Thursday news (includes West Ham)

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"BBC Manchester United want to sign England striker Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa as the 28-year-old fits the profile of player they are looking to recruit. (Talksport) Arsenal are considering a £60m bid for RB Leipzig's 20-year-old Slovenia forward Benjamin Sesko. (Telegraph - subscription required) Liverpool's 31-year-old Egypt forward Mohamed Salah and Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker, 31, are among the top targets for Saudi Pro League clubs this summer. (Guardian) Erik ten Hag's chances of remaining Manchester United manager are rated at 50-50, with the 54-year-old Dutchman's future to be decided after the FA Cup final on 25 May. (Guardian) Thomas Tuchel, who is on Manchester United's shortlist of potential replacements for Ten Hag, is in talks to stay at Bayern Munich, having been set to leave at the end of the season. (Times - subscription required) Paris St-Germain are considering a move for Crystal Palace's 26-year-old French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. (Sun) Chelsea have prepared a fresh bid for Palmeiras winger Willian Estevao after agreeing terms with the 17-year-old Brazil youth international last week. (Fabrizio Romano) Despite qualifying for the Champions League Aston Villa will have to sell at least one player for a significant fee this summer to comply with Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules. (Sun) Former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho is a target for Saudi Arabian side Al-Qadsiah. (Mail) Chelsea will earn a £5m bonus under the terms of Eden Hazard's 2019 transfer to Real Madrid after the Spanish side reached the Champions League final - despite the 33-year-old former Belgium forward retiring seven months ago. (Telegraph - subscription required) Manchester United are interested in signing 21-year-old English defender Jarrad Branthwaite and Belgian midfielder Amadou Onana, 22, from Everton. (Manchester Evening News) Scotland striker Che Adams, 27, is in talks with Wolves over a free transfer when his Southampton contract expires at the end of the season. (Football Transfers) AC Milan and Sevilla are considering a move for Wolves' 21-year-old Portuguese forward Fabio Silva. (Caught Offside) Borussia Dortmund are interested in signing Sunderland's 18-year-old England Under-19 midfielder Jobe Bellingham. (Football Insider) Sky Paper Talk DAILY MAIL Manchester United have reportedly made contact with representatives of Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna, following his success helping the Suffolk side seal back-to-back promotions to the Championship and Premier League. Rio Ferdinand has taken aim at Manchester United's recruitment policy over the last decade, claiming there are only three players who have arrived and ""played to a level you'd expect"" from them. Cristiano Ronaldo is keen to see Bruno Fernandes leave Manchester United and join him in Saudi Arabia at Al-Nassr at the end of the season, according to reports. DAILY TELEGRAPH Thomas Tuchel is hoping for an offer from Manchester United should Erik ten Hag leave Old Trafford, although Bayern Munich are attempting to talk him into remaining as their head coach. Tottenham Hotspur are confident that Ange Postecoglou is not unhappy at the club and that his angry post-match press conference following the Manchester City defeat was not sparked by deep-seated issues. Arsenal are the favourites to sign RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko. West Ham United will receive an add-on payment of £1m for the sale of Declan Rice after Arsenal qualified for the Champions League this season. Chelsea will land a £5m bonus from Eden Hazard's deal to Real Madrid after the Spaniards reached the Champions League final - despite the player's retirement from football seven months ago. Mike Tindall, the former England captain, has backed potential investment into rugby from Saudi Arabia, emphasising that the efforts of the players on the field are currently not being backed up by the finances off it. Tyson Fury is expected to come in at his lowest weight in nine years after espousing lean muscle mass in his undisputed heavyweight title fight with Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night. Tommy Fleetwood's caddie Ian Finnis hopes to be back working in July and considers himself ""very lucky"" after undergoing open heart surgery earlier this year to fix a life-threatening condition. THE ATHLETIC City Football Group (CFG) and UEFA are in dialogue over a solution that will allow Manchester City and Girona to both compete in the Champions League next season. THE SUN Marcus Rashford has taken delivery of a brand new £700,000 Rolls Royce Wraith - a direct replacement for the motor he damaged in a crash. West Ham striker Michail Antonio has revealed he has been undergoing therapy and admitted he started hating football to the point he prayed that he would get injured to avoid playing. Aston Villa appear likely to have to sell off one of their prized assets this summer to ensure they remain in line with profit and sustainability regulations. A FIFA U-turn on games being held ""out of territory"" has increased the chances of Premier League games being played in the United States in the future. Manchester City are still trying to convince key reserve goalkeeper Stefan Ortega to commit his future to the club beyond the end of next season. THE GUARDIAN Mohamed Salah and Alisson among Saudi Pro League's top transfer targets A former warehouse assistant for the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia pleaded guilty on Wednesday to transporting millions of dollars worth of stolen Masters tournament memorabilia and historic items, including one of Arnold Palmer's green jackets. Nepal's record wicket-taker, Sandeep Lamichhane, could feature at next month's T20 World Cup after his rape conviction was overturned by an appeal court. THE TIMES Todd Boehly has said that Chelsea need stability to be successful, appearing to endorse the idea of keeping Mauricio Pochettino beyond the end of the season. FIFA permitted a member of its ruling council to join a summit via video link despite him being in prison accused of embezzlement. British athletes suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs will be forced to surrender texts, WhatsApp messages and emails in a move by UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) to strengthen its investigative powers. Leeds United have warned supporters not to invade the pitch after Thursday's play-off semi-final clash with Norwich over fears of a suspended FA fine or partial stadium closure. DAILY MIRROR Xavi Hernandez has dismissed reports that Ronaldo Araujo could leave Barcelona this summer. Napoli have identified Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta as a possible replacement for Victor Osimhen this summer, according to L'Equipe. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is in no rush to leave Napoli - and won't try to force through a transfer this summer, according to his agent. Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons could be set to return to Barcelona on loan this summer. RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko has hinted that he would be open to a move to the Premier League in the future. Mainz sporting director Christian Heidel has shot down suggestions that Jurgen Klopp will make a quickfire return to the dugout after his Liverpool exit. Manchester United have been warned that Thomas Tuchel would prefer to return to Chelsea as opposed to move to Old Trafford. DAILY EXPRESS Birmingham City will address their managerial issue with Tony Mowbray within the next 48 hours. Mowbray has been absent for three months with serious illness. Bayer Leverkusen are set to make a move for Sunderland teenager Chris Rigg. Middlesbrough are set to beat Sheffield United to the signature of Leeds United stalwart Luke Ayling, who had a previous loan spell at the club. DAILY RECORD Rapid Bucharest have offered Neil Lennon a £1m-plus-a-year deal in a bid to return to management. Cruz Azul have had a concrete bid for former Celtic star Giorgos Giakoumakis booted out by Atlanta United, according to a report. Outgoing Aberdeen boss Peter Leven says the club, who will be coached by Jimmy Thelin next season, should do all they can to keep Junior Hoilett, who will be out of contract in the summer. Sport Witness West Ham told €20-25m to sign 23 goal target – Hefty discount from his release clause By Lucas Sposito Following the recent reports saying West Ham United and other clubs are following SC Braga star Simon Banza, Portuguese newspaper Record now brings its take on the situation. The outlet claims that the striker could leave in the summer for around €25m, even though his club are still to receive an offer for him. Even though the Italian media, who revealed West Ham’s interest, said the player has a €25m release clause, Record explain that the price actually stands at €40m, but Braga are willing to listen to offers, and could accept between €20m and €25m. The Portuguese outlet doesn’t really have any information on the clubs who’ve been in touch for Banza. It’s just said that two French sides got in touch during the season, and now the likes of Roma, Fiorentina and West Ham are linked. The striker has 23 goals and five assists in 40 appearances for Braga this season. With 21 league goals, that’s surely a lot for a club who are fourth on the table, not even getting close to fighting for the title this season. C&H West Ham Bank Rice Bonus West Ham United will receive an additional £1 million after Arsenal secured their place in next season’s Champions League. This bonus payment adds to the initial £100 million transfer fee agreed for Declan Rice last summer, taking the guaranteed total to £101 million. The deal also includes potential further bonuses of £1 million per season for up to five years, tied to Arsenal’s continued Champions League qualification and Rice’s playing time. West Ham‘s negotiating prowess is evident in the structure of the deal. They prioritised a guaranteed base fee, rejecting Arsenal’s initial offer of £75 million with add-ons and Manchester City’s heavily incentivised proposal. This deal sees Rice become the most expensive British player ever transferred between Premier League clubs, surpassing Jack Grealish’s £100 million move to Manchester City."