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It has been well-documented of late that West Ham United have been keen on bringing their former star Jermain Defoe back to the club from struggling Sunderland, but their interest, according to Sky Sports, has cooled of late.

The Hammers have struggled for goals this season. Other than man of the moment, Michail Antonio, who has eight to his name (mostly headers), the club’s second top scorers are both Manuel Lanzini and Dimitri Payet, who have a measly three apiece.

Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho, Andre Ayew, Simeone Zaza and Ashley Fletcher have a whopping five goals – yes that is right, FIVE – between them all season, which is a ‘poor return’… and that’s being polite! Defoe, meanwhile, has over double that total with eleven himself.

Sunderland themselves are struggling this season, too, however, and manager David Moyes is under no illusions as to how important his main striker is to him, firmly stating that Defoe “is not for sale”.

If the Black Cats were really to part ways with the man who almost single-handedly kept them up last year and looks like he could do the same again this time around, it would surely be goodnight Premier League and hello Championship.

West Ham have shown the recent past that their desperation for a striker can lead them on a merry dance, so there’s every chance that they will be making a late move to tempt Defoe back to London, but here are FIVE better options for them…

Scott Hogan

The Hammers have already had three bids for Brentford forward Scott Hogan rejected, with his parent club waiting for West Ham to meet their valuation of £15m before they are willing to sell.

Hogan scored seven in seven at the back-end of last term for Brentford and has continued his fine form into this season having notched an impressive 14 times already. The striker has made it clear his desire is to play in the Premier League, however, you can’t help but think that at £15m, West Ham may be able to find themselves a more proven option…

Michy Batshuayi

Rumour has it that Fernando Llorente is Chelsea bound and that Michy Batshuayi’s brother, Aaron Leya Iseka, is heading to Swansea to fill his void. Antonio Conte worked with the Spaniard at Juventus and is apparently keen on bringing him to London.

Llorente in means Batshuayi out, surely. The young Belgian has struggled for playing time this season, however, Chelsea are unlikely to sell him on so quickly, so a loan move could be the perfect opportunity for him to get some Premier League game time under his belt. The Hammers should take full advantage if he does become available.

Moussa Dembele

It is always risky taking a player from the Scottish Premiership into the Premier League given the gulf in quality between the two divisions. It is quite often hit-and-miss, and for every Henrik Larsson there’s a Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink – whose name has more syllables than goals he has scored in English football.

Dembele has been in fine form for the Bhoys this season, and more impressively he has managed to replicate his showings in Scotland on the European stage too, putting in impressive performances against both Manchester City and Borussia Monchengladbach.

Daniel Sturridge

A move for Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge would certainly be an audacious one, however, it’s not completely unbelievable considering the striker’s lack of game time at Anfield.

While his attitude and proneness injury have at times been questioned, one thing that Sturridge does do is score goals… and lots of them. Throughout his career, he has always shone when the spotlight is on him and he is the main man, something he certainly would be for West Ham.

Carlos Bacca

West Ham were keen on the AC Milan striker during the summer, but the move wasn’t to be, with the Serie A star not willing to move.

Again, Bacca finds himself the Italian club’s top scorer this season having netted seven goals, so unless Milan are to invest heavily themselves this January, it is unlikely they will be happy to let go of their main goalscorer.

Hammers boss Slaven Bilic doesn’t seem to have given up hope just yet, however, and has hinted at another bid for the Rossoneri’s Colombian hit-man this January.

Manchester United ended 2016 on an upward trend, reversing an inconsistent start to the campaign to go on their longest winning run to date under Jose Mourinho.

They’ll be looking to continue their march towards the top four with a trip to London this evening to face West Ham United, just two days after beating Middlesbrough at Old Trafford.

It’s a tough ask playing again in such a short space of time but United have a squad able to deal with such a scenario with decent depth right across the team.

There’s no room for error for the Red Devils, though, with wins required to overhaul the teams ahead of them. All the sides in the top four have been in decent form in recent matches as well.

What team should Mourinho go for and who should be rested? This is the XI we think can get the job done against West Ham…

GK: David de Gea

David de Gea is having as consistent a season as he’s ever had in a Manchester United jersey, always there to be called upon if needed between the posts.

West Ham have found a little bit of goalscoring form recently so he may be a busier man than you’d expect. United have conceded 3 goals against the Irons already this season after all – so De Gea must be ready to do the business.

RB: Matteo Darmian

Darmian has been a good option for United this season when rotated into the team to relieve pressure on more regular starters at full-back. He can play on either side but we’re using him on the right here.

The Italian international was in excellent from recently against West Brom, tirelessly running up down and the flank and helping his team to a 2-0 victory.

CB: Phil Jones

After being rested against Boro, Phil Jones will surely be recalled to the starting XI for the trip to London.

He’s been in excellent form for weeks now, helping Man United turn their patchy results into regular wins.

With West Ham likely to show plenty of attacking ambition at home, he could be vital in securing another result for the Red Devils.

CB: Marcos Rojo

Like Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo has barely put a foot wrong in recent weeks – but found himself benched against Middlesbrough.

Nonetheless, they’re building quite the partnership, which we expect to be reinstated for the somewhat difficult journey to the London Stadium

If Jones and Rojo return in top form, the Hammers will have a tough time getting past them.

LB: Luke Shaw

Luke Shaw hasn’t featured since November for United but with such a heavy schedule, now could be the time to bring him back into the fold and give more regular starters a rest given that he’s been back in training after an injury set-back.

The left-back is still an exceptional player on his day and we have seen others turn around bad form under Mourinho.

Can he buy into the Old Trafford boss’ philosophy and push on in his Manchester United career? West Ham would be a good place to start. New year, new player.

CM: Ander Herrera

Ander Herrera has developed into a midfielder that United can rely on to dictate the tempo of a match and distribute play from left to right and back to front.

The Spaniard has become a key part of Mourinho’s system and will be vitally important in keeping United’s composure no matter what West Ham throw at them.

His ability to find a key pass in the final third will also be crucial in breaking down the Irons.

CM: Paul Pogba

Paul Pogba goes from strength to strength as a United player, consistently dragging them towards victory in otherwise unspectacular performances.

He was the man of the match in the first Premier League meeting between the two sides earlier in the season, setting up Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s equaliser to secure a vital point at Old Trafford.

If United are to get a result on the road, he’ll likely be at the centre once again.

AMR: Jesse Lingard

Jesse Lingard hasn’t quite hit the consistency required to be a regular starter for the Red Devils but can still do a job on his day.

He found an assist recently against West Brom, helping United to a 2-0 victory. He should get a start against West Ham to give him another opportunity to put in the blistering performance United fans believe he’s capable of.

AM: Juan Mata

Juan Mata hasn’t scored since November but remains an influential part of United performances when he plays, as a constant danger to defences with his passing and movement in the final third.

His set-piece ability is crucial too, especially in what could be a tight game. Perhaps a free-kick or corner could be the only path to victory.

Having only been used from the bench vs. Boro, he should be fresh, too.

AML: Anthony Martial

Martial is yet to hit fifth gear this season but has at times looked like the player worth all that money United paid to bring him to Old Trafford.

He gets a start here given his exceptional performance against the Hammers in the League Cup earlier this season, scoring a double and putting in a man of the match performance in a 4-1 victory.

Can he punish Bilic’s men again?

ST: Marcus Rashford

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is no spring chicken, so two games in 48 hours may be too much for the giant Swede.

With energy likely to be a vital factor vs. West Ham, Rashford seems a logical choice, with the youngster full of running and pressing. He could be used for an hour to soften up the Hammers’ defence for 30 minutes of Ibra!

The mood at White Hart Line has been better than expected in recent years as Tottenham have gone through massive changes in managerial personnel and on-field fortunes.

Four managers have sat in the dugout in the last seven years as Spurs looked for the right match to move the club forward. Harry Redknapp, arguably, had the best spell of any when he guided a talented side to their first ever Champions League campaign in 2010/11, which they were knocked out of by the supreme kings of Europe Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

Despite his success, he was replaced by ex-Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas who failed to equal Redknapp’s achievement and was also the same with the man who replaced him – Tim Sherwood.

However, amid what is becoming another successful season, it is looking like Tottenham may have found the answer to their managerial deficiencies in Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine arrived from Southampton in 2014 and has since changed the fortunes of Tottenham for the better.

Here we take a look at FIVE ways the ex-Espanyol boss managed that…

Got rid of bad eggs

The ex-Southampton boss arrived with the Spurs squad full of underwhelming and inconsistent players. The likes of Nacer Chadli, Roberto Soldado, Christian Eriksen, Paulinho, Etienne Capoue, Erik Lamela and Vlad Chiriches were all brought in by former boss Andre Villas-Boas – Only Eriksen and Lamela are still with the 44-year-old.

Brought in his football philosophy

Pochettino favours a high-pressing, attacking style of football to intimidate and unsettle opposing teams as well as installing winning mentality in his side. The games against Manchester City and recently Chelsea, both of which Spurs won 2-0, were a true testament of how a ‘Poch’ team operates.

“Where did I get the idea we had to (press)? It’s about your personality, who you are. You show on the pitch who you are. If you are brave in your life, you cannot behave in a different way on the pitch. I don’t understand how to play in a different way. Always, be brave. I like to be brave.”

The words of the man himself…

Found a world-class centre-forward

Harry Kane’s emergence has surely been one of the biggest achievements of the Pochettino era. Initially the third choice striker at the Lane behind the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado, he took his chances in cup matches and the rest is history.

The loss of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid meant that Spurs had to be in the hunt for another world beater to lead the team to the level they wished to attain, and they seem to have found that man in Kane, who is now one of the best strikers in world football.

The Premier League’s top scorer last season with 25 goals, the 23-year-old is one of the reasons why the north London club finished third last term. This campaign, his importance was also felt when he was ruled out for seven weeks – Spurs failed to qualify for the Champions League knockout round, partly due to this.

Watertight defence

One of the reasons Pochettino has been a success has been his focus on having a solid backline. Since his arrival, the Argentine has brought in five defenders, and, with the exception of Federico Fazio, all have impressed.

Tottenham currently have conceded the fewest goals in the league (14), and in Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld they have, arguably, the best central-defensive pairing in the league. Alderwiereld has been a masterstroke of a signing by Pochettino with the Belgian blending into his boss’ philosophy right from the off.

The right signings

Another key factor attributed to Pochettino’s success has been the influence of some of the players he has brought in. The biggest has to be Dele Alli, signed from MK Dons in League One at the time, who has emerged as one of the best players in the Premier League since his introduction last term.

The likes of Hueng-min Son, Ben Davies, Kieran Tripper, Michel Vorm and the sensational Toby Alderwiereld have all had decent impacts at Spurs, too.

Over the summer, Moussa Sissoko, Victor Wanyama and Vincent Janssen were brought in to help build on last season’s achievements. Wanyama has, so far, been the most impressive, forming a devastating partnership with Mousa Dembele in the middle of the park, which is one of the reasons why Pochettino’s men are second in the league, seven points behind leaders Chelsea.

Bastian Schweinsteiger’s Manchester United career has been a strange one. The Germany international – a serial Bundesliga winner and World Cup victor – arrived during the Louis van Gaal era to a great fanfare, but it quickly became clear that the former Bayern Munich ace had passed his best.

He dipped in and out under LVG before being axed altogether by Jose Mourinho ahead of the current campaign, with the Portuguese boss famously refusing to even name him in his Europa League group stage squad.

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Alas, Mourinho’s stance has softened in recent weeks, though, with Schweinsteiger having appeared in matchday squads and even been given the odd few minutes here and there. And he was handed a start vs. Wigan in the FA Cup on the weekend, to which he responded by putting in a performance that prompted ‘Mou’ to officially change his stance on the player:

He said (via The Sun):

“He is staying. He is going on the Europa League list because we open spaces with Depay and Schneiderlin having gone and we don’t have many options in midfield.

“90 minutes today was probably too hard for him, from minute 65 it was hard for him but now I think he is happy.”

It’s clear to see Schweinsteiger’s impact in the win over the Latics, too…

The German was truly influential at Old Trafford and contributed far beyond his headline goal and assist. Indeed, ‘Schweini’ had more touches of the ball (131) than any other player on the pitch, while his three tackles were more than any other player in red.

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Manchester United return to European competition on Thursday night, hosting St. Etienne at Old Trafford in the Europa League Round of 32.

It’s an important fixture but one that comes in the middle of a heavy schedule for Jose Mourinho’s side. They’re fighting the good fight in four competitions and before they return to Premier League action they’ll play in this tournament, the FA Cup and the EFL Cup final.

Winning silverware in Mourinho’s first season would be a great achievement for the Portuguese tactician and show supporters they are on the right track, especially if they can couple it with a top-four finish in the league.

That top-four finish is critical given it provides Champions League action but remember, so does winning the Europa League. That makes Thursday’s match against the French outfit critical and not one the Red Devils can take for granted.

Here are THREE tactical tweaks Mourinho must make for the Round of 32 clash…

Squad rotation

Jose Mourinho has a very talented squad at his disposal and given the nature of the heavy schedule, he should consider bringing in some fringe players for the clash on Thursday night.

While Sunday’s game in the FA Cup is against lower league opposition, it is away from home, which immediately makes it a tricky proposition.

Saint-Etienne are no mugs themselves but travelling to Old Trafford will be a tall order for them and Mourinho can likely bring in the likes of Marouane Fellaini from the start.

Rashford through the middle

There’s definitely an argument that Zlatan Ibrahimovic should play on Thursday night but his game is much more suited to the physical battle on Sunday so if Mourinho has to pick between which tie to deploy the Swedish legend in then that’s the one for us.

Against Saint-Etienne, Mourinho can call on the talents of Marcus Rashford who needs more game time as a striker through the middle, leading the line, anyway. We saw against Reading just how effective that can be, with the teenager notching up a superb double.

He can of course play on the left or right too, but giving him the responsibility to lead the attack alongside the likes of Anthony Martial would be an intriguing prospect for the Old Trafford faithful.

Pogba further forward

Manchester United are likely to have the vast majority of possession on Thursday night and that should allow Paul Pogba to play a more advanced role in the United midfield, behind whichever striker Mourinho opts to go with.

In this scenario, a midfield partnership of Marouane Fellaini and Ander Hererra could provide the defensive steel needed in the middle of the park.

We’ve seen on countless occasions this season that Pogba is at his best when parked in front of the opposition defensive line, looking for the key pass to runners around him and in behind the defence.

The Frenchman is in wonderful form right now and harnessing the best of his game in the attacking areas could provide real punishment for the visitors.

 Our landlord here in the Transfer Tavern has watched as Rangers’ season very closely and has witnessed them going from a side that were pushing their rivals Celtic, to a team struggling to win and struggling to keep second spot.

There was the bizarre situation that led to Mark Warburton’s exit from the club that left the punters here not even knowing if he resigned from the club or not! He’s no longer here and, since his departure, the Gers just simply haven’t been as good as they should be.

Defeats in their last two games to Dundee and Inverness, it’s a very important game this weekend against Hamilton that they kick on in the cup and at least give their fans something to cheer about this season.

Hamilton themselves have a lot play for in this quarter-final game, so Rangers will be hoping that they can ignore their league form and go all out in this cup fixture.

With that, if Murty picks this Rangers XI, they will surely beat Hamilton…

GK: JAK ALNWICK

It’s likely that the former Newcastle keeper will be featuring in this cup match and he could relish this opportunity with Foderingham not in the best of form as he tries to the lay claim for the number one spot at Ibrox.

RB: JAMES TAVERNIER

Another former Newcastle man in the Rangers ranks, Tavernier has really taken to life in Scotland and has been a vital player in their rise back to the SPFL.

He’s a full-back that loves to get forward and he can cause Hamilton all kinds of problems this weekend.

CB: DANNY WILSON

The one-time Liverpool defender has been solid at the back for Rangers since arriving from Hearts last season.

The Scotland international has had a point to prove in his second stint at Ibrox and he’s proven to be key this time around.

CB: PHILIPPE SENDEROS

The Swiss desperately needs to improve his performances to fight for his future and the Gers need a big performance in general, with Rob Kiernan likely to miss the game.

LB: LEE WALLACE

This lad stuck with Rangers all the way back to the top and even sacrificed his international career, but now they are both back on track, he looks to be playing his best football.

The captain will need to show his best leadership qualities to ensure that the Gers get through in this fixture.

CM: JON TORAL

The on-loan Arsenal midfielder hasn’t made quite the impact many at the club were hoping he would.

However, the Spanish midfielder has for sure got the quality in his locker to be able to produce and come good for the Ibrox club. He’s only at the club for a short time and he needs to show the fans he was worth the punt.

CDM: ANDY HALLIDAY

Halliday, formerly of Middlesbrough was a cog in the heart of midfield for Rangers as they claimed a spot back in the SPFL; he has however struggled to recreate that form!

Halliday has to prove his worth and prove he deserves to be in the side this weekend.

LW: BARRIE MCKAY

The highly talented Scottish winger has been tipped for big things and even linked with a move to the high-flying RB Leipzig in Germany.

However, he must be fully focused on the job in hand as his team need to get back to winning ways this weekend and try and push on the cup to having something to play for this season!

CAM: EMERSON HYNDMAN

The USA international who joined in January on loan from Premier League side Bournemouth has made a bit of an impact to the side and has proven to be an asset for the club thus far.

Still needs to keep going and keep putting in 100% for his team, each and every game from now on!

RW: JOSH WINDASS

What a signing this guy was by former gaffer Mark Warburton! Not to mention the fact they paid nothing for the former Accrington Stanley man.

Windass has been vital when he’s been fit and playing for the club. Like his father, he loves to make impact in big games and this game is big for Rangers and how much of a success this season has been for them.

ST: KENNY MILLER

You simply cannot have a Rangers side without this man at the top of it, spearheading the attack. The veteran striker just keeps getting better with age; like a fine wine.

He scores vital goals at vital times for his beloved Rangers and this game they’ll need a goal or two to progress to the semi-finals!

Wayne Rooney’s agent Paul Stretford has flown to China amid rumours that the Manchester United captain could move to the Far East before Tuesday’s deadline, reports ESPN.

What’s the latest?

It seems not a day goes by when Rooney is not dominating the transfer gossip pages, particularly as the transfer window in China does not close until next week.

Numerous reports in the British media have claimed that the 31-year-old has received a number of lucrative offers from clubs in the Chinese Super League.

After falling down the pecking order under manager Jose Mourinho, it is believed that Rooney is considering his future.

ESPN claim that the footballer’s representative jetted to China on Wednesday, but no reason was given for the trip.

BBC Sport reports that Stretford is in the country to discuss potential transfer options for his client, with Jiangsu Suning and Beijing Guoan eligible to bring in one more overseas player.

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How likely is this move?

The timing of Stretford’s presence in China obviously raises some questions, but it is worth noting that the businessman’s company Red Lantern has an office in Beijing.

The amount of news outlets reporting that a transfer could happen suggests that there is movement, but it is not yet definitive.

There are conflicting reports, though, with The Independent recently claiming that Rooney does not want to uproot and would rather move to another Premier League club if he departs Old Trafford.

Five days remain before the transfer window slams shut in China, so there is still a possibility that a move could happen.

Although, it would not be a huge surprise if Rooney was still a United player by the end of next week.

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Monaco may be chasing a two-goal deficit to one of the Premier League’s most talented sides but closing such a margin certainly isn’t beyond Leonardo Jardim’s boys.

Since taking over in summer 2014, the Frenchman has forged an incredibly talented, young team with a unique fearlessness in attack – scoring the most goals of any side involved in Europe’s five leading top flights this season.

The average age of the starting XI that took part in an eight-goal thriller with Manchester City at the Eithad Stadium last month was just 25 and Jardim looks set to select a similar side for the return leg in the Champions League’s Round of 16 on Wednesday evening.

Monaco’s rapid transformation into one of Europe’s most eye-catching sides has inevitably gained plenty of admirers from the Premier League, as supporters look ahead to the summer transfer window.

So, United fans, who should your fellow Red Devils supporters be keeping an eye out for when Monaco host the noisy neighbours later this week? Let us know by voting below!

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Arsenal will join the race for Everton midfielder Ross Barkley if he is available this summer, reports The Mirror.

What’s the word?

Barkley’s future at Goodison Park has been a talking point this season given that he will have one year left on his contract come the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur have been one club linked to the England international, but now it appears that their North London rivals will also enter the fray.

The Mirror claims that the Gunners will consider a bid for Barkley if he does not sign a new deal, despite the growing uncertainty over Arsene Wenger’s future as Arsenal boss.

Everton manager Ronald Koeman recently suggested to the media that the 23-year-old will be sold if he does not agree a new contract at the end of the season.

Is Barkley right for Arsenal?

For some time the Gunners have been lacking a pulse of power in the middle of the park.

Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge faltered once again this season, leading to suggestions that they need a bit of inspiration and grit.

Barkley may not be well renowned on the world stage, but his presence in midfield causes problems for opponents.

He is rarely muscled off the ball and he can create goalscoring opportunities as well as find the back of the net himself, particularly from distance.

Barkley, who has scored four goals and produced seven assists for Everton so far this season, also has the ability to maraud forward.

The midfielder could be an ideal addition for Arsenal, but it remains to be seen whether he will be available come the summer.

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When Pep Guardiola arrived at the Etihad Stadium last summer, many tipped an instantaneous Premier League title for his new-look Manchester City side.

With just eight games to go, that goal looks a little beyond the Citizens, but there’s no question they’ve played some of the most eye-catching football in the top flight this term as they’ve attempted the transition towards becoming a genuine Guardiola outfit.

Wins over Barcelona, West Ham and Arsenal particularly come to mind, but amid some exceptional team performances, we’ve also seen some brilliant individual displays.

Indeed, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva have pulled the strings in midfield, whilst Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane have provided explosive pace in attack and Sergio Aguero has netted 26 times across all competitions.

So who deserves this year’s Player of the Season award? Has De Bruyne done enough to make it two in a row? Should Aguero be taking it home for a third time? Or is someone else due the honour? Let us know who you think deserves the 2016/17 crown by voting below…