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Since his £25million move to Manchester United in the summer, Memphis Depay has featured mainly from the bench, drawing attention for his lazy style of play and his inability to produce goals and assists.

“We have a lot of quality, we just have to find our way. The team has all the quality to win the title. All the trophies are possible,” he said when he first signed. How wrong he was.

United are facing an uphill struggle to even qualify for the Europa League and the Premier League title is seemingly out of the question.

But in Memphis, the club have found another truly frustrating talent.

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Van Gaal continues to stand by the young Dutchman, despite his apparent lack of interest and commitment, whereas he didn’t hesitate in banishing experienced goalkeeper Victor Valdes to the reserves when the two fell out.

The Old Trafford chief’s ego fails to accept the failure of the player with so much expectation upon his shoulders. He almost considers Memphis’ struggle as a personal battle, failing to acknowledge his unmitigated demise on the pitch since his move from PSV Eindhoven.

That causes him to be involved when he doesn’t even deserve a place on the bench, something that surely displeases his team-mates at the club.

Memphis’s behaviour off the field also leaves a lot to be desired. Whether it’s his parking of a £100,000 Rolls Royce in a parent bay at a supermarket, or jetting home to party only hours after his sides’ humiliating defeat to relegation-threatened Sunderland, Memphis doesn’t seem to understand the need to stay quiet when you’re not performing.

It’s almost acceptable to be openly arrogant when you’re performing at the same level as Cristiano Ronaldo consistently every week. But not when you’re scraping minutes off the bench in an attempt to justify multi-million pound wages.

What has surprised many is Memphis’ acceptance of the situation. He says he is happy acting as a substitute if it is helps the side but that is a long way away from the attitude of a top professional. By all means do what you can to help your team win, but do it with your name at the top of the team sheet.

Van Gaal’s men have endured a wholly frustrating season and signings like Memphis have done little to ease the pressure on the manager.

Whereas the Dutch coach has repeatedly come under-fire from the press and Manchester United fans, the likes of Memphis have been able to slither under the radar, widely avoiding any open criticism.

If the 22-year-old was playing to anywhere near his actual capabilities, United could be further up the table and competing where they should be: for titles and Champions League places.

So, Memphis, what exactly did you mean when you said upon your arrival in Manchester, ‘I am excited about coming here to do my job and score goals. I am a striker so I have to score goals’?

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As the season pushes towards a crescendo, the campaign’s surprise package, Leicester City, continue to hold a dominant position at the top of the Premier League.

Mauricio Pochettino’s expansive Tottenham Hotspur side are in hot pursuit and can feel delighted by how they have performed in 2015/16, whether they reel in the Foxes or not.

The north Londoners look guaranteed a top four finish at the very minimum, and as such Champions League football will return to White Hart Lane next season. Before the campaign started, qualifying for Europe’s top tournament was the main objective and Pochettino’s job now will be to transition the club from having one positive season to making them perennial challengers.

As with any club, player recruitment is key and it will be interesting to see what Tottenham’s approach in the transfer market is this summer.

Qualifying for the Champions League opens many doors.

Finishing in the top four should be enough to convince Spurs’ brightest talents such as Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and Hugo Lloris to stay.

Similarly a wealth of top players that were previously unattainable will also be interested in a potential move to White Hart Lane.

Given the extra possibilities, Pochettino has a tough task in the market this summer, with consideration of how to improve the current contingent needing to be done meticulously and without impulse.

In days gone by, Spurs have been reckless and not been reluctant to spend money in the search of success. A typical example of this was the spending of Gareth Bale’s world-record transfer fee, which most Spurs fans would agree was largely wasted.

Another summer of splashing the cash could well be more damaging to Tottenham’s hopes than beneficial, with the collective team-spirit forged in the group one of the club’s major strengths. Bringing in a host of outsiders has the potential to upset the apple cart and derail the momentum built up by Pochettino over the last 12 months. As such, any players that do arrive in north London over the off-season must be carefully selected for both their technical abilities and attitude.

Looking at it objectively, Spurs have a fair amount of strength, depth and cover in most positions – meaning that strengthening the squad is something that isn’t automatically easy.

With Pochettino also showing faith in young players and hoping to help them develop and meet their potential, ensuring that these starlets are still receiving regular first-team football is also a concern.

In goal, Lloris remains one the Premier League’s best and certainly someone that cannot be upgraded. In the full-back positions, Spurs have two England internationals that have played an important role in the team’s success this term and are backed-up by more than able deputies. At centre-half, the Toby Alderweireld-Jan Vertonghen axis has been the crux that the team is built around, while Kevin Wimmer has performed well in the latter’s absence.

In midfield, Eric Dier has been a revelation in the boiler room while Mousa Dembele has wound back the years and looked like one of English football’s best this term. Add to this other options such as Ryan Mason, Nabil Bentaleb and Tom Carroll. On the flanks, Eriksen is assured one berth while Nacer Chadli, Erik Lamela and Son Heung-min joust for the other.

This leaves destructive English duo Harry Kane and Dele Alli to take the remaining two central berths, with the pair the lifeblood of the team, and future of it.

Spurs look to need a back-up striker and there is an argument to suggest that a new superstar central midfielder could be accommodated.

However, any new faces must be selected with caution, as the current group at White Hart Lane look as complete as any of their equivalents in English football.

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Since his huge £32.5m move to Liverpool in the summer of 2015, which saw him become the club’s second most expensive transfer of all time, Christian Benteke has, for want of a better word, struggled at Anfield.

Brendan Rodgers had signed Benteke – who had also attracted interest from a host of other clubs at the time – hoping to make the former Genk man his marque addition.

Things have not quite turned out as expected, however, with the 25 year old unfortunately becoming the fourth choice striker at Anfield since the arrival of Jurgen Klopp, falling behind the preferred Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino and, more recently, fellow Belgium international Divock Origi.

Big things were expected from the colossal 6ft. 3″ forward following his impressive spell at newly relegated Aston Villa, in which he scored 42 times in only 89 appearances for the club.

In what has been an injury plagued season, the target man has ‘failed’ to deliver at his new club and has only started 12 Premier League games all season. Fans have even dubbed the Belgian the ‘new Andy Carroll’ – with there being alarming similarities between the signing of the Englishman for another huge fee back in 2011, and subsequently his misfiring Anfield career.

Benteke’s frustration is clear. The forward has been more and more vocal about his disappointment at his lack of playing time, and a summer departure looks imminent as Klopp will look to put his own stamp on his evolving Liverpool side.

The DR Congo born forward, however, still has plenty to offer, and potentially boasts plenty of goal full years ahead of him at only 25.

Here are FIVE reasons why Benteke should cut his losses and move on this summer …

He’s Under appreciated

While it may be easy to join the bandwagon and say Benteke has not produced the same form at Anfield as he did at his previous clubs – most notably Aston Villa – the facts tell a different story.

The Belgian has scored eight league goals this term and nine in all competitions. So? you may ask. Understandably this is not a great goal return for a starting striker, however the return comes from only 18 starts in all competitions all season, meaning, in theory, the striker will grab a goal once every other game.

His total lies only three  behind Philippe Coutinho’s 12 all season; two behind Daniel Sturridge who has notched 11 times; and one behind both Roberto Firmino and Divock Origi, despite the Belgian having featured substantially less than his counterparts.

He’s a match winner

Benteke’s goals alone this season have earnt Liverpool a total of 13 points in the Premier League, with the Belgian having notched four winners against Bournemouth, Leicester, Sunderland and Crystal Palace, as well as salvaging a draw at home to Southampton back in October.

Take 13 points away from Liverpool this season and they sit plump in 13th place, only one point ahead of both West Brom and Bournemouth.

His goal against Bordeaux in the Europa League also saw Liverpool safely past a the resilient French side in the early stages of the tournament. Without his input, Liverpool would certainly not be staring down at a possible final in Basel on May 18th.

He doesn’t suit Klopp

Look at both of Jurgen Klopp’s previous clubs, and at neither did he operate with a big target man. This is particularly true of his time at Borussia Dortmund, where the forwards during his reign at the club were suited more to the high pressing and passing modus operandi he drilled into his players at the Westfalenstadion.

Robert Lewandowski, Marco Reus and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are prime examples of this, where their pace and slight footwork allow for high pressing and devastating counters.

Benteke is a different style of player. Strong in the air, fantastic at holding the ball up and handful in the box, not often will you see the Belgian run 70 yards with the ball at his feet, nor hound defenders in front of their own box. The former Standard Liege man will be lucky to find playing time under Klopp.

He’s a proven goalscorer

Regardless of this season’s successes and failures, Christian Benteke has proven he can score goals.

On loan at Kortrijk he notched 14 in 34 appearances at only 19 years old, helping the club to their best ever Pro League finish. At Genk, he bagged 19 during the 2011-2012 season helping them qualify for the Europa League. And of course, at Villa, Benteke was phenomenal, scoring 42 times in 89 games for the The Claret and Blue Army.

Provided with the right service, the big Belgian will certainly score goals. His main threat comes in the air, but he is certainly no slouch with the ball at his feet. Oh, and he has this in his locker ….

He’ll be a wanted man

A host of Premier League and European clubs will be screaming for Benteke’s signature this summer if the striker is indeed to leave Anfield after only one season at the club.

Always the professional, the forward has stated his desire to fight for his place at the club, however if an offer of first team football comes in, he should jump at the chance.

It is likely the fee would be significantly lower than the £32.5 million Liverpool paid for him, so whoever is lucky enough the secure his signature will probably be getting one of the bargains of the summer.

The star sensation in the Premier League last season by a country mile, and now the player of the European Championships already, is Dimitri Payet.

Payet was the bargain buy from Marseille that West Ham insiders raved about this time last year.

Most people had never heard of the Frenchman outside of France and it appeared to be a £10.7m gamble, but West Ham have a steady knack lately of taking risks with bringing in relative unknowns. Just look at Manuel Lanzini as another example.

During Payet’s introductory season at West Ham, the stunning free-kicks and the delightful silky skills that get you to the edge of your seat, everyone seems to have woken up to the Dimitri phenomenon. In France this summer, he has lit the fuse paper on an otherwise less than inspiring France team.

West Ham now have a task ahead of them in keeping the 29-year-old at the Olympic Stadium, but what they can do to guarantee his stay for just another season or two?

Here are five things they need to do to convince the superstar that East London is where he belongs…

Ambition

West Ham will need to convince Payet that their ambitions match his own.

If he carries on the way he started at the Euros, the big clubs will come knocking with more money, with Champions League football, with a richer history and that may be hard for the player to resist.

The Hammers are in the sister European tournament next season and it is part of their climb to challenge domestically and abroad, but Slaven Bilic and the board need to sell the “what next” if they want to keep the man that signed a five year deal back in February.

Signings

The Hammers board will need to show evidence of their commitment to the future of the club in who they sign this summer.

Payet will be offered the chance to play alongside some of the world’s best players if he moves to La Liga, for example.

The Premier League is still the richest league and can quote some stellar players within it, but West Ham will need to sign the likes of Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette to show intent to a player that is fast outgrowing East London.

New players coming to West Ham may join just because Payet is there. The 29-year-old will need to believe in West Ham and their ambitions and the clubs recruitment policy will need to be geared around proving their ambitions beyond doubt.

Slaven Bilic

The Croatian was instrumental in recruiting the player and he will be key to him staying.

New signing Feghouli has already said that he joined because of the manager and Slaven will need to be at his most persuasive this summer.

At West Ham, Payet feels loved and he has spoken publicly about the fans’ adoration. Bilic will need to be clear about what he can offer the player and where he sees the club in the next two seasons. Bilic brought him to West Ham and it’s Bilic that has put him on the European stage when he couldn’t buy a French cap last year.

Payet will listen to Bilic, but let’s hope the rhetoric is enough for now.

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Success

The Hammers came close to Champions League football and to an FA Cup semi-final last season.

For Payet, though, close won’t be enough; he will want to win trophies and that might be something a little further down the line for West Ham.

If Payet can stay next year and West Ham can win silverware and remain challenging the top four, it might be enough for the midfielder to stay.

If Lacazette comes to Stratford, then it’s even more probable that Payet will stay, but the East London club need to start winning trophies to keep this firecracker.

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Enjoyment

As long as Payet enjoys his time at West Ham it is entirely possible that it will form part of the overall decision made by the player.

According to The Mirror, Bilic has a cunning plan to keep Payet at West Ham.

The West Ham boss said: “He’s enjoying it here, it’s obvious.

“In every training session and in every minute that he’s spending here. And we are enjoying him, he’s enjoying us. When the players play good there are always going to be rumours and interest from the big clubs.

“What can you do? What should I tell him? Drop him or tell him to start playing bad so he is going to stay with us for 10 years?’Score some own goals but we’re going to have you for five years here!”

Only time will tell what happens, but for edgy Hammers fans, the end of the summer transfer window can’t close quickly enough.

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Liverpool got off to an absolutely rip-roaring start against Arsenal on Sunday and few had expect Jurgen Klopp’s side to be so good.

The German’s side raced into a 4-1 lead in the second half and really looked to be dominating the tie. Two sloppy goals reduced the defect but at times, Liverpool looked very much like a side that could compete for the Premier League title this season.

And it’s fair to say their forward line was spear-headed by one man in particular: Sadio Mane.

The summer recruit from Liverpool looked sensational for the Reds, scoring once and giving absolutely everything as his new side silenced the Emirates on at least half-a-dozen occasions throughout the ninety minutes.

Whilst Arsenal capitulated, the Senegalese international got better and better and he really showed us why Jurgen Klopp paid so much money for him this summer.

So with this in mind, here’s THREE reasons why Sadio Mane could prove to be the signing of not just the summer, but the whole season…

Pace and Power

What struck so many people about Mane’s performance against Arsenal was the sheer pace and power he has in his game.

We saw it at both Southampton and Salzburg but not quite on this level and it made for exciting viewing for Liverpool supporters.

His inspired ability to run at the Arsenal defence was so clear to see and it really did add a different dimension to Liverpool’s game that we haven’t seen for years.

Aggression which could be seriously useful

We’ve seen sides to Sadio Mane that may suggest he has a poor disciplinary record at St Mary’s but if he can channel that aggression on the pitch for the Reds, then his game can get even better.

He showed that in the game at the Emirates but in the best way possible. Model professionals have elements of aggression in their game and its really not a bad thing, when utilised in the best way possible.

His ability to score goals

If I was Jurgen Klopp I’d be seriously tempted to try and deploy the Senegalese international as a striker, if his ability allowed it.

Liverpool played Roberto Firmino upfront against Arsenal and although he looked good, if we’re being honest, we know he’s more of an attacking midfielder.

Mane’s pace, power and finishing ability pointed to his ability to potentially play as a striker and if Jurgen Klopp can develop this side of him, he could become huge.

Mark my words.

Daniel Sturridge’s regular exclusion from Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool starting line-ups should not come as a surprise. Liverpool have evolved as a side during Klopp’s short reign at Anfield, as is evident from watching even a short spell of their play. The result has been that the England striker, even when fully fit, cannot secure a place in the eleven.

There are a few reasons for this. It is not an insult to Sturridge’s quality as a forward, he is one of the most prolific finishers in the league, nor is it a reflection of some personal spat between the forward and German manager.

In Klopp’s fast-transitioning system, Sturridge is not the ideal forward to have. Widespread complaints that Sturridge has been farmed-out to a wide role are equally misguided, as he drifts into these areas regardless of his position. Even since his early days at Chelsea, Sturridge has looked to find space in the inside right channel, aiming to cut inside the opposing left-back onto his far strong left foot.

Although Roberto Firmino has often been preferred in a central role, Sturridge is hardly adapting his game to play wide. Liverpool’s front three interchange in un-trackable patterns, but Klopp clearly does not see Sturridge as a natural fit for this role.

Perhaps because of an understanding of the requirements, or his relative disinterest in the high-intensity pressing, Sturridge sees Divock Origi, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino ahead of him in the pecking order for various roles in the Liverpool forward line.

Even when Sturridge has been in and out of action with injuries, his minute-per-goals rate is hard to argue with. Some of the audacious shots he attempts with his left foot can appear selfish, but his irrepressible self-confidence makes him the danger that he is.

Rather, then, it is the injuries that may be the issue for Klopp.

Whoever you are, managers will lose patience with players who are unfit often, as Jack Wilshere has found out all too well. Klopp has always been a manager – like many of the best – who values system over individual quality. For all his goal-scoring and creative ability, Sturridge’s recent record is blighted by injury.

18 Premier League starts in the last two seasons say as much about Sturridge as his brilliant 2013/14 campaign did, unfortunately. Managers cannot build a team around players who are too often out of action, as much as Klopp may want to see Sturridge as an integral member of the squad, it’s not that simple.

He is not the conventional number nine, like Robert Lewandowski. Sturridge wants to be facing the goal, running at defenders and finding angles for a shot. He is more poacher than attacking pivot and that role doesn’t have a regular place in Klopp’s plans. All the breath-taking position changing during their opening clash against Arsenal was hardly something you could see Sturridge thriving in.

Although the former Manchester City and Chelsea star can function in this system, it’s tricky to envisage him out-performing an in-form Sadio Mane or linking play like Roberto Firmino.

Sturridge has no divine right to be a key player for Klopp. It is not to say that Klopp sees him as surplus to requirements, but that an injury-riddled forward should not be shoehorned into a team at all costs.

His quality is not in doubt, but his suitability most definitely is.

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Even though the transfer window SLAMMED (why can’t it just close?) only last week, reports are already surfacing that both Manchester United and Chelsea are setting their sights on a 2017 transfer tussle.The man at the heart of their head-to-head battle is understood to be Antoine Griezmann, with the six-goal EURO 2016 Golden Boot-winner seen as an ideal recruit by both Premier League sides.It’s not difficult to work out why, either. The 25-year-old has been staggeringly good for Atletico Madrid over the course of the last two seasons, netting 44 La Liga goals as well as nine in the Champions League as he’s transitioned from being a pacey, promising winger into an all-out attacking machine.We at FFC Towers think, from a Man United perspective, it’s vital that Jose Mourinho’s men win the intense race for Griezmann, and here are FIVE reasons why…

The Rooney problem…

As alluded to by Bleacher Report’s Dean Jones, Man United are looking at Griezmann as a potential long-term successor to Wayne Rooney. The Old Trafford skipper will be approaching 32 in 12 months’ time, and with his mobility already under scrutiny, it won’t be long before selecting him week in, week out as an attacking third player becomes questionable.

Griezmann, although he can play as a centre-forward, isn’t what you would call a natural striker, with his skills suited to a roaming role just off a main man up top, and we saw how lethal he was in tandem with Olivier Giroud in France’s EURO 2016 side, with his ability to break beyond his partner lethal.

The perfect man to accompany Zlatan Ibrahimovic if he’s still around? Seems so. Plus, we all know Mourinho loves a physical striker, and Griezmann has shown an ability to function alongside one.

Goals, goals, goals…

Last season Griezmann smashed 22 goals in La Liga action. Although that figure was dwarfed by the superhuman efforts of Luis Suarez as he crashed in FORTY for Barcelona in the same division, he was the highest non-Barca or Real Madrid goal-getter across the campaign, two above veteran Athletic Bilbao ace, Aritz Aduriz.

Goals win games, and injecting a player with a proven record at the top level – Griezmann has netted nine in Champions League action over the last two seasons as well as a further 22 in La Liga during 2014/15 – would seriously improve Man United’s potency.

Statement of intent…

Man United shattered the trend of the biggest players on the planet heading to La Liga over the summer by capturing Paul Pogba in a world-record £89m deal, and moving to add Griezmann to their ranks in just under a year’s time will further solidify their claim to be one of the planet’s truly elite teams.

With a release clause of £84m in place, Man United are likely to have to match that fee given that Atletico are banned from registering new players until January 2018, thus preventing them the chance to replace their key man, which is the sort of money to again grab headlines.

Keep him from a bitter rival…

It may not be the ideal bedrock from which to build transfer plans, but keeping him from Chelsea, or another mega side such as Manchester City, is a wise move.

Simply put, if Man United don’t sign Griezmann, it’s likely another side will eventually, and with few players of the 25-year-old’s quality in existence, other options are thin on the ground.

French connection…

The Manchester Evening News have already claimed that Man United’s vast French-speaking contingent is seen as a positive in their camp as they lay plans to sign Griezmann, and there’s no doubt that it would help the attacker settle.

Indeed, the Atletico man has played alongside Pogba for some time at international level, and the two could become the future of the Old Trafford side’s starting XI.

If you’d told most football fans that come the start of October, Huddersfield Town would be sitting pretty at the top of the Championship, it’s safe to say some people might have just laughed a you just a little.

But eleven games in, The Terriers are really showing that they’re not here to make up the numbers that instead, they’re going to be mounting a promotion push that should be taken extremely seriously indeed.

Alongside them in the chasing pack are teams like Norwich City, Newcastle, Brighton, Bristol City and even Birmingham City, who have done extraordinarily well so far with the resources available to them.

There’s a long time left in the race to get the Premier League but we’ve got a pretty clear picture as to who will be there come the end of the season.

So sit back and relax as we take you through our three teams that are destined for promotion to the Premier League come the end of the season…

Champions: Newcastle United

Football is bouncing back in the North East of England and for once, it’s Newcastle United who are pleasing their hoards of supporters.

The Toon have endured a tough few years of close shaves, relegation and disgruntlement among fans so it’s seriously refreshing to see so much good stuff coming out of St James’s Park. That’s why we’re tipping the Magpies to be champions come the end of the season.

Unlike fellow big-spenders Aston Villa, we’ve seen Newcastle’s expensively assembled squad really come together and click and on their day, their breathtaking to watch.

They play with pace, power and speed. Just ask QPR…

Second place: Norwich City

The Canaries have a real advantage in this season’s race for promotion in the fact that they’ve done it before very recently.

Alongside Bournemouth and Watford, the Canaries made the cut back in 2015 and despite finishing 19th in last season’s Premier League, you don’t doubt that Alex Neil can again guide them back into the top-flight.

Whilst their squad isn’t filled with stars and huge names, Norwich are a seriously industrial unit capable of putting any team in this division to the sword. They had a tough defeat to Newcastle towards the end of September and expect them to take revenge when the Toon are invited back to Carrow Road for the reverse fixture.

It could be a lip-smacking affair between the two sides we’re predicting for a one-two finish.

Play-off winners: Huddersfield Town

As we mentioned briefly in the intro, no-one has been more surprised than us to see Huddersfield Town storm straight to the top of the Championship table going into October’s international break.

The Terriers are absolutely flying and despite a recent wobble, they came back with a hard-fought away win over Ipswich Town this weekend. Signs like this are always promising too – the teams that can grind out those difficult-to-watch results are always going to do well and we think they have the potential to be play-off winners.

In David Wagner that have an intelligent manager who you can tell has an excellent grip of the game. His coaching is obviously spot on and we’re expecting Town to very much continue in the same stead as the season progresses.

They’ve got pace, power and guile and have everything needed to triumph in the play-offs.

A dramatic end to Saturday evening’s game at White Hart Lane was as hurtful as it could get for West Ham. Moments away from a significant victory, sloppy defending late on allowed Tottenham to snatch the most unlikely of 3-2 victories to leave the Hammers a solitary point above the relegation zone.

Slaven Bilic’s side produced a performance that offered so much, as they limited Spurs to almost no meaningful first half attacks. The robust 3-4-3 that has been so effective of late congested the midfield, making Harry Kane and Vincent Janssen almost completely irrelevant during the first passages of the game. All looked rosy for a potential season-shaping victory, with the defence well organised throughout. Winston Reid put in one of his best performances in recent months, but his foolish late red card perfectly summed up West Ham’s demise.

You could be forgiven for thinking that the Hammers’ poor start to the season means they are due a run of easier fixtures. That, unfortunately for Bilic, is so very far from the truth. Consecutive fixtures with Manchester United are coming up – one of which is in the EFL Cup – followed by the visit of Arsenal and a trip to in-form Liverpool. Upsetting the odds is now a necessity for Bilic’s side, who could find themselves in the discomfort of the bottom three.

Defeat to Tottenham was greater than a heartbreaking derby loss, it was a failure to turn a corner in a dismal season. Two late goals will have sapped all momentum in the squad ahead of one of the most torturous runs of domestic fixtures anyone could imagine. Bilic’s job security, despite the success of last season, is now in doubt. Those two goals could be definitive in the path of Bilic’s career, it may be the moment that he looks back on as costing him his job. Of course, they could serve as the motivation needed to push the side on the far greater things over the next few weeks, too.

A couple of fatal pieces of judgement in the West Ham defence could prove to be just that. The ambitions for West Ham this season, unsurprisingly so, were far greater than simply avoiding relegation. A start like this one, coupled with the hideous fixture list over the next month or so, makes that the target from this point onwards. Defensively there have been improvements since a change in shape, but the failure to secure a reliable centre forward continues to haunt the club. Simone Zaza’s cameo on Saturday evening saw some decent link-up play, but his fluffing of a vital opportunity was pivotal.

There have been other chances to turn draws into victories that West Ham have failed in, too. This is, perhaps, the running theme of this season to date. An expensive summer of spending is yet to yield much in the final third and that does not bode well for the coming weeks.

In an exclusive reported by Scottish news website Glasgow Live, Liverpool are set to test Celtic’s resolve with a mammoth £20m bid for French striking sensation Moussa Dembele.

What’s the word?

Not content with being the highest scorers in the English Premier League, the Anfield club are said to be offering a package to bring Dembele south of the border this January, stealing a march on potential suitors next summer.

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Glasgow Live report that Klopp’s side are prepared to offer £10m up front for the striker with another £10m to be paid in add ons, based on what Dembele can do at Liverpool and what success he can bring.

It would be a sensational transfer if it came off, breaking Scottish records, but it would also be a heartbreaking farewell for Celtic fans who have taken to the young Frenchman already so early in his Hoops career.

Doesn’t he want to stay?

We discussed yesterday that Moussa Dembele wanted to stay at Celtic for the foreseeable future.

Quoted by the Glasgow Evening Times, he said: “I have a four-year contract at Celtic and I don’t see myself leaving. I won’t be going anywhere in winter.”

But as we know money talks and a chance to substantially boost his wages while playing for another of Europe’s iconic clubs could be too big a draw for the player.

The club too would have to think seriously about accepting the offer given that he arrived from Fulham in the summer for a compensation fee below £1m.

How good is he?

Dembele already has plenty of talent but it’s his potential that has eyes across Europe looking on in envy at Celtic for obtaining the striker for such a cut-price fee.

He’s scored 17 goals already this season for the Glasgow club including 5 in Europe. He’s also a big game player, scoring in derbies and cup finals in front of some of the biggest crowds in football.

At just 20 years of age, the sky is the limit for the young man.

While the potential fee is a lot of money, if Liverpool can get in on his talent early, £20m may end up to be considered a bargain in Premier League terms in the future.

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