Sunday newspapers (includes West Ham)

[Alan]

"BBC Barcelona and Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, 35, remains on the list of players the Saudi Pro League wants to sign. (Sport - in Spanish) Arsenal hope to sign Wolves' 23-year-old Portugal forward Pedro Neto in the January transfer window. (Mirror) Arsenal are monitoring 19-year-old Sporting Lisbon and Ivory Coast defender Ousmane Diomande. (Givemesport) Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli says Chelsea failed to sign 23-year-old Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic because they did not meet Juve's valuation. (La Repubblica via Goal) West Ham chose not to sign England forward and free agent Jesse Lingard, 30, because of his lack of fitness. (Football Insider) Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham have expressed an interest in 22-year-old Feyenoord and Mexico striker Santiago Gimenez. (Fijaches - in Spanish) The Saudi Arabia football federation has approached leading English Premier League referees about officiating in the Saudi Pro League. (Telegraph - subscription) Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is keen to sign Netherlands forward Donyell Malen, 24, from Borussia Dortmund as he looks for a back-up option for 31-year-old Egypt winger Mohamed Salah. (Bild via Express) Bayern Munich are in talks to re-sign 35-year-old former Germany defender Jerome Boateng, who is a free agent after leaving Lyon at the end of last season. (Sky Sports Germany) Everton are ready to offer England Under-21 defender Jarrad Branthwaite, 21, a new contract. (Football Insider) Real Madrid want to sign Athletic Bilbao's 21-year-old Spain forward Nico Williams in January. (Fichajes - in Spanish) Juventus are set to hold talks to extend the contract of 28-year-old France midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who signed a new one-year deal in the summer. (Tuttosport via Football Italia) Sky Paper Talk DAILY EXPRESS Chelsea are plotting a January move for Victor Osimhen - while there is also growing optimism Romelu Lukaku will finally be sold next summer. Arsenal remain interested in a deal for Wolves winger Pedro Neto but any potential approach has been complicated by the Portuguese attacker's sparkling form at Molineux. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is reportedly keen to sign Donyell Malen from his former side Borussia Dortmund as he looks to acquire a different option on the right. DAILY MAIL Mauricio Pochettino has suggested Mikel Arteta is playing a dangerous game by alternating between his two main goalkeepers David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale. THE SUN Crystal Palace have put Portuguese coach Paulo Fonseca on their radar as the long-term successor to Roy Hodgson. Lisandro Martinez may be forced to have a second operation in order to solve his foot issues. Harry Kane cost less than ¬£104m, according to Bayern Munich chairman Herbert Hainer. DAILY MIRROR Marcus Rashford's performance left Manchester United's staff in despair during their meek 1-0 loss at home to Crystal Palace. Juventus' sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has rubbed salt into goal-shy Chelsea's wounds by detailing how the Blues could have landed Dusan Vlahovic over the summer. Stonewall will send Jordan Henderson a pair of rainbow laces in a test of the England star's stance on LGBT+ issues. THE GUARDIAN Mohamed Salah's contract at Liverpool is the catalyst for him to earn at least ¬£1m a week in total income, his lawyer and adviser has indicated. Guardian Bowen and Soucek ease West Ham to victory against insipid Sheffield United Jacob Steinberg at the London Stadium The strange thing was that none of Sheffield United‚Äôs players even tried to rattle West Ham. Paul Heckingbottom‚Äôs side were insipid beyond belief on an afternoon devoid of drama and intensity, their defensive foundations crumbling under the slightest pressure, and it said little for their hopes of staying up that they were so easily swatted aside by opponents who spent the second half protecting their legs before visiting Freiburg in the Europa League on Thursday. Bowen got the Irons off to a fine start with his goal in the 24th minute of the match West Ham were playing the game on their terms by that stage, goals from Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek inside the opening 37 minutes allowing them to save their energy for tougher assignments. If there were positives for Sheffield United, who remain bottom after earning one point from their opening seven games, it was only that they did not lose by more. Do not be fooled by hints of defiance once it was 2-0: West Ham finished the job during the first half, exposing naive defending with incisive attacking, and the absence of any competitiveness when it was goalless will surely raise further doubts over Paul Heckingbottom‚Äôs future. ‚ÄúI look at the first half and probably think we passed the ball OK but we were too loose in possession,‚Äù Sheffield United‚Äôs manager said. ‚ÄúThe distances between us as a team were far too big. ‚ÄúWhen we lost possession we didn‚Äôt have enough to win it back. It‚Äôs clear why we lost.‚Äù It was easy to imagine him focusing on making his side hard to beat after their 8-0 defeat to Newcastle last weekend. For that to work, though, Sheffield United would need to stay switched on throughout. They would have to snap into every challenge and make life horrible for West Ham. As it was they were incapable of mustering any spirit or organisation. The writing was on the wall when meek defending from James McAtee let Bowen through on the right after five minutes. All that spared McAtee was a poor finish from Soucek, who fired over from close range, but there was no sign of Sheffield United heeding the warning. They were lucky not to concede when an unchallenged Bowen headed a corner from James Ward-Prowse straight at Wes Foderingham and while the visitors offered a brief threat when Cameron Archer forced Nayef Aguerd to block a goalbound shot early on their resistance soon faded. West Ham always had an extra gear, particularly when Lucas Paquet?° drifted in from the left to create. When the opener arrived, though, there was no role for Paquet?°. A patient move developed on the right and involved Edson ?Ålvarez and Bowen combining before Soucek released Vladimir Coufal with a beautiful pass. The crispness of football worthy of West Ham‚Äôs attacking traditions left Sheffield United chasing shadows. Coufal‚Äôs forays from right-back overwhelmed Luke Thomas and nobody stayed with Bowen‚Äôs run. Given time, there was no chance of the West Ham forward missing as he met Coufal‚Äôs cutback with the inside of his left foot and increased his chances of being named in the England squad next week by producing a measured finish for his fifth goal of the season. ‚ÄúJarrod‚Äôs as close now as he‚Äôs ever been,‚Äù David Moyes said. ‚ÄúHe looks quick, sharp, really slick. To play for England you have to be good at scoring in big games. Jarrod‚Äôs doing great for us. He was a wee bit unlucky not to have more goals today.‚Äù West Ham were soon chasing further goals, Michail Antonio twice going close. Sheffield United were hanging on and the pressure told when a tentative attempt to play out from the back culminated in Gustavo Hamer conceding possession after dropping back from midfield. Emerson Palmieri intercepted his pass, Antonio found Soucek and the midfielder sorted out his feet before beating Foderingham. Tomas Soucek scores West Ham's second goal against Sheffield United. Photograph: Rob Newell/CameraSport/Getty Images The Czech international was in fine form during the match (seen shaking team-mate Nayef Aguerd's hand) Sheffield United, who lost their captain, John Egan to injury, had to fight. Oli McBurnie wasted a golden opportunity just before half-time and the second half began with Coufal thwarting Archer. Alphonse Areola saved a header from Anel Ahmedhodzic. Yet with West Ham defending well and maintaining a threat on the break, there was no way back for Sheffield United. Winless, devoid of belief and low on quality, they already look destined to return to the Championship. MATCH FACTS (Mail) West Ham (4-2-3-1): Areola 7; Coufal 8, Zouma 7, Aguerd 7, Emerson 7; Soucek 8, Alvarez 7 (Benrahma 72, 6); Bowen 8.5 (Mavropanos 90), Ward-Prowse 7.5, Paqueta 7.5 (Fornals 90); Antonio 6.5 (Kudus 72, 7) Subs (not used): Fabianski, Cornet, Ings, Ogbonna, Kehrer Scorers: Bowen (24), Soucek (37) Booked: Alvarez Manager: David Moyes 7 Sheffield United (3-5-2): Foderingham 5; Ahmedhodzic 5, Egan 5 (Basham 56, 6), Robinson 5; Bogle 5 (Trusty 79), Hamer 4 (Slimane 79), Souza 5, McAtee 5 (Davies 70, 6), Thomas 5; Archer 4.5 (Brewster 79), McBurnie 4.5 Subs (not used): Davies, Traore, Norwood, Larouci Booked: McAtee Manager: Paul Heckingbottom 5 Referee: Graham Scott 6 Attendance: 62,459 OS Kodua secures U21s a point at Manchester City Manchester City U21s 2-2 West Ham United U21s Premier League 2, Joie Stadium, Saturday 30 September, 1pm BST A resolute showing from West Ham United U21s saw goals from Callum Marshall and Gideon Kodua secure a point at Manchester City. The Hammers move seventh in the Premier League 2 table, four points behind leaders Tottenham Hotspur, with an impressive performance in the defending champions' backyard. The hosts started well though, and West Ham needed Marshall to cancel out Kane Taylor‚Äôs opener with his 12th goal of the season inside ten minutes. The West Ham No9 found the top corner after Taylor put City ahead with four minutes on the clock. In the Hammers‚Äô ninth competitive outing of the campaign, City would lead at the break as Josh Adam curled the hosts‚Äô second past Jacob Knightbridge, although West Ham responded well in the second. George Earthy and Lewis Orford both went close until the U21s‚Äô second of an impressive performance in the North West salvaged a point. Earthy won the ball brilliantly and allowed Orford to find Callum Marshall. The Northern Irish forward then left Kodua with a tap-in at the back post. Late chances for Orford and Marshall meant the Hammers could have seen more than a point from their travels, although a draw was perhaps a fair result. Knightbridge, Laing, Luiz?£o, and Kaelan Casey all played their part to stop City from finding a third late on. But still, the Hammers extended their unbeaten run to eight matches (W6, D2) following consecutive draws in Premier League 2. West Ham United U21s: Knightbridge, Chesters, Laing, Casey ¬©, Luizao, Scarles (Clayton 88), Kelly, Orford, Kodua (Moore 88), Marshall, Earthy Subs not used: Terry, Forbes, Robinson Goals: Marshall 8 Kodua 62 Booked: Marshall Kodua: Inspired second-half showing deserved three points! Making their way out for the second 45 minutes, the Hammers looked up for it, determined to overturn the 2-1 deficit. Part of an energised front three, Gideon Kodua led the press alongside George Earthy and Callum Marshall and saw their efforts lead to the Irons‚Äô second of the afternoon. Earthy won the ball with a brave tackle. Lewis Orford then found Marshall to leave Kodua with a tap-in. Kodua explained: ‚ÄúAs a front three, sometimes we know when and when not to press. I think in the first half we got it a bit wrong but at the break, we spoke about it and got back to basics about who was going to press which player. ‚ÄúThey kept giving us the ball and it led to the second goal. It‚Äôs one of my favourite goals because it is such an easy chance. ‚ÄúIt was a good movement to create the chance. A good cross from Cal and a great tackle from George. It‚Äôs another good combination for the goal. ‚ÄúWe can take a lot of positives from the game; especially how calm we were playing out from the back. And now it is about trusting each other to keep doing that.‚Äù That will be the task for the Hammers next time out, although there is a bit of a wait until their next competitive outing at the end of October. Leaving City with a point is a positive but Kodua was adamant the Hammers did enough to win against the defending champions. ‚ÄúWe left with something,‚Äù he added, ‚Äúbut the lads knew in the changing room we could have got more. ‚ÄúEveryone was a bit frustrated and a bit down because we were really good in the second half, and we had enough chances to win the game.‚Äù Potts wants lessons to be learned from Manchester City Twice West Ham fell behind in the North West but twice they found an equaliser. And while Steve Potts was pleased with the character his side showed to salvage a point, the lead coach was disappointed not to have taken the win. ""They've come up here and got a good result against a very good team,"" Potts added. ""We've had to play a good game to get something, especially away from home. ""I thought we passed the ball around nicely but Manchester City had a period in the first half where it become uncomfortable for us, controlled possession....and scored two goals, which we maybe could have done better with. ""We spoke at half-time and wanted to up that intensity and go toe-to-toe with them. We got the equaliser and maybe could have won it. We had some great moments in the second half."" Despite a positive result in Manchester, Potts has challenged his side to learn the lessons from the two goals conceded in the first half. The lead coach wants his team to take the positives as well as the negatives from the showing into their next competitive outing. Potts added: ""It will be clear for everyone to look back and see what we have done well and what we haven't done so well at today. ""There was a lot of stuff that was good and that has been the case over the last few weeks too. But there is some parts of the game that we have to improve on [ahead of Middlesbrough]."" Up Next The U21s will next be in competitive action after the October international break. The Irons will face Middlesbrough at Rush Green Stadium on Friday 27 October, with kick-off set for 7pm."

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Thanks Alan 1:17 Sun Oct 1

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Thanks Alan