Sunday News (includes West Ham)

[Alan]

BBC

Manchester United are considering a loan move for Borussia Dortmund's 20-year-old English midfielder Jobe Bellingham in January. (Express), external

West Ham and Sevilla are exploring a potential move for out-of-favour Manchester United and Netherlands forward Joshua Zirkzee, 24. (Mirror) , external

Manchester City and Tottenham are interested in Sporting and Denmark midfielder Morten Hjulmand, 26, as well as Manchester United. (Record - in Portuguese), external

Liverpool are considering moves for Newcastle and England forward Anthony Gordon, 24, and Bournemouth and Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo, 25. (Football, external Insider), external

Tottenham and Manchester City are keeping tabs on Aston Villa's England defender Ezri Konsa, with the 28-year-old also tracked by Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United over the past 12 months. (TBR Football), external

Newcastle, Brighton, Fulham and Brentford are interested in 23-year-old Middlesbrough and England Under-21 midfielder Hayden Hackney. (TBR Football), external

Roma want to renegotiate the terms of Brighton and Republic of Ireland forward Evan Ferguson's loan deal, with the 21-year-old potentially returning to the Seagulls in January. (Gazzetta dello Sport via Sport Witness), external

Newcastle and Tottenham are interested in 25-year-old Juventus and France defender Pierre Kalulu. (TuttoJuve - in Italian), external

Barcelona scouts have been monitoring English 24-year-old Marseille forward Mason Greenwood. (Sun), external

Inter Milan would be willing to accept an offer for Leeds target Piotr Zielinski, which could see the 31-year-old Poland midfielder depart in January. (Football Insider), external

Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City scouts have watched 17-year-old Bayern Munich and Germany forward Lennart Karl. (Caught Offside)




Sky Paper Talk

Premier League

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has put the block on a shock move to sign Robert Lewandowski - Sunday Mirror.

Sevilla have joined the race to hand Joshua Zirkzee an escape from Manchester United - with West Ham United boss Nuno Espirito Santo considering a loan move to bolster his ailing attack - Sunday Mirror.

West Ham plan to avoid changing their head coach for a second time this season and will back Nuno Espírito Santo in the January transfer window - Sunday Times.

Chelsea stars had to be evacuated after fears of a chlorine leak at the training ground on Friday. The Blues' first-team squad and staff left the main building at their Cobham HQ when an alarm went off in the swimming pool part of the complex - The Sun.

Championship

Sheffield Wednesday were forced to adjust their matchday operation following a sudden increase in interest for their Championship fixture against Oxford United - talkSPORT.
European football

Scott McTominay could be set for a sensational return to the Premier League after struggling with life off the pitch in Italy - Sun on Sunday.

Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has stirred the pot ahead of this weekend's El Clasico - Mail on Sunday.

Kevin De Bruyne appeared overcome with emotion after putting his Napoli side ahead from the spot against Inter Milan - only to injure himself taking the shot - Mail on Sunday.
Scottish football

Striker Odsonne Edouard has lifted the lid on the private talks with Lens that saw him close the door on other summer offers amid speculation over a Celtic return - Sunday Mail.

CFR Cluj president Iuliu Muresan has admitted the club could be forced into a January sale of Louis Munteanu after Celtic saw a summer bid booted out - Sunday Mail.

Rugby

World Rugby will announce details of a five-year programme of matches involving various top nations to increase the sport's visibility Stateside in advance of the Rugby World Cup in 2031 and the women's equivalent, also scheduled for the US, in 2033 - The Sunday Times.





OS

U21s stretch PL2 unbeaten run with victory over Villa

West Ham United U21s 1-0 Aston Villa U21s
Premier League 2, Rush Green Stadium

West Ham United U21s extended their unbeaten Premier League 2 run to five matches with a well-earned 1-0 win over Aston Villa at Rush Green Stadium on Friday night.

Gabriel Caliste’s first-half strike was enough to claim all three points on a night where Greg Lincoln’s side controlled large spells and created the better openings, climbing up to eighth in the table as a result. Our young Hammers now sit four points clear of the play-off cut-off, with other fixtures still to come across the weekend.

Josh Ajala made his first competitive start of the campaign, returning from injury. Playing on the left wing, behind striker Josh Landers, most of our best attacking moments from the first half came from his link-up play with Emeka Adiele.

It was an energetic start from the hosts, who pressed high and moved the ball confidently. Ajala, eager to make an early impression, tested Villa goalkeeper Owen Asemota inside 15 minutes after being played in by Ezra Mayers, and then headed narrowly wide from the resulting corner.

West Ham’s attacking intent was soon rewarded. In the 38th minute, Adiele and Ajala combined neatly on the left to beat the press before Adiele whipped a low cross into the area. Villa failed to clear their lines, and Caliste was on hand to guide the loose ball into the bottom corner, continuing the trend of fast starts for Lincoln’s side, who have now scored first in seven of their last eight matches.

The young Hammers almost doubled their advantage before the break as Caliste’s teasing delivery caused chaos in the box, with Landers inches away from turning it home.

Ajala remained lively after the restart, combining again with Adiele to create chances for Caliste and Mohamadou Kanté, while Landers saw a one-on-one effort denied by Asemota midway through the half.

Despite their dominance, the hosts were unable to add a second, and had to withstand late pressure from the visitors.

Tom Wooster was called upon in stoppage time, producing a fine save to push Ben Broggio’s strike wide before Jethro Medine rose highest at the back post to clear a dangerous cross from captain Aidan Borland as Villa chased a late equaliser.

But our young Hammers held firm to see out a well-earned win, securing their second league clean sheet of the season in the process.

Lincoln’s side return to action for the third time in seven days when they travel to Swindon Town on Tuesday night, where their Vertu Trophy fate will be on the line.

West Ham United U21s: Wooster, Briggs (Oyebade 72), Golambeckis ©, Mayers, Medine, Fearon, Kanté, Adiele, Caliste (Cummings 88), Ajala (Battrum 63), Landers
Subs not used: Byrne (GK), Brown

Goal: Caliste 38

Booked: Wooster
 
Aston Villa U21s: Asemota, McWilliams, Fortes, Carroll, Ruth, Borland ©, Mulley (Khmer 74), Hemmings, Wilson (Cotcher 54), Jimoh, Broggio

Subs not used: Oakley (GK), Moreland

Booked: Routh, Koné

 
Lincoln: I was really impressed with the maturity around the team ethic

Academy Head of Coaching and Player Development Greg Lincoln took great pride in how his young side managed the game, playing some positive attacking football while remaining solid at the back, which saw them claim their second clean sheet in their last three home games.

“I thought we played some excellent attacking football today, creating numerous opportunities,” he reflected. “We deservedly went 1-0 up and, if anything, we could have scored more. That’s the next bit for us, can we put the game to bed? Because it’s always on a bit of a knife edge when you leave it at 1-0. But I thought the boys played some excellent front-foot football and were deserved winners on the night.

“I was really impressed with the maturity around the team ethic. That was everyone, whether they played five minutes or 95 minutes. It was a proper collective approach to the clean sheet, with every player doing their job and actioning the learning from recent games.

“We’re starting to see them bridge that gap to senior football, recognising what’s required depending on the stage and state of the game. When we were on top, we kept pushing and increased the intensity. And when we had to suffer, we stuck together. Everybody put in a really good shift tonight.”




I think the first team might have had a game that night too, not sure.

[With Kind Regards]

Thanks Alan.