West Ham start life in the Championship this weekend with a first round EFL Cup tie at home to Portsmouth.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s men then begin their league campaign eight days later with an away trip to fellow relegated Premier League side Burnley.

The Hammers are red-hot favourites to lift the Championship title come May but that will be easier said than done with so many other teams pushing for promotion.

West Ham’s transfer business this summer has so far revolved around outgoings, with Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville bringing in a total of £140m following their respective moves to Tottenham and Al Hilal.

Transfer incomings may well happen over the coming weeks to further boost their squad for a big year in the Championship.

Hammers making Parrott move

West Ham are making a ‘big play’ for AZ Alkmaar striker Troy Parrott, according to talkSPORT’s chief football correspondent Alex Crook.

The Republic of Ireland international has thrived in the Eredivisie ever since first linking up with Excelsior Rotterdam on loan during the 2023/24 season.

Following a return of 17 goals in 32 games for Excelsior, AZ paid £6.7m to Tottenham to sign Parrott on a permanent deal.

The Dutch club now look set to make a big profit on the Irishman, who is valued between £20-30m, if he is to depart after plundering 51 goals and also helping them win the KNVB Cup and Johan Cruyff Shield during his time in Alkmaar.

Parrott’s exploits for the Republic of Ireland on the international stage have also brought him to the attention of clubs, with the likes of Fulham, Ajax, PSV, Real Betis and Como all reportedly showing interest.

The addition of the ‘top, top striker’ would undoubtedly give West Ham some more firepower and strengthen their chances of making an immediate return to the Premier League.

Parrott’s return to England

Parrott has always looked destined to return to England at some point in his career following his goalscoring heroics in the Netherlands for Excelsior and AZ.

Featuring in four games for Tottenham in the 2019/20 season, the Dublin-born player needed loan moves to help aid his development but they didn’t always go to plan, as was the case at Millwall and Ipswich Town.

Following an impressive spell in League One with MK Dons and a decent year with Preston in the Championship, a temporary move to Excelsior was the start of what has been three incredible years for him.

His move to the Netherlands has proved to be the making of him and he will deservedly get a big-money transfer to a club in the not too distant future.

Parrott’s ability to find the net on a regular basis for club and country will stand him in good stead, with West Ham possibly the team set to benefit if he returns to London from AZ prior to the summer transfer deadline.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) have published open letter to under-fire FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who is clinging to his job following the scuppered FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal.

Infantino is seeking a fourth and final term in charge but some of FIFA’s 211 member associations have lost faith in the 56-year-old’s ability to lead world football’s governing body following his hugely controversial attempt to sell stakes in the World Cup.

While Infantino’s FFE plan is currently dead in the water, UEFA’s 55 member associations are keen to see a change of leadership amid their threats to boycott FIFA competitions, including future World Cups.

“UEFA’s associations were very clear about the conditions attached to their non participation in FIFA competitions,” European football’s governing body said in a statement on Thursday. “First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn and secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again.

“These conditions have not been met. In addition, UEFA made it abundantly clear in its statement on Saturday that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino’s presidency. That position holds.

“Yesterday’s announcement that some people employed by the FIFA President (and whose careers depend on his favour) agree with him changes nothing.”

More Countries Now Backing Infantino

REUTERS/Dylan Martinez/File Photo

However, Infantino has support from other countries and governing bodies. Six countries pledging their support for Infantino were named earlier this week, and more have subsequently followed.

The executive committee of the African confederation (CAF) have unanimously confirmed its support for Infantino.

Mexico, co-hosts of the recently-concluded 2026 World Cup finals, have also backed Infantino despite its own regional confederation CONCACAF calling for a “comprehensive reckoning” with his presidency, per Reuters.

Argentine FA Throw Support Behind Infantino

REUTERS/Lee Smith

And now, in a major boost for Infantino, Argentina’s FA, led by president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, have thrown their full support behind the current FIFA president.

The AFA’s open letter, translated from Spanish to English, reads: “On behalf of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), and its Executive Committee, we address you, dear President, and by your worthy intermediary to the FIFA board, to express our support for the management carried out during the last 10 years, which had as its major axes the development of football around the world and institutional solidity based on a clear, stable and transparent governance model.

“In this sense, in relation to the recent events that are public knowledge, we must recognise the decision of the Administration to withdraw a project that generated, within the football family and since its inception, many more uncertainties than certainties.

“That is why it is worth highlighting the assumption of the mistakes made in this process and the apology expressed in the heartfelt message deployed to the 211 FIFA member federations. Prioritising governance standards is a fundamental pillar for strengthening good relations between FIFA, its member associations and confederations.

“From our vision, this transformation was based on a model of transparent governance, respect for statutory structures and the follow-up of democratic procedures, essential principles for the football family to be united, firm and working to continue generating improvements in sports and institutional, which have an impact on a better quality of life for millions of human beings who practice our beloved sport.

“Consequently, by virtue of the proximity of the next FIFA Congress, the Association that I proudly preside firmly believes and reaffirms that the way is to continue working under its leadership, in order to be able to continue developing a better and, even more inclusive football.”

Argentina’s players and coaching staff are currently under investigation by FIFA following the post-match altercations that marred Spain’s World Cup final triumph on July 19.

FIFA are yet to announce whether Argentina were guilty of violating its disciplinary code at the New York New Jersey Stadium last month.

Ferran Torres scored the only goal of the game as Spain were crowned world champions for the second time in their history.

Arsenal are more likely to sign Aston Villa centre-back Ezri Konsa than Premier League rivals Liverpool, according to Fabrizio Romano, and he would be an even bigger addition than Bruno Guimaraes for the club.

After adding Illan Meslier and Christos Tzolis to their squad in lower-profile deals earlier in the transfer window, Arsenal chiefs have now gone into overdrive to add some more quality for Mikel Arteta ahead of the new season.

The Spaniard will have some big ambitions for the 2026-27 campaign, including retaining their Premier League title and trying to go one better than last term and win the Champions League.

The Gunners’ squad is clearly strong after what they achieved last year, but they also cannot afford to stay still if they want to remain at the top, with a couple of quality additions needed.

With a deal for Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes imminent, strengthening the attack is clearly a priority after the north London outfit made a big play to bring Vinicius Junior to the Emirates from Real Madrid. However, the 26-year-old has decided to sign a new contract at the Bernabeu instead of moving to England.

Arsenal are looking at other positions too, including at centre-back with William Saliba out for the forseeable future because of injury.

Romano: Arsenal More Interested in Ezri Konsa Than Liverpool

David Butler / IMAGN Images via Reuters

As Arsenal search for some centre-back cover and competition ahead of the September 1 deadline, England international Konsa has emerged as a primary target.

The Gunners have reportedly already had a bid rejected by Aston Villa for the 28-year-old, who has also been linked with Liverpool in recent days, and they are expected to return with another.

Speaking on GIVEMESPORT’s Market Madness podcast on Thursday, Romano issued an update on the centre-back’s future, confirming that Arsenal have more interest in him than the Merseyside club.

“They [Arsenal] will be busy for sure.”

“[There is] Still [a] long [time to go]. I think both clubs will be keen on defenders, so there will be movements from now [until] the end of the window.”

Konsa Would be a Bigger Signing Than Bruno

via Reuters

Bruno Guimaraes is a leader and a quality, experienced Premier League player, and there is no doubt that he will bring a lot to this Arsenal team next season.

Arteta clearly thinks so because the Spaniard was so desperate to bring him to the Emirates this summer, even though he turns 29 years of age later this month.

The Brazilian will provide some competition for the likes of Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi in the Gunners’ engine room, but sorting out the centre-back position is arguably more important.

Saliba and Gabriel have proven themselves as the best centre-back partnership in the Premier League by quite some way, and Arsenal need a competent deputy for the former while he is on the sidelines, to ensure they keep their defensive solidity.

Konsa is an established Premier League centre-back who is now a regular for his country too, and the ‘exciting’ defender would bring that experience that the north London outfit require in the coming months.