Wednesday news (includes West ham)

[Alan]

BBC

Arsenal are keen on signing Germany midfielder Julian Brandt, 29, when his Borussia Dortmund contract expires this summer. (Metro), external

Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea are all keen on Freiburg's 20-year-old Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi. (Teamtalk), external

Arsenal, though, have dropped their interest in Newcastle's 25-year-old Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali. (Chronicle), external

A return to Serie A also appears unlikely for Tonali after Newcastle put a £77m (90 euros) price tag on the player, which will put off Juventus, but Manchester United and Manchester City still remain keen. (Matteo Moretto via Football Italia), external

Juventus have opened talks with Manchester City's Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva about a move when the 31-year-old's contract expires, but face competition from clubs including Galatasaray and Inter Miami. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external

Brighton are confident of beating Chelsea to the summer signing of Cologne's German winger Said el Mala, 19, who has impressed in his first season in the Bundesliga. (Football Insider), external

Chelsea do not want to sell striker Liam Delap this summer despite the 23-year-old Englishman scoring just one Premier League goal in an injury-hit season. (Mirror), external

Liverpool remain in the market for a defender this summer and Eintracht Frankfurt's Germany international Nnamdi Collins is a target, with Arsenal also monitoring the 22-year-old. (Mirror), external

Barcelona are lining up alternatives to Marcus Rashford should they they be unable to agree a deal to make the 28-year-old England forward's loan move from Manchester United a permanent one. (Marca - in Spanish), external

Crystal Palace are leading the race for Millwall winger Femi Azeez, with the 24-year-old Englishman watched by several Premier League clubs including Everton and Brentford. (Teamtalk), external

Tottenham, Crystal Palace and Manchester United are all interested in Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola. The 43-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season. (i paper, external)




Sky Paper Talk

PREMIER LEAGUE

Tottenham, Crystal Palace and Manchester United are all interested in Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, who is out of contract at the end of the season - The i Paper

Arsenal have dropped their interest in Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali - The Chronicle

Liverpool remain in the market for a defender this summer and Eintracht Frankfurt's Germany international Nnamdi Collins is a target, with Arsenal also monitoring the 22-year-old - The Mirror

Chelsea do not want to sell striker Liam Delap this summer despite the 23-year-old scoring just one Premier League goal this season - The Mirror

Roman Abramovich's lawyers have warned the Government that the £2.35bn Chelsea proceeds are "wholly" his and he is ready to fight confiscation efforts - The Telegraph

Sunday Supplement is back on Sky Sports News, bringing you the latest and best analysis from the latest football stories.

Dharmesh Sheth is joined by the best journalists from the Sunday papers to offer their expert insight.

Join them from 9am to 11am every Sunday for the new-look Sunday Supplement.

OTHER FOOTBALL

Juventus have opened talks with Man City midfielder Bernardo Silva about a move when the 31-year-old's contract expires, but the Italian club face competition from the likes of Galatasaray and Inter Miami - Gazzetta dello Sport

Barcelona are lining up alternatives to Marcus Rashford should they they be unable to agree a deal to make the England forward's loan move from Man Utd a permanent one - Marca

SCOTTISH FOOTBALL

A major umbrella group of Celtic supporters has expressed "serious concerns" about the policing plan enacted by Police Scotland during Sunday's chaotic Scottish Cup Old Firm clash with Rangers - Scottish Sun

A Scottish football cult hero described the scenes at the end of the Rangers vs Celtic match as "absolutely horrific" and told the "grown men running around in balaclavas to grow up." - Scottish Sun

Meanwhile, Martin O'Neill has pleaded with the authorities not to banish away fans from Old Firm games once again - Scottish Sun

RUGBY

England head coach Steve Borthwick has denied that Bill Sweeney's conditional vote of confidence has increased the pressure on his position and promised to fight for his future - The Telegraph





SportsView

West Ham United attacker Crysencio Summerville unlikely to recover before Aston Villa game

There is a very slim chance that West Ham United attacker Crysencio Summerville will recover in time for the game against Aston Villa next weekend, according to the Guardian journalist Jacob Steinberg.

West Ham are back in action at the London Stadium on Saturday to take on Manchester City in the Premier League but will be without the Dutchman.

Summerville got injured when the Hammers took on Brentford in the FA Cup on Monday, and a scan has revealed that he has a minor calf injury.

Jacob Steinberg
@JacobSteinberg
The likeliest scenario is Summerville returns after international break - presumably the Leeds cup game - but there’s a very slim chance he recovers in time for Villa next weekend. A blow for him as he was going to be in the Netherlands squad

Jacob Steinberg
@JacobSteinberg
Scan shows Crysencio Summerville has a minor calf injury. West Ham confident  it’s not too serious but looks like the winger will miss some games.

While West Ham are confident that it is not too serious, the winger is unlikely to return to action until after the international break.

The Irons take on Leeds United on April 4 in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, and Summerville could return for the game.

It is a huge blow for West Ham and the player given his recent form.

The 24-year-old has six goals in his last ten appearances for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, and being without him at such a crucial stage of the season is the last thing the Hammers manager needs.

The Portuguese is now likely to rely on Adama Traore in the absence of Summerville, and the Spaniard will hope to grab the opportunity.

The 30-year-old has made seven appearances for West Ham but has yet to start a Premier League game for them.

He could be given the chance to against Man City and Villa, but Nuno will be praying Summerville returns sooner rather than later.




Mail

Revealed: How West Ham could scupper London's bid for the World Athletics Championships as club REFUSE to back down on key detail

By RIATH AL-SAMARRAI, CHIEF SPORTS FEATURE WRITER

London's bid to stage the 2029 World Athletics Championships is facing a major hurdle after West Ham refused to back down in a dispute over relinquishing their home mid-season.

A deadline of April 3 has been set for initial submissions to World Athletics, with the British proposal backed by the government in efforts to bring the event back to the capital for the first time since 2017.

However, with the clock ticking, West Ham remain strongly opposed to a central strand of the plan that would see them vacate the London Stadium across roughly three weeks in September 2029.

There will be scope within the London bid to stage the event earlier in the summer, but World Athletics have already made it clear their preferred option will be a September meet, at the close of the traditional track and field season. Daily Mail Sport understands rival bids are also being prepared by Rome and Munich, so there is a fear among London 2029 insiders that any deviation away from optimal timings could be detrimental to their chances.

But West Ham, who have leased the stadium from Greater London Authority Holdings Limited since 2016, are not backing down. In a statement to Daily Mail Sport, they insisted the terms of their awkward relationship with the stadium grant them ‘priority’ during the football season and, privately, club sources are confident they can defend their position through legal avenues if necessary.

Internal club estimates suggest the September proposal would require them to play at least three successive away matches, despite the favourable timing of the autumn international break. That disruption could increase if they are no longer in the Premier League.

A West Ham statement on Monday read: 'West Ham United remain in a constructive dialogue with London Stadium regarding the potential dates for the proposed bid and await further information.

'Any decisions remain subject to the club's overriding priority clause, a contractual right ensuring West Ham United games take priority during the football season.'

The perceived vagaries of that contract have long been disputed between West Ham and operators of the stadium during a fraught relationship.

While West Ham have regularly vacated the stadium to enable its reconfiguration during summer months, usually in the form of concerts or Diamond League athletics, they have not previously left mid-season for any extended period.

This latest flashpoint runs the risk of putting West Ham at odds with both the government and the London mayor's office, who last year announced they would back the London bid with £35million and £10m respectively. The bid is being steered predominantly by UK Athletics and UK Sport.

In declaring his support, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said last summer: 'Hosting these championships would not only unlock opportunities for UK athletes but it would inspire the next generation to get involved and pursue their ambitions. The event would provide a boost for UK businesses and support jobs as well as bring our communities together.'

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport declined to comment on Monday. A spokesperson for London Stadium said: 'We are delighted that London Stadium is seen as a potential venue for the World Athletics Championships in 2029, one of the biggest events on the world sporting calendar. The 2017 Championships we hosted to sold out crowds were a huge success bringing investment and more than £100m in economic benefits to London.

'As the potential venue, we are working closely with all our stakeholders, and look forward to being part of the bid put forward by UK Athletics.'

UK Sport said: 'Organisers are working closely with all stakeholders to put together a compelling bid.'

Although the initial deadline for bids is April 3, final submissions are not required until August 5, with a hosting announcement due from World Athletics in September.

[With Kind Regards]

Thanks Alan.

[Mike Oxsaw]

The government backs the bid for the athletics competition with the full knowledge of the terms of the lease we have at the London...sorry...Olympic... stadium?

Another one to add to the list of a brand of Muppet Management that the government and civil service so seem to relish.

[wingdamage]

Thanks Alan