Paper Talk
Aaron Lennon is heading for the exit at Spurs - after it emerged the club were frantically trying to sell the winger on deadline day.
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure is on Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti's radar.
Harry Redknapp reckons Glenn Hoddle deserves another chance as England manager.
QPR boss Harry Redknapp is eyeing a move for Portuguese free agent Hugo Almeida.
Sunderland have been linked with a transfer for free agent Brazilian striker Jonas.
Tottenham technical director Franco Baldini's position is in doubt after Spurs failed to land new striker in the transfer window.
Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel has called for fans to stick behind Louis van Gaal.
Former Norwich boss Chris Hughton is itching to get back in the managerial hotseat.
New Huddersfield Town manager Chris Powell has called on football's chiefs to address the lack of management opportunities for black coaches.
Manchester City and Arsenal are preparing to go head-to-head in a bid to sign £25m-rated Borussia Dortmund winger Marco Reus.
Cristiano Ronaldo has hit back at suggestions he questioned Real Madrid's transfer dealings following the departures of midfielders Xabi Alonso and Angel Di Maria, claiming he was misinterpreted.
Manchester United's new signing Radamel Falcao has revealed he is now feeling spectacular and ready to show he can play at the top level.
Arturo Vidal, Mats Hummels and Sami Khedira remain top targets for Manchester United in January while they are expected to sell Juan Mata.
Manchester City are planning a move to sign Southampton forward and Tottenham target Jay Rodriguez as manager Manuel Pellegrini looks to buy more English players.
QPR defender Rio Ferdinand "cannot believe" former club Manchester United sold striker Danny Welbeck to Arsenal.
England manager Roy Hodgson says he can't understand why his swearing outburst should "provoke a fit of moral indignation" and that he swears all the time - even in front of his wife.
BBC
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Manchester City and Arsenal are preparing to go head-to-head in a bid to sign £25m-rated Borussia Dortmund winger Marco Reus, 25. (Daily Star Sunday)
Manchester City are also planning a move to sign Southampton forward and Tottenham target Jay Rodriguez, 25, as manager Manuel Pellegrini looks to buy more English players. (Sun on Sunday - subscription required)
Liverpool are pressing ahead with plans to sign free agent Victor Valdes, 32, as long as the former Barcelona goalkeeper is able to prove his fitness. (Liverpool Echo)
QPR are considering a loan move for Portugal forward Hugo Almeida, 30, who has been out of contract since leaving Turkish club Besiktas in May. (Sunday Mirror)
Meanwhile United have vowed to buy "a Luis Suarez a year" as they reveal a new aggressive transfer policy financed by their lucrative kit deal with Adidas. (Sunday Telegraph)
Manchester City's attacking midfielder Albert Rusnak, 20, is being tracked by a host of top-flight English and Dutch clubs after earning rave reviews while on loan at SC Cambuur in the Netherlands. (Sky Sports)
Atletico Madrid midfielder Tiago, 33, claims he has turned down "a great offer" from Chelsea to return to Stamford Bridge. (Evening Standard)
QPR defender Rio Ferdinand, 35, says he "cannot believe" former club Manchester United sold striker Danny Welbeck, 23, to Arsenal. (Sun on Sunday - subscription required)
OTHER GOSSIP
The Football Association reportedly has a list of players they are monitoring in relation to possible connections to match-fixing. (Mail On Sunday)
England manager Roy Hodgson, 67, says he cannot understand why his swearing outburst should "provoke a fit of moral indignation" and that he swears all the time - even in front of his wife. (Sunday Express)
Hodgson is weighing up whether to play captain Wayne Rooney, 28, on the left wing for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Switzerland on Monday. (Sunday Telegraph)
Cristiano Ronaldo, 29, has hit back at suggestions he questioned Real Madrid's transfer dealings following the departures of midfielders Xabi Alonso, 32, and Angel Di Maria, 26, from the Bernabeu, claiming he was misinterpreted. (Mail on Sunday)
Manchester United's Di Maria, 26, claims former club Real sent him a letter asking him not to play in the World Cup final to avoid aggravating a leg injury. (Independent on Sunday)
Striker Radamel Falcao, 28, says he feels like "a kid" after his move to Manchester United, and wants to bring "goals and victories" to the club. (Observer)
Manager Jose Mourinho, 51, says Chelsea's big-spending days are over and they cannot match the £60m United spent on Di Maria. (Eurosport)
Former England manager Terry Venables, 71, says England must unleash their "outstanding player" Raheem Sterling, 19, and allow him to play with freedom. (Independent on Sunday)
Defender Micah Richards, 26, has revealed an old Manchester City friend persuaded him that Fiorentina was the right place to get his career back on track - ex-Blue Stefan Savic, 23, who is also at the Serie A club. (Manchester Evening News)
Yeovil manager Gary Johnson, 61, - who turned up just 15 minutes before a recent game amid rumours he was unhappy over the club's transfer policy - has said he has not fallen out with the chairman. (Sky Sports)
Former Southampton playmaker Matthew Le Tissier, 45, believes Rickie Lambert should replace the injured Daniel Sturridge when England play Switzerland on Monday. (Talksport)
Franco Baldini's future as Tottenham's technical director is under scrutiny after the club failed to land a striker during the transfer window. (Sunday Mirror)
BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil, 25, tweets a photograph of him holding his young nephew, with the message: "Life can be so uncomplicated when we see it through the eyes of a child".
Hull midfielder Tom Huddlestone, 27, was impressed with Kei Nishikori's surprise US Open tennis defeat of world number one Novak Djokovic, tweeting : "That's a turn up for the books. Fair play though, he deserved to be in the final."
Jose Enrique, 28, proves he's the romantic type, the Liverpool left-back posting a selection of photographs of him and his wife in France, with the words: "Enjoying Paris so much with my lady for our anniversary. Beautiful city."
AND FINALLY
Bayern Munich sent a school in Macedonia 255 seats to help with the renovation of its sports facilities. (Metro)
Colorado Rapids' keeper Joe Nasco managed to get sent off just 34 seconds into an MLS game against LA Galaxy. (101 Great Goals)
Former Liverpool and England striker Emile Heskey, 36, ballooned a ball high and wide of a target on a live television show. (Metro)
C&H
Reid: Time is slipping away
West Ham are still awaiting a response from Winston Reid’s advisers on their £60k latest offer to the central defender.
And a source close to the player claims that the New Zealander may be being held back from proving himself as a top defender by the Hammers playing style
There is still no agreement and ClaretandHugh understands new talks will be held over the next fortnight.
The Hammers are keen to nail a deal down as Reid – in the last year of his contract – could even sign a pre contract for a foreign club in January
A source close to Reid told us exclusively: “Top clubs want players who are comfortable on the ball and defenders who can play and bring the ball out.
“The Hammers play a more direct game where that approach isn’t as high on the agenda and thus bigger clubs are unsure of the extent of his abilities and not as quick to make an offer as they otherwise might be!
“Talks are planned over the next couple of weeks which will hopefully sort things out one way or the other.”
HITC
New £12m West Ham United striker scores again for Ecuador
West Ham United’s big-money summer signing Enner Valencia scored again for his national team last night as Ecuador crushed fellow South Americans Bolivia 4-0 in an international friendly.
The 24-year-old striker made headways this summer as he performed excellently for Ecuador despite their early World Cup exit.
During the three group games, he netted once against Switzerland and twice during his country’s 2-1 victory over Honduras – just one goal short of Lionel Messi’s World Cup total in four fewer matches.
His impressive performances caught the attention of a number of leading European sides but it was the Hammers who managed to seal his signature, prising him away from Mexican outfit Pachuca for an estimated fee of £12 million.
Whilst life in the Premier League hasn’t quite kicked off just yet – Valencia has made just two substitute appearances, totaling 20 minutes of action – his goals on the international scene continue to flow.
Against Bolivia, with his side cruising at 2-0, the West Ham striker put the result beyond doubt as he latched on to a clinical through-ball before rounding the goalkeeper and slotting home into the empty net.
It was his seventh international goal in as many games in 2014 and was yet more proof of what he can do when given the opportunity.
With a run which sees West Ham face Liverpool, Manchester United and ;Manchester City over the next six games, surely it won’t be long until boss Sam Allardyce releases the shackles and shows exactly why he parted with £12m for the natural goalscorer.
Valencia's goal
OS
U18s overcome Real Madrid
West Ham United U18s scored a memorable win to finish third at the Champions Cup
West Ham United U18s recorded a memorable victory over Real Madrid as they secured third place at the Champions Cup invitational tournament.
Without a league game due to the international break, the Hammers were invited to the two-day tournament by hosts Tottenham Hotspur.
Featuring matches of two 30-minute halves, the first day of competition saw West Ham defeat Liverpool 2-0 and lose 1-0 to Portuguese side Benfica in Group B on Friday. In-form striker Jordan Brown scored both goals against the Reds.
However, the narrow defeat by Benfica left the Hammers second in Group B and paired them with Group A runners-up Real Madrid.
But Steve Potts' squad rose to the occasion against their illustrious opponents and took the lead through Marcus Browne's direct free-kick after just two minutes. West Ham dominated the opening half and could have extended their lead, with Kieran Bailey twice going close.
Into the second half and Madrid came into the game slightly more, but it was the Hammers who continued to create the better chances. After Bailey had again been denied, West Ham were rewarded midway through the second half when Djair Parfitt-Williams' corner was headed into the net by Emmanuel Onariase.
Now in full control, the Londoners relaxed and could easily have extended their lead, only for Grady Diangana to shoot wide when well-placed. The final whistle sparked celebrations among those in Claret and Blue, with the victory completing an encouraging and very worthwhile two days' work.
C&H
Sums add up for permanent Song deal
West Ham should have little trouble in finding room within their long term wage bill to accommodate Alex Song on a permanent basis.
The Irons have negotiated a ‘to buy’ option in the player’s one year loan deal and with seven players coming out of contract next summer the club will be in a strong financial bargaining position given the squad’s new strength in depth.
The seven players are Guy Demel, Carlton Cole, Ricardo Vaz Te, Jussi Jaaskalainen, Ravel Morrison, Mark Noble and Winston Reid.
The top priority will be in nailing down another Noble deal and talks on Reid’s position are likely to restart soon with the club looking for an answer on their reported £60k a week offer.
Morrison too will be on the agenda but the other four can be expected to move on thus freeing up more than sufficient wages to agree a financial package with Song.
The player has already spoken of his enthusiasm to join the club based in part on our move to the Olympic Stadium and the Hammers are hopeful of tying him down long term
