WHO Poll
Q: 2023/24 Hopes & aspirations for this season
a. As Champions of Europe there's no reason we shouldn't be pushing for a top 7 spot & a run in the Cups
24%
  
b. Last season was a trophy winning one and there's only one way to go after that, I expect a dull mid table bore fest of a season
17%
  
c. Buy some f***ing players or we're in a battle to stay up & that's as good as it gets
18%
  
d. Moyes out
37%
  
e. New season you say, woohoo time to get the new kit and wear it it to the pub for all the big games, the wags down there call me Mr West Ham
3%
  



Alan 12:27 Tue Aug 22
Tuesday newspapers (includes West Ham)
BBC

Paris St-Germain are close to agreeing a season-long loan deal for Monaco and France striker Kylian Mbappe, 18. (Sky Sports)

Barcelona have accepted Liverpool will not sell them Brazil playmaker Philippe Coutinho, 25, this month. (Mirror)

Barcelona believe forward Lionel Messi, 30, and 33-year-old midfielder Andres Iniesta - who could both leave on free transfers next summer - will sign new contracts. (Independent)

Spain striker Diego Costa, 28, has been ordered by Atletico Madrid to make peace with Chelsea before they consider buying him for £25m. (Sun)

Manchester City are on the brink of giving up on signing West Brom and Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans, 29, and will bid £20m for Middlesbrough centre-back Ben Gibson, 24. (Independent)

Tottenham Hotspur are preparing a £20m bid for injured Everton midfielder Ross Barkley, 23, but still face competition from Chelsea. (Telegraph)

West Ham are already looking at potential successors to manager Slaven Bilic following their disappointing start to the season. (Mirror)

Manchester United are keen on Fulham teenager Ryan Sessegnon. The 17-year-old left-back has been a target for Tottenham. (Sky Sports)

Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare says the futures of Algeria winger Riyad Mahrez, 26 and England midfielder Danny Drinkwater, 27, might not be resolved until the final few days of the transfer window. (Leicester Mercury)

Southampton and Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk, 26, has been pictured training with the club's under-23 side after handing in a transfer request. (Express)

Chelsea will only bid for Van Dijk if they get the go-ahead from Saints, who have insisted the centre-back is not for sale. (Telegraph)

Chelsea target Antonio Candreva, the 30-year-old Italy midfielder, may be put up for sale as Inter Milan look to generate funds to sign midfielder Suso, 23, from rivals AC Milan. (Gazzetta dello Sport, via Star)

Arsenal will hold talks with England international midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain this week as they look to resolve uncertainty over the 24-year-old's future. (Mail)

Newcastle United have ditched plans to sign Montenegro striker Stevan Jovetic, 27, from Inter Milan but remain confident over a deal for Sampdoria and Belgium midfielder Dennis Praet, 23. (Talksport)

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is yet to decide whether 20-year-old winger Ryan Kent will be sent out on loan for the season. (Liverpool Echo)

Leeds United want Middlesbrough and Benin striker Rudy Gestede, 28, and NEC's Dutch forward Jay-Roy Grot, 19, as they search for Chris Wood's replacement following his exit to Burnley. (Yorkshire Evening Post)

Italy midfielder Claudio Marchisio, 31, who is a target for Chelsea, has revealed he wants to leave Serie A champions Juventus. (Gazzetta dello Sport, via Talksport)

Birmingham City manager Harry Redknapp has confirmed his interest in 21-year-old Southampton striker Sam Gallagher. (Birmingham Mail)

Burnley have made an £8m offer to French Ligue 2 side Lorient for Ghana forward Abdul Majeed Waris, 25. (Burnley Express)

West Ham have ruled out England striker Andy Carroll, 28, leaving on loan but are open to the idea of a permanent transfer, with the player linked with a return to Newcastle. (Newcastle Chronicle)

The Hammers remain hopeful of signing Sporting Lisbon's Portugal international William Carvalho, 25. Sporting are holding out for £38m while West Ham's latest offer is £30m, with another £6m in player-related bonuses, but talks continue. (London Evening Standard)

Tottenham's England midfielder Dele Alli, 21, is looking to change his agent, with a view to increasing his £60,000-a-week wages. (Mail)

Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Pires, 23, has ruled out leaving Spanish club Leganes this summer, despite being repeatedly linked with a move to Newcastle. (Newcastle Chronicle)

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos says he prefers Premier League referees to the officials in La Liga after the 31-year-old was shown his 23rd red card for Madrid against Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday. (Sky Sports)

Manchester United winger Ashley Young played just under 60 minutes of a reserve team game against Swansea on Monday after suffering a groin injury in May.

Best of Monday's transfer news

Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi, 25, could leave the club, with Inter Milan interested in signing the Germany international, who is valued at £35m. (Daily Star)

Barcelona will try to sign Paris St-Germain's 29-year-old former Manchester United midfielder Angel di Maria if they fail to sign Philippe Coutinho, 25, from Liverpool. (Mundo Deportivo, via Daily Mirror)

Manchester City are ready to break the world transfer record and meet forward Lionel Messi's £275m buyout clause at Barcelona. (Yahoo Sport - in French)

City officials have met Messi's representatives to discuss the possibility of a move for the 30-year-old Argentine to the Etihad. (Daily Record)

Arsenal have offered winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 24, a four-year contract worth £125,000 a week to fend off interest from Chelsea. (Daily Star)





Guardian Rumour Mill

Atlético Madrid remain hopeful of signing Diego Costa before the window shuts, so impressed are with the gruelling fitness regime that involves the motormouth striker working up a sweat by never talking to the media every three seconds, but first they want him to make peace with Chelsea. That should be simple enough given that Costa is hardly the type to pick an unnecessary fight. He just has to sit in a locked room with the similarly placid Antonio Conte and make sure not to upset the Chelsea manager. Keep a straight face while complimenting the Italian’s hair. Avoid talking about the FA Cup final. Try not to have a debate about whether it’s ever acceptable to break up with someone with a text message.

It’s looking like a busy end to the month for Chelsea. Lille were so impressed with Michy Batshuayi’s clinical header at Wembley on Sunday that they want to spend £36m on the Belgian striker and Conte will use the cash to sign Jamie Vardy from Leicester City and try to pip Tottenham Hotspur to the signing of Everton’s Ross Barkley, although the Mill isn’t sure if he’s worth the bother. Not content with breaking the world record to sign Neymar, who looks as though he could wear a blindfold and still score 100 goals in France this season, now Paris Saint-Germain are ready to splurge more money on Kylian Mbappé, who was sent home from training the other day. As competition from interesting developing teams is far too dangerous for the big boys to accept, PSG have decided that Monaco must be stopped at all costs. As such they’ll hand Monaco £200m and Lucas Moura in exchange for Mbappé and Fabinho.

Barcelona have admitted defeat in their attempt to lure Philippe Coutinho away from Liverpool, who were unimpressed with the Catalan club’s decision to offer £82m over four years and another £36m dependent on add-ons like Coutinho changing his name to Pip and Jürgen Klopp vowing to give Alberto Moreno a contract for life. Liverpool will celebrate seeing off Barcelona by signing Real Madrid’s Mateo Kovacic. Manchester United like the look of Fulham youngster Ryan Sessegnon and want to curtail his development by sticking him in the reserves for a few years before selling him to West Brom, who will let Manchester City have Jonny Evans for £25m. Meanwhile City are preparing to test Arsenal’s determination not to sell Alexis Sánchez this summer by offering £70m for the Chilean. Pep Guardiola appears to be over his midfielder fetish.

Jinking forwards are his new obsession. Crystal Palace have been priced out of a move for Liverpool’s Mamadou Sakho and have turned their attention to AEK Athens defender Ognjen Vranjes. West Ham still want William Carvalho, but they aren’t willing to meet the Sporting Lisbon’s £40m buyout clause.






Mirror

West Ham eyeing up Slaven Bilic replacements just 2 games into the new season after back-to-back losses

Bosses who spent big on new faces this summer have been rewarded with two defeats and seven goals against

By Neil McLeman

West Ham are already weighing up potential successors to Slaven Bilic following their disappointing start to the season.

Former Croatia national team coach Bilic is under scrutiny and the Hammers have begun drawing up contingency plans with only two rounds of Premier League games played.

Co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan are known for their reluctance to make mid-season managerial changes and Bilic’s current contract is up at the end of the season, but they are wary of being dragged into another relegation battle after last season’s struggles.

And a failure to oversee a quick upturn in results could leave Bilic in danger and force the Hammers hierarchy to reassess sooner.

West Ham travel to fourth-tier Cheltenham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday before back-to-back games against promoted sides Newcastle (away) and Huddersfield (home) either side of the international break.

Ironically, the Magpies' Rafa Benitez is one manager who remains well-thought of at West Ham, despite turning them down in 2015 to take the Real Madrid job, and he is unhappy with the Tyneside club's summer transfer business.

Bilic has been heavily backed in the transfer window this summer with Pablo Zabaleta, Joe Hart, Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez all arriving.

But West Ham have started the season with two defeats at Manchester United and Southampton, despite a stirring initial fightback from 2-0 down at St Mary’s despite being reduced to 10 men by Arnautovic's dismissal.

Their trend of conceding late goals has also continued, with three more shipped in the final four minutes of their opening two fixtures.

Transfers and who has the final say on who West Ham sign has also been another source of tension behind the scenes, with Bilic’s influence in that area understood to have been reduced.

The 48-year-old was on shaky ground last season after the club flirted with relegation during a turbulent first season at the London Stadium, but he was kept on after talks with the board at the end of the campaign.

However his hopes of making a strong start to this new season have not been helped by circumstances beyond his control.

West Ham are having to play their first four games away from home due to the London Stadium being used for the recent World Athletics Championships.

He has also been unable to field his strongest side yet, due to injuries.

Manuel Lanzini, Cheikhou Kouyate and Andy Carroll have yet to feature this season.

Michail Antonio and Aaron Cresswell made their first starts at Southampton.

But on the day they returned, Bilic suffered another injury setback when defender Winston Reid went off on a stretcher after damaging his calf during the warm-up.

In addition, he will be without Arnautovic for three games following the Austrian’s straight red card in the first half at St Mary’s.





Talksport

West Ham NOT making plans to replace Slaven Bilic as manager – talkSPORT sources

West Ham are NOT considering alternatives for Slaven Bilic as manager, sources close to the club have told talkSPORT.

Reports on Tuesday’s newspapers claimed the Hammers are considering ditching their boss following their disappointing start to the Premier League season.

West Ham have lost both of their first two games of the new campaign – against Manchester United and Southampton – and it has been suggested Bilic’s future is now in doubt.

According to the report, co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold are said to be fearful that the club could be dragged into another relegation battle and could make a change in the dug out to halt their slide.

But Hammers sources have denied those claims, insisting the story “is total rubbish”.

Bilic’s current contract as Hammers boss expires at the end of the season, and the team's performance this term will surely be critical in whether the club offer him another deal.

The London club have invested heavily over the summer transfer window as they aim for a top-half finish, landing the likes of Marko Arnautovic [£24m], Javier Hernandez [£16m] and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart [season-long loan].

However, despite their big spending, the Hammers were thumped 4-0 by Manchester United on the opening day, before falling to a 3-2 defeat to Saints on Saturday after record signing Arnautovic was sent off.






C&H

The Mark Noble issue

What I’m about to write here will of course create a huge over-reaction among many but I need to get it off my chest regardless and take absolutely no pleasure in doing so.

Watching players coming to the end of their career is never easy. I was there for Mooro, Devo, Sir Trev and Billy Bonds.’ It really was as sad as anything I can remember and you close your eyes simply wanting it to go away.

It never does!

Now it’s Mark Noble’s turn to be at the centre of that emotional and sympathetic reaction because however much we don’t want to believe or accept it, the end – as we used to say – is nigh.

He can’t get forward and he can’t get back at the pace required in modern Premier League football – that’s age! To compound the problem he is too regularly resorting to fouls – usually in dangrous positions.

None of this is his fault. Time marches on relentlessly and finds every one of us out but sometime soon Slaven Bilic has to face the worst job in the world and explain the issue to Mark

Cheik Kouyate is on his way back and the move for Willia Carvahlo is particularly significant because should we succeed in getting him, he will walk straight into the team along with Cheik.

It seems to me the preparations are being made to break to saddest news in the world to the skipper and word is that Kouyate could be fit for the weekend.

He probably won’t start but I’d bet that once again Nobes is withdrawn at some stage to make way for him.

As I said at the start this is all incredibly sad and I have taken no pleasure in writing a single word of it but reality bites and I believe Slaven has the most unenviable job in the world facing him sometime very soon.





Talksport

Diafra Sakho eyeing exit as Lazio and Bordeaux register interest in striker

West Ham's out-of-favour forward Diafra Sakho is considering his future at the club, amid interest from Lazio and Bordeaux.

The Senegal international has been pushed further down the pecking order at the London Stadium, following West Ham's capture of Javier Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic.

And, with regular first-team football not guaranteed, Sakho is questioning his future at the club, according to France Football.

Serie A side Lazio have been in touch to register their interest in the striker, while Bordeaux have also announced their desire to bring him back to France.

The striker began his career in Metz before sealing a move to West Ham back in August 2014.

Lazio have Europa League football to offer the Senegalese, something Bordeaux cannot match after their third qualifying round exit from the competition.

With just over a week left of the summer transfer window, both clubs must move quickly or risk missing out on Sakho for the time being.






OS

Westley on Tottenham win: I won’t repeat what I said at half time!

Terry Westley praised the way his U23 side turned their performance around to beat Tottenham Hotspur on Monday having come back from 2-0 down to win 3-2.

The Academy Director was left mightily disappointed after Spurs put themselves in a comfortable position during the first half, outplaying the Hammers in every department.

But after some stern words at the break – which the boss declined to repeat – the visitors came out firing and scored three quick goals to turn the game on its head.

Dan Kemp halved the deficit just four minutes into the second period before Nathan Holland equalised with a screamer from long range.

Centre-back Josh Pask then stunned Tottenham, volleying home after Tunji Akinola’s knock-down to make it 3-2 and the Hammers held on to win their first Premier League 2 Division 1 three point-haul.

After the full-time whistle, Westley said: “We’re delighted with the second half performance and the character of the team, but if you’re talking about the first half performance, we were miles off.

“If you’re talking about Premier League players, we wouldn’t have been able to get back into the game. You’re not getting back in that game in a top flight match. Whether it was because it was a training ground game, we didn’t start aggressive enough and we didn’t run hard enough.

“You can talk about tactics, technical ability…sometimes it’s just about running hard enough and if your man runs you better run with him. We didn’t do that first half by any stretch.

“Second half, we turned it around. You wouldn’t want to repeat what I said at half time! It certainly wasn’t about tactics or formations. It was about it being a local derby – this game should mean something. To be fair to us, we showed it afterwards.

“To a man, we got after them and made it more difficult, scoring an early goal and the momentum carried us through right to the very end.”

The youngsters have begun their 2017/18 campaign in fine form, and remain unbeaten with two wins from three matches.

And despite the disappointing opening 45 on Monday, a couple of names did stand out throughout the game in Westley’s eyes.

“Vashon Neufville was terrific – probably the pick – and then the whole team were all up to an eight out of ten from a three first period,” he continued. “It was that big a change.

“I’m pleased for Josh Pask – he gave away a penalty first half which was dubious to say the least, so for him to get the winner was nice.

“Second half, Nathan Holland was outstanding. He carried the ball, went past people, he scored a wonderful goal – that’s a wonderful goal at every level. First half, it was like his twin brother who can’t play – second half he was brilliant.

“If you can repeat that second 45 performance against Swansea [on Sunday], we have a good chance.”





Replies - Newest Posts First (Show In Chronological Order)

BubblesCyprus 7:03 Tue Aug 22
Re: Tuesday newspapers (includes West Ham)
Thanks Alan bit late today ( Me not you)

Devonshire Cream Tea 1:40 Tue Aug 22
Re: Tuesday newspapers (includes West Ham)
'Out of favour'

He's been injured!!

Thanks Alan 1:29 Tue Aug 22
Re: Tuesday newspapers (includes West Ham)
Thanks Alan

Takashi Miike 1:06 Tue Aug 22
Re: Tuesday newspapers (includes West Ham)
Thanks Alan

so mbappe's joining PSG on loan? what a joke league that is

ludo21 12:51 Tue Aug 22
Re: Tuesday newspapers (includes West Ham)
Why let Sakho, who has looked really sharp off the bench, go for much less than an unproven replacement will cost?

ludo21 12:49 Tue Aug 22
Re: Tuesday newspapers (includes West Ham)
Why give Nobes a new long term contract last year then?

Why give Reid a new long term contract this year?

No clue?

Babelman 12:31 Tue Aug 22
Re: Tuesday newspapers (includes West Ham)
thanks





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