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Report: Javier Hernandez to Valencia

By Joe Prince-WrightJan 15, 2019, 8:59 AM EST
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According to Sky Sports in Italy, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez will leave West Ham for Valencia during the January transfer window.

Sky in Italy say that Mexico’s all-time leading goal scorer has agreed personal terms with La Liga side Valencia, although there is no mention whether the move is a loan or permanent deal.

Due to Michy Batshuayi’s loan move from Chelsea being cut short, Valencia are looking for a new striker this window but other reports claimed that the Hammers do not want Hernandez to leave.

Hernandez, 30, has featured sparingly for the Hammers this season under Manuel Pellegrini (five goals in 16 games in all competitions) who has preferred Marko Arnautovic up top, while the return to fitness of Andy Carroll has increased competion for minutes for the Mexico legend.

That said, with Arnautovic linked with a move to China, letting Hernandez leave now would be strange timing.

Any move could point to West Ham bringing in significant reinforcements at striker in January, as Hernandez is one of their highest earners. They’ve been linked with an audacious move for Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson.

Chicharito signed for West Ham in the summer of 2017 and has since played for three managers at the London Stadium: Slaven Bilic, David Moyes and now Pellegrini.

His modest return of 13 goals in 49 outings in all competitions is mostly down to his appearances often coming from the bench and injuries, as Chicharito has never had a good run of games for the east London club.

A move to Valencia would make sense. They’re still one of the top clubs in La Liga and although there are 10 points off the top four this season, a top six finish is still very achievable.

Hernandez last played in La Liga for Real Madrid in 2014-15, as he scored seven goals in 23 outings while on loan from Manchester United.

Transfer rumor roundup: Wilson, Paredes to Chelsea; Babel to Fulham

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By Joe Prince-WrightJan 14, 2019, 9:54 AM EST
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Chelsea continue to be linked with multiple strikers and midfielders as Maurizio Sarri aims to keep their top four challenge on track.

With Cesc Fabregas sold to Monaco, Alvaro Morata linked with a move away in January and Sarri is desperate need of a new presence in attack, The Star say that Bournemouth will accept offers of $95 million for star striker Callum Wilson. It was believed Chelsea are willing to pay up to $75 million for Wilson.

Wilson, 26, has recently broken into the England national team and has scored 10 times this season for the Cherries as his remarkable return to form after two major knee injuries has been wonderful to see. His ability to make clever runs in-behind and hold up the ball will no doubt suit Eden Hazard down to the ground, and it will give Sarri something he doesn’t have as Morata and Olivier Giroud are statuesque in comparison to Wilson.

West Ham and Wolves are also said to be in the hunt for Wilson, but Bournemouth will surely only sell him to Chelsea as Eddie Howe and the hierarchy at the club must accept the magnitude of this move for a player who battled his way through the lower leagues to the top of the game.

Chelsea have also been linked with a move for Zenit midfielder Leandro Paredes, with the Argentine causing quite a stir on social media.

He appeared to retweet a video saying ‘welcome to Chelsea’ before undoing that action, but Sarri has been clear he wants his club to sign a replacement for Fabregas and Paredes, 24, would fit the bill.

The Boca Juniors product is a playmaker in the Fabregas mold and although this may not be good news for Ross Barkley or Ruben Loftus-Cheek, it is believed Chelsea have made a $35 million bid for Paredes and the deal is moving forward. Nicolo Barella is another target but he is believed to want to stay at Cagliari, so all eyes are on Paredes who will give Chelsea an alternative to Jorginho as a deep-lying playmaker.

Staying in west London, Fulham appear to be closing in on a loan move for Dutch winger Ryan Babel.

De Telegraaf say that Babel will arrive at Craven Cottage initially on loan until the end of the season, as Claudio Ranieri needs help for Aleksandar Mitrovic and Andre Schurrle in attack as Fulham battle against relegation.

The former Liverpool winger, now 32 years old, has had a resurgence in recent months and has found himself back in the Dutch national team as well as scoring 22 goals in 62 games for Turkish side Besiktas since he arrived in Istanbul in 2017.

Babel is a lively character and someone who will help to lift any gloom building at Fulham, but his nomadic career since he left Liverpool suggests this is a gamble. Given the situation the Cottagers are in, it is probably one worth taking.

Reports: Chelsea may activate Ake buyback; Gueye wanted by PSG

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By Nicholas MendolaJan 13, 2019, 12:23 PM EST
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Bournemouth and Everton are in the headlines for reasons other than the Toffees’ 2-0 defeat of the Cherries at Goodison Park on Sunday.

Both sides are being mentioned in Sky Sports transfer centre as potential sellers of lynchpins, which makes the rumors both eyebrow-raising and differing degrees of unlikely.

[ MORE: Southgate, Simeone on Man Utd list ]

One seems wildly amiss, with Paris Saint-Germain linked with a $51 million bid for Toffees midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye (although could Marco Silva use the dough to bring in ol’ Watford pal Abdoulaye Doucoure? We digress).

The box-to-box giant would certainly help PSG boss Thomas Tuchel in his bid to succeed in the Champions League, but the money would seemingly have to be higher for Everton to consider selling a key part of Marco Silva’s attack-first XI.

The same fee is being quoted for Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake, though the Cherries might have no recourse if the 23-year-old Dutchman fancies a return to Stamford Bridge.

Sold in 2017 after a successful loan stint at the Vitality Stadium, Ake has played 60 times between the loan and permanent stints with Eddie Howe but reportedly has a $51m buyback clause in the deal.

For what it’s worth, we’re now seeing why Real Madrid and Barcelona are putting ungodly release clauses in contracts for players; Eight deals sealed by Premier League clubs this summer and fall are worth more than Ake’s release clause, which would’ve been a Top Two or Three transfer fee for a defender fee when he was signed. Now it’d be sixth.

Everton tops Bournemouth at soggy Goodison (video)

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By Nicholas MendolaJan 13, 2019, 11:10 AM EST
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  • Toffees’ 2nd win since December
  • Zouma, Digne connect for winner
  • Calvert-Lewin adds insurance in stoppage time
  • Bournemouth one point in last four PL matches

Kurt Zouma‘s second half goal propelled Everton to a rare win during a soggy 2-0 defeat of Bournemouth on Sunday at Goodison Park.

The win is Everton’s first at home in the Premier League since a Nov. 24 defeat of Cardiff City, and pushes the Toffees into 10th with 30 points. Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored from an Ademola Lookman assist deep in stoppage time to complete the scoring.

Bournemouth is 12th with 27 points.

[ MORE: Watch full PL match replays ]

A steady, heavy rain plagued the first half, as players like Gylfi Sigurdsson skidded shots wide of goal which may normally have troubled the goalkeeper.

How sloppy was it? The clubs attempted 15 shots on target, but only two were on target (Both sides hit the woodwork once).

Bournemouth’s David Brooks was very involved, hitting the post late in the half after seeing an early penalty shout rightly denied when Idrissa Gueye made a fine intervention in the box.

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Richarlison had a shot blocked and put the rebound past Asmir Begovic only to see Nathan Ake make a final goal line clearance.

Bernard then won a free kick off Jefferson Lerma, centrally-located from about 30 yards out.

Everton broke through a few touches after a corner kick, as Lucas Digne sent the ball atop the six for Zouma to turn into the goal with a fine header.

Richarlison missed with his attempt of a diving header to turn Sigurdsson’s cross on goal.

Jordan Pickford was needed twice in stoppage time as Everton held on for the win.

Watch Live: Everton v. Bournemouth

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By Nicholas MendolaJan 13, 2019, 8:39 AM EST
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Marco Silva could use some relief at Everton, which won’t come if Bournemouth wins to pass its Sunday hosts on the Premier League table on Sunday (Watch live at 9:15 a.m. ET on NBCSN and online via NBCSports.com).

WATCH LIVE, ONLINE, HERE

Goodison Park is the scene for the Cherries’ visit. Everton hopes for a respite from its miserable run, which started with the club in sixth place when the calendar hit December and could see them in 12th with a loss.

A win, on the other hand, would see Everton climb into 10th.

Bournemouth is 0-7 against Top Six clubs, but 8-3-3 against the rest of the league. It won’t have Callum Wilson, who has a hamstring strain which is not considered long-term.

The two sides drew earlier this season at the Vitality Stadium.

LINEUPS

Everton: Pickford, Digne, Zouma, Keane, Coleman, Gomes, Gueye, Bernard, Sigurdsson, Lookman, Richarlison. Subs: Stekelenburg, Walcott, Mina, Tosun, Davies, Calvert-Lewin, Kenny.

Bournemouth: Begovic, Smith, Cook, Ake, Clyne, Brooks, Lerma, Gosling, Fraser, King, Stanislas. Subs: Boruc, Surman, Mousset, Ibe, Daniels, Rico, Simpson.