BBC
Chelsea are considering a move for Manchester United's England winger Jadon Sancho, 24, and could look to include 29-year-old England forward Raheem Sterling in a swap deal. (Telegraph - subscription required)
Chelsea have resumed talks with Napoli for Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, 25, with the terms becoming more favourable for the English club. (Sky Sports)
Selling Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay, 27, to Napoli will boost Manchester United's pursuit of 23-year-old Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte, whose club Paris St-Germain are holding out for £51m. (ESPN)
Crystal Palace are considering a move for Arsenal's England forward Eddie Nketiah, 25, after his potential switch to Nottingham Forest broke down. (Athletic - subscription required)
Nottingham Forest have submitted a third bid of £29.7m to Feyenoord for Mexico striker Santiago Gimenez, 23, which would be a record sale for the Dutch club. (Fabrizio Romano)
Napoli are hoping to sign Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour from Brighton, with the 23-year-old set to have a medical this week. (Fabrizio Romano)
Celtic's Denmark midfielder Matt O'Riley, 23, is having a medical before his move to Brighton for what will be a record sale by a Scottish club. (Sky Sports)
Manchester City are considering a move for 19-year-old Iceland striker Orri Oskarsson from FC Copenhagen. (Athletic - subscription required)
Brazil winger Vinicius Junior, 24, has delayed a decision over whether to sign a new contract with Real Madrid until 2025 amid interest from the Saudi Pro League. (Teamtalk)
Barcelona have pulled out of the race to sign Manchester City and Portugal full-back Joao Cancelo, 30, due to the £21m asking price. (Mundo Deportivo, via Goal)
Manchester City are willing to accept offers for Portugal midfielder Matheus Nunes, 25, following the return of former Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, 33, from Barcelona. (Football Insider)
West Ham are ready to offload England midfielder James Ward-Prowse, 29, before Friday's transfer deadline. (Teamtalk)
Liverpool could make a move for Sporting Lisbon's Portugal defender Goncalo Inacio, 22, while Bayer Leverkusen's Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie, 22, is also a target. (Teamtalk)
Guardian Rumour mill
Will Unwin
Chelsea’s thirst for transfers does not looked like being quenched. They are, supposedly, interested in Jadon Sancho. Enzo Maresca really likes a certain type of winger, mainly ones who aren’t Raheem Sterling. The Blues have a bloated squad, but the recruitment team have a cunning one in-one out policy now, which could result in some sort of part-exchange involving Sterling heading to Manchester United.
It is not solely wingers that intrigue Chelsea, they are looking for a striker. Napoli’s Victor Osimhen’s hefty price tag and reported £500,000-per-week wage demands are making a deal tricky, so the alternative is Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin but after scoring six against Wolves on Sunday maybe the sensible thing would be to not sign a striker at all. Osimhen is also a target for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli.
Scott McTominay during Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat by Brighton
It looked like Eddie Nketiah was heading to Nottingham Forest last week but Crystal Palace have entered the race to sign the Arsenal striker. Talks with Forest had progressed to an advanced stage but the deal collapsed, while the prospect of staying in London will be an intriguing one for Nketiah, who could cost around £30m.
This potential knock back for Forest has seen them put in another bid for Feyenoord’s Santiago Giménez. The Dutch club rejected an opening offer last week but Nuno Espírito Santo wants some extra firepower and sees Giménez as the ideal candidate.
Manchester City are thinking long term and have identified Copenhagen’s teenage striker Orri Oskarsson as a potential understudy to Erling Haaland. It seems unlikely they will bid for the Icelandic international this week but could bid in future for the 19-year-old valued at €20m.
There is a potential departure on the cards at the Etihad Stadium with City willing to sell Matheus Nunes. The Portuguese international has slipped down the pecking order under Pep Guardiola since the return of Ilkay Gündogan and could see pastures new. He struggled to make an impact in his first season at City after a move from Wolves but Liverpool could whisk him away.
The Feyenoord goalkeeper Justin Bijlow was an emotional figure after their 1-1 draw with Sparta Rotterdam at the weekend, bidding a tearful farewell to supporters because he is heading to Southampton. The 26-year-old, who has eight caps for the Netherlands, came through the ranks in Rotterdam and has known nothing else but has decided to take a chance in the Premier League.
Brighton are close to sealing a £30m deal for the Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley, who is set to undergo a medical. O’Riley was born in London but plays his international football for Denmark. He started his career at Fulham but turned down a contract and ended up at MK Dons where he kickstarted life as a professional, finally working his way back to the Premier League with the Seagulls after shining in Scotland.
Sky Paper Talk
DAILY MIRROR
Liverpool are still edging towards a deal for Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Justin Bijlow was seen crying as he waved goodbye to the Feyenoord fans after their 1-1 draw against Sparta Rotterdam. The goalkeeper is set to fly to Southampton to complete his transfer.
Charlie Patino was once hyped as the next big thing at Arsenal - but he's now leaving the club for just £1m.
Manchester City midfielder Maximo Perrone has joined Como on a season-long loan deal.
Leicester have seen their first bid for Genk star Bilal El Khannouss rejected by the Belgian club.
RB Leipzig defender Mohamed Simakan has emerged as a late option for Liverpool, according to reports in Italy.
THE SUN
Manchester United are set to use funds from Scott McTominay sale towards signing PSG star Manuel Ugarte. He is the club's No1 midfielder target and they are reportedly set to pay £51m for him.
Chelsea face competition from Al-Ahli for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen. The Saudi Pro League club have submitted an initial bid of around £55 million.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
England's rugby union players have been left shocked and disappointed by the resignation of highly-rated defence guru Felix Jones.
Chelsea are interested in a Jadon Sancho-Raheem Sterling swap deal with Manchester United.
THE ATHLETIC
Former West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna has agreed a one-year deal with Watford.
Manchester City have considered a move to sign coveted talent Orri Oskarsson from FC Copenhagen as back-up to Erling Haaland.
Nottingham Forest have made a fresh bid for Santiago Gimenez but the offer is still thought to fall below Feyenoord's valuation of the striker.
James Rodriguez is close to signing for La Liga side Rayo Vallecano. The 33-year-old is a free agent after he rescinded his contract with Brazilian club Sao Paolo earlier this summer.
DAILY EXPRESS
Arsenal could end up bringing as many as three new players to the Emirates Stadium before the summer window slams shut.
DAILY RECORD
Rapid Bucharest will reportedly try to convince Ianis Hagi to join the club from Rangers by making him their top earner - although the player himself will have to take a huge pay cut from the salary he currently earns in Govan.
Brendan Rodgers insists Celtic owe it to fans to splash the cash in the coming days after a summer of self-inflicted transfer stress.
Rangers are set to hand John Souttar a new contract after Ben Davies headed off to Birmingham on loan.
THE SCOTTISH SUN
Dundee could pull off a stunning transfer coup this week by landing Ronaldinho's son Joao Mendes on loan. The Brazilian legend's kid has just joined Burnley after spending last year in the Barcelona academy.
Football Insider
West Ham plan to accept Ward-Prowse offer – sources
West Ham are willing to sell James Ward-Prowse in the final days of the transfer window, sources have told Football Insider.
The central midfielder has been told he is free to find a new club if their asking price is met before the 31st August cut-off.
The Irons are not expecting to recoup the £30million fee they paid to Southampton a year ago, but a £25million bid would seal the deal.
West Ham sources have told Football Insider that Julen Lopetegui does not regard Ward-Prowse as instrumental as David Moyes had done when he was manager.
The England international made a 16-minute cameo in West Ham’s opening-day loss against Aston Villa and didn’t play at all against Crystal Palace.
Ward-Prowse is under contract at the London Stadium until 2027, but West Ham are willing to cut their losses.
The 29-year-old had been a key player under Moyes last season, featuring in all but one of West Ham’s Premier League fixtures.
The central midfielder also went on to make a further 14 appearances in other competitions, as he was at the heart of the team.
Ward-Prowse scored seven goals and created 11 assists in his debut season for the Irons, but the club are now trying to cash in on him.
West Ham are still looking to be active themselves in this transfer window, as they want to sign another striker.
The Athletic
West Ham thrill at Max Kilman impact as defender starts justifying lofty fee
By Roshane Thomas
There was a five-minute spell in West Ham United’s 2-0 win over Crystal Palace which offered a tantalising glimpse of this team’s potential.
Head coach Julen Lopetegui may have named an unchanged team from the opening weekend loss to Aston Villa but, between the 67th and 72nd minute, West Ham had four new signings on the field: Max Kilman, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Niclas Fullkrug and Guido Rodriguez.
Each provided flashes of what he will bring this team but Kilman, the £40million ($52.8m) defender secured from Wolverhampton Wanderers, offered more still.
The centre-half was excellent at the back and even showcased his offensive attributes when striding up-field before assisting captain Jarrod Bowen for his side’s second goal. Kilman was named man of the match and received a warm embrace from Tim Steidten, the technical director, post-match.
That charge into enemy territory was an indication of what Kilman will bring to West Ham this season. Neither Kurt Zouma nor Nayef Aguerd — the first-choice defensive partnership last season — showed those attacking traits. Declan Rice had been one of the few players at West Ham capable of such a solo run, culminating in either the midfielder scoring himself or providing an assist for a team-mate. That has been missed since his £105m departure to Arsenal.
Through that one sequence of play, Kilman showed he is more than capable of contributing offensively.
“(For my assist) I looked up and had a lot of space, and I know Jarrod has a lot of quality, and the finish was top class,” said Kilman. “To get a clean sheet and win away from home means everything.”
Lopetegui’s methods clicked in that five-minute spell with Kilman and Wan-Bissaka, signed from Manchester United for £15m, playing pivotal roles. Kilman’s run was not dissimilar to Wan-Bissaka’s 50-plus yard sprint before Tomas Soucek’s opener.
Although the midfielder did not name-check his team-mates, Soucek was full of praise for their contributions. “What impressed me most was the way we played from the back,” he said. ”I was happy with the way we pressed our opponent, but I could also find things we could improve. We gave them many chances to score, so there’s still things to work on.
“We have a lot of new players and it feels like joining a new team, but we now fight for this new team, (this) new era. I just hope that we do well because the goal is to qualify for Europe again.
“Hopefully we will continue to make more improvement on the field because today we did many good things.”
Kilman praised Wan-Bissaka’s impact, but it is the former Wolves captain who has demonstrated in back-to-back games why Lopetegui made the centre-back his first-choice transfer target. He is already on the path to justifying that £40m fee and, while the defensive pairing of Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo appears strongest on paper, Kilman has forged a solid defensive partnership with Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Lopetegui opted against singling out the former Maidenhead United defender for praise, choosing instead to highlight the team’s performance. But the fact Kilman ended the day trending on X was a strong indication of the thoughts of the West Ham faithful.
With the club open to offers for Zouma and Aguerd, Lopetegui felt Kilman could improve a defence that conceded 74 Premier League goals last term — the fourth-worst record in the division, with only relegated Sheffield United (104), Luton Town (85) and Burnley (78) shipping more.
Steidten gave the move the green light. Kilman worked with Lopetegui during the Spaniard’s 10-month stint as Wolves’ manager in the 2022-23 season. In his first interview with West Ham’s in-house media, the defender cited how the manager had improved him as a player. Last season he played every minute of Wolves’ Premier League campaign as they finished 14th.
A £30m offer from Italian side Napoli had also been knocked back last summer. Both West Ham and Newcastle registered interest earlier this summer, with the Londoners’ opening bid of £25m rejected. They eventually met Wolves’ asking price and, even at that lofty fee, the early indications are that Kilman could become one of the signings of the season based on his ball-playing ability, leadership and defensive traits.
Against Crystal Palace, he made six clearances, three interceptions and five recoveries.
Kilman played futsal for England on 25 occasions, but if he maintains his form he could fulfil a long-term ambition and earn senior recognition for his country. “It is definitely a big aim for me (to play for England),” Kilman told BBC Sport. “I have been competing against other Premier League central defenders in the last couple of years and I have been consistent.
“I want to get as high as I can as a player so playing for England would be a huge honour.”
Progressing from non-League to full international level would be reward for Kilman’s progress as West Ham revel in his presence.
Roma Press
Roma and West Ham working on agreement for Tammy Abraham
Roma are keen on sending Tammy Abraham to West Ham United in the final days of the transfer window.
The Hammers are seriously pursuit the ex-Chelsea striker who remains on the margins of the team.
Last night, Abraham sat on the bench for 90 minutes as Roma fell 1-2 to Empoli.
According to Corriere dello Sport, negotiations between the two clubs are at an advanced stage.
The newspaper states that West Ham’s offer for Abraham corresponds to 20 million euros.
The player would be happy to return to England and thus Roma are pushing to finalize an agreement for a fee of 25 million (including add-ons).
Football Insider
Exclusive: Nottingham Forest ready Ward-Prowse move
Nottingham Forest are plotting an ambitious late move for West Ham midfielder James Ward-Prowse, sources have told Football Insider.
The 29-year-old is not in the plans of Irons boss Julen Lopetegui following their big-money transfer splurge this summer.
Football Insider revealed on Monday (26 August) that West Ham are willing to sell Ward-Prowse in the final days of the transfer window – which shuts on Friday (30 August).
Forest and other Premier League clubs have been alerted to the availability of the England international.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are keen to add midfield reinforcements following Danilo’s serious ankle injury on the opening day against Bournemouth.
Ward-Prowse made a 16-minute substitute cameo in the first game of the season against Aston Villa but was an unused sub for the win over Crystal Palace on Saturday (24 August).
The free transfer arrival of Guido Rodriguez has pushed the former Southampton star even further down the pecking order at the London Stadium.
Ward-Prowse enjoyed a good first season at West Ham, notching seven goals and 11 assists in 51 appearances across all competitions under David Moyes.
But Lopetegui has replaced Moyes and is no longer viewing the 29-year-old as essential to his plans for the 2024-25 campaign.
Ward-Prowse, who is just one free-kick goal short of David Beckham’s Premier League record, is under contract at the London Stadium until June 2027.
He has made 381 appearances in the English top flight, scoring 56 and assisting 45.
Joe Davis
@whujoe
🚨🚨 | BREAKING: Kurt Zouma is now in Saudi Arabia and has been spotted at an airport in Sakaka, with rumours suggesting that he is off to Al-Orobah this time.
