Wednesday newspapers (includes West Ham)

[Alan]

"BBC Newcastle United are preparing a bid for Manchester City's 27-year-old England midfielder Kalvin Phillips. (Mail) Bayern Munich have spoken to Manchester City about Phillips' situation, but Fulham's Portugal midfielder Joao Palhinha, 28, remains Bayern's top target. (90 Min) AC Milan are interested in Manchester United's 30-year-old England defender Harry Maguire. (Sun) Manchester United could bid for Crystal Palace's 23-year-old England defender Marc Guehi in January. (Football Insider)Manchester City's Argentina forward Julian Alvarez, 23, is a target for Barcelona. (Sport - in Spanish) Barcelona sporting director Deco has contacted Frenkie de Jong's agents to discuss renewing the 26-year-old Netherlands midfielder's contract. (Sport - in Spanish) Deco says it will be difficult for Barcelona to add to their squad in January because of their financial position. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish) Liverpool are among the Premier League clubs interested in 20-year-old Germany forward Jamal Musiala, whose contract at Bayern Munich runs until 2026. (Sport Bild - in German) Liverpool sent scouts to watch 22-year-old Sporting defender Goncalo Inacio in Portugal's 5-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Monday. (90min) Liverpool are monitoring Schalke's 17-year-old German midfielder Assan Ouedraogo. (Sky Sports Germany) Sweden defender Victor Lindelof, 29, expects Manchester United to trigger a one-year extension clause in his contract, with 12 months left on his current deal. (90min) Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans, 35, thought he would have to retire because of injuries last season before returning to Manchester United in the summer. (90min) Former Tottenham head of recruitment Paul Mitchell is favourite to become sporting director at Manchester United, putting current football director John Murtough's job at risk. (i) Sky Paper Talk THE GUARDIAN Sir Jim Ratcliffe questioned Manchester United's transfer policy when he visited Old Trafford in March, with the deal that brought veteran midfielder Casemiro to the club being highlighted as what he sees as questionable recruitment. Shadreck Mlauzi, head coach of the Zimbabwe women's team, has been remanded in police custody after being accused of indecent assault against a female member of staff during a tournament in South Africa. Stephen Maguire's shock decision to step down as UK Athletics chief came about following months of bickering and tension over budgets ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. DAILY TELEGRAPH Manchester United's board is unlikely to make a final decision on Sir Jim Ratcliffe's 25 per cent purchase of the club when they meet on Thursday with a deal more likely to be rubber-stamped in the next fortnight. Newcastle United are braced for summer signing Sandro Tonali to be handed a significant playing ban as part of an investigation into illegal betting in Italy which has already seen Nicolo Fagioli handed a year-long suspension of which he will have to serve seven months. Ineos will continue their partnership with Tottenham Hotspur despite owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe being on the verge of taking a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United. Springbok legend Joel Stransky, a World Cup winner in 1995, says South Africa will comfortably beat England in Saturday's semi-final and Steve Borthwick's side ""doesn't excel in any area"". Dina Asher-Smith is leading the demand for answers after the sudden departure of UK Athletics technical director Stephen Maguire, who had overseen Great Britain's record-equalling World Championship performance earlier this year. Former England spinner Alex Hartley is set to become the latest woman to begin coaching a men's team when she takes on a role as specialist spin coach with Pakistan Super League side Multan Sultans. THE TIMES Liverpool are waiting on results of a scan which could decide whether Andrew Robertson needs surgery on a dislocated shoulder that could rule him out for up to four months. DAILY MAIL Premier League clubs are preparing to offer support to their Belgian and Swedish players as they return from the international match in Brussels which had to be abandoned after the murder of two supporters in the city. Harry Kane was finally able to say farewell to former Tottenham team-mates and friends on their staff when England trained at his old base ahead of their clashes with Australia and Italy. Sheffield United Women's manager Jonathan Morgan has stepped away from the team following a formal complaint about his alleged behaviour which is now being investigated by the club. Paolo Di Canio has revealed he turned down the chance to become Roberto Mancini's assistant with the Saudi Arabia national team. Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Saudi Arabia has seen him tumble from first to 27th in a list of sport's most-marketable stars, which is now topped by his rival Lionel Messi ahead of LeBron James. England's Lucy Bronze is 15th and Harry Kane 22nd. Paul Parker has slammed football YouTuber Mark Goldbridge for what he sees as playing a part in Manchester United's problems, claiming Goldbridge doesn't even support the club he claims to and is rather a Nottingham Forest fan. THE INDEPENDENT Newcastle will not countenance any kind of approach from Manchester United for their sporting director Dan Ashworth, who has been linked as becoming part of an expected backroom overhaul at Old Trafford. DAILY MIRROR Harry Kane has said goodbye to his ex-Tottenham team-mates and staff after he was granted permission to reconnect with them at Enfield on Tuesday. Joel Matip believes Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool 2.0 has evolved into a different style - but the old mentality remains as massive as ever. N'Golo Kante has spoken out in favour of the Saudi Pro League, where he now plays for Al Ittihad, amid reports emerging a host of high-priced stars are unhappy in the Kingdom. THE SUN Chelsea could still opt to move away from Stamford Bridge despite securing a sliver of land behind the West Stand, which seemed to be a key moment for their attempts to expand their current home. Virgil van Dijk and Wout Weghorst slammed the state of the pitch at the OPAP Arena in Athens after the Netherlands' 1-0 win over Greece, Van Dijk saying it was ""terrible"" and Weghorst branding it the ""worst pitch"" he had played on. David Raya is already eyeing his next transfer… just two months after signing for Arsenal on loan from Brentford. Robert Page has felt undermined by Wales chief executive Noel Mooney for over a year. Former Premier League star Anwar El Ghazi has been suspended by German club Mainz just one month after joining. DAILY STAR Manchester United have reportedly told Mason Greenwood he has no future at Old Trafford regardless of how well he performs during a loan spell in Spain with Getafe. Rangers midfielder Todd Cantwell has revealed he almost quit football after being relegated to the U23 side at his former club Norwich City. DAILY EXPRESS Thiago Silva is remaining tight-lipped on his future amid reports that he could bring an end to his time at Chelsea and re-join Fluminense. DAILY RECORD Celtic are considering a move for Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin as they look for a long-term replacement for Joe Hart, whose contract expires next summer. Cameron Carter-Vickers says he is happy at Celtic but is not ruling out having another attempt to succeed in the Premier League if the right offer comes in. SCOTTISH SUN Rangers are set to appoint a new director of football in the coming weeks. EPL Index West Ham Scout AC Milan’s Defensive Gem Thiaw The trajectory of a footballer’s career is often marked by their adaptability and grit, qualities that Malick Thiaw, the standout defender, has demonstrated in abundance since his transition from Schalke 04 to AC Milan. Despite initial skepticism regarding his fit for Italian football, Thiaw has carved an indispensable niche for himself in the heart of Milan’s defence, proving that raw talent fused with discipline can indeed conquer skepticism. From Schalke Prodigy to Milan Mainstay Thiaw’s journey from an up-and-coming talent in Germany’s Schalke 04 to a defensive cornerstone at AC Milan underscores his remarkable evolution. Stefano Pioli, initially hesitant, has been won over by Thiaw’s consistent performances and impeccable work ethic. The defender’s integration into the starting line-up is a testament not just to his skill, but to his relentless drive and the effectiveness of Milan’s nurturing environment. Premier League and La Liga Eyes Trained on Thiaw The allure of emerging talent never fails to create ripples in the transfer market. Thiaw is no exception, with clubs across Europe, including Premier League’s West Ham, expressing interest. It’s understood that West Ham are contemplating a lucrative €20 million bid, a significant leap from the €6 million Milan expended to procure Thiaw from Schalke 04. Furthermore, whispers in the football circuit suggest that Real Madrid is keenly monitoring the German international’s impressive progress. Thiaw’s Allegiance to Milan Amidst Growing Interest Despite the escalating interest, Thiaw’s commitment to Milan remains steadfast. Sources in close quarters indicate the player’s desire to extend his stint with the Italian giants for at least another couple of seasons. This loyalty speaks volumes, reflecting not only his gratitude but also his belief in Milan’s project and his significant role within it. Contract Talks on the Horizon Recognising Thiaw’s contributions on and off the pitch, AC Milan is gearing up to reciprocate his loyalty. Plans are afoot for a contract revision, a well-deserved reward for his meteoric rise. Discussions, expected to gain momentum in the coming spring, could see his €800,000 earnings potentially tripled, extending his current contract beyond 2027, thus fortifying a bond that both the player and club view as a long-term alliance. In the cutthroat realm of football, where talent abounds, players like Thiaw exemplify that success is not solely hinged on skill but equally on perseverance, adaptation, and a ceaseless desire to improve. His story with Milan is far from over; in fact, it seems to be just beginning."

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