* Last season, the Hammers left Goodison with a 1-3 win. Everton gained revenge with a 0-2 win later in the season at the London Stadium.
* Everton have lost their last 4 PL matches.
* West Ham are unbeaten in 6 away from him (3 wins).
* Everton have scored just 6 goals this season – and only 1 has come after half time.
* However, West Ham have trouble keeping leads – they’ve dropped 7 points from winning positions so far this season.
Struggling Manchester United are planning to make big-money bids next summer for West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice and Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly, according to reports.
United’s squad is in transition and it is widely believed the club will go on a spending spree next summer to try and close the gap to the Champions League places, according to a report on Goal.com. After a poor start – by their standards – to the Premier League, with 9 points from 8 games, it is thought the club will spend big in January and summer 2020.
The Red Devils have been linked with Rice and Koulibaly several times in the past year, although they have never got as far as making a formal bid for either player.
Rice is seen as the ideal man for the defensive midfielder position – current squad members Fred and Nemanja Matic have both been underwhelming this season. However, West Ham will drive a hard bargain if they are to be tempted into parting with one of their star players. It is thought West Ham’s owners, David Sullivan and David Gold, will want up to £80 million for the England international.
Meanwhile Koulibaly has become one of the highest rated central defenders in Europe for his performances for Napoli in Serie A and the Champions League in recent seasons. He is viewed as the man to go alongside Harry Maguire in the centre of defence. Again, a hard bargain would be driven for his signature and it could take up to £100 million to secure him. United would also doubtless face heavy competition from other European club giants such as Real Madrid and Barcelona, as well as rivals Manchester City.
Manchester United are lining up a bid of in excess of £90 million for West Ham United midfielder this coming January, according to reports.
The Daily Express claims that United are mulling over a bid as they look to bolster their midfield.
United were said to be interested in 20-year-old Rice in the summer, but didn’t make a bid. West Ham’s bosses had also been clear they wouldn’t sell.
However, United may well firm up their interest when the transfer window reopens as they look for a long-term defensive midfielder. Given the current transfer market, it has been speculated that it could take a bid of £90 million for West Ham to part with one of their most prized assets.
Rice has risen to prominence in the last 18 months, establishing himself in the Hammers side with a series of impressive performances before breaking into Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
The player himself has said he is happy at the London Stadium, but whether concrete interest from a club playing European football would turn his head remains to be seen.
