Thursday News (includes West Ham)

[Alan]

BBC

Liverpool are ready to move for Real Madrid and Brazil winger Rodrygo, 23, if Egypt forward Mohamed Salah, 32, leaves Anfield at the end of the season. (Fichajes - in Spanish)

Everton's prospective new owners the Friedkin Group want to bring in former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri, who left Lazio in March, as their new manager. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian)

Juventus are hoping to extend the contract of Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic, 24, until 2028 or 2029, although negotiations are reported to be at a standstill. Vlahovic has been linked recently with Arsenal. (Calciomercato - in Italian)

Manchester United remain interested in Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite and will make another attempt to sign the 22-year-old England-capped defender in 2025. (HITC)

Bayer Leverkusen's Netherlands right-back Jeremie Frimpong, 23, will be high on Liverpool's list to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold if the England international, 25, leaves the club. (Football Insider)

Chelsea are targeting RB Leipzig's France centre-back Castello Lukeba, 21, as they aim to sign the world's best young players. (Teamtalk)

Bayer Leverkusen’s Nigeria striker Victor Boniface, 23, is on Chelsea's shortlist for a new striker. (Teamtalk)

Barcelona see Porto's Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa, 25, as a long-term option to replace Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 32. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish)

Manchester United want to free up space in midfield and could let Denmark's Christian Eriksen and Brazil's Casemiro, both 32, leave in January. (Teamtalk)

In 2020, Manchester United offered 100m euros (£83.5m) to Barcelona for Spain forward Ansu Fati, who is now 21 and spent last season on loan with Brighton. (Athletic - subsription required)

Bayer Leverkusen's 17-year-old German midfielder Francis Onyeka is being scouted by Chelsea. (Football Transfers)

Newcastle United have beaten Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund to secure the services of Dinamo Tbilisi's 17-year-old Georgian forward Vakhtang Salia. (HITC)




Sky Paper Talk
**Not online yet**




Guardian

Jota and Gakpo double up as Liverpool come from behind to rout West Ham

Andy Hunter at Anfield

Faces may change in the technical areas and out on the pitch but the story remains the same for Liverpool and West Ham in the Carabao Cup. It was another sorry tale for the Hammers, routed 5-1 in the competition for the second successive season at Anfield, and a further demonstration of the rich resources bequeathed to Arne Slot. The holders ultimately advanced with ease.

While Liverpool’s head coach utilised the depth of his squad to oversee another hugely encouraging display, the problems increase for his West Ham counterpart Julen Lopetegui. His team threatened in spells but lacked the clinical edge displayed by Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah, Liverpool’s goalscorers on the night they booked a fourth‑round trip to Brighton. They also disintegrated defensively after Edson Álvarez’s deserved red card. Lopetegui’s troubles were not confined to his team. He sustained a calf injury when stamping angrily on the ground after a glaring miss by Crysencio Summerville and left the stadium on crutches.

“We don’t deserve this score,” said David Moyes’s summer replacement. “We were in the match, even better than them at times, but we suffered a goal being disallowed before we scored, it was a pity there was no VAR, and we could have had a penalty in the second half for a clear handball. The next action they scored. We then had a very good 20 minutes to draw but with the third goal and the red card it was much more difficult. The last part of the match was very bad for us but we don’t deserve this.”

The sluggish start to Lopetegui’s reign was not the only thing troubling West Ham’s sizeable support. In the opening minutes of the tie they paraded a banner that read “Stop exploiting loyalty” in protest at rising ticket prices and the removal of some concessions at their club. A productive spell midway through the first half helped to lift the visiting mood, but only temporarily.

The opener, minutes after Danny Ings had a goal disallowed for offside against his former club, was an absolute mess from Liverpool’s perspective. Jean‑Clair Todibo headed Jarrod Bowen’s corner on to Álvarez, who struggled to get the ball from under his feet and was thwarted by Conor Bradley’s tackle when he eventually did so. Wataru Endo attempted to complete the clearance but succeeded in slamming the ball against Jarell Quansah and in off the unfortunate defender.

West Ham’s joy lasted all of four minutes. The hosts levelled courtesy of a flowing move plus Jota’s sharp reactions. The Portugal international pierced the visiting defence with a first‑time pass that released Gakpo down the left. Gakpo’s delicate cross found Federico Chiesa, who swept an acrobatic volley into the ground towards Lukasz Fabianski. Before the West Ham keeper or Max Kilman could intervene Jota, darting in front of the pair as soon as the ball left the Italy international’s foot, equalised with a brave, close-range header.

Jota tormented West Ham again when Liverpool took the lead shortly after the restart, and minutes after Joe Gomez had survived strong appeals by the visitors for handball inside his penalty area. There would be more when Bowen’s cross struck Kostas Tsimikas. The referee, Andy Madley, was again unmoved, correctly as it turned out, and booked Lopetegui for his protestations. Replays showed the ball striking the left‑back in the stomach.

Liverpool’s lead owed much to the determination and vision of Curtis Jones. The midfielder created the goal first with a strong, surging run from deep inside his own half and then, having exchanged passes with Gakpo, by threading a perfectly weighted ball into Jota’s path inside the box. The striker showed his usual pinpoint accuracy in front of goal and found Fabianski’s bottom left hand corner.

West Ham threatened briefly to restore parity but Kilman and Carlos Soler both squandered excellent chances. Their night deteriorated thereafter. Salah, Chiesa’s second‑half replacement, effectively settled the tie with a convincing finish into the roof of the net after Fabianski had denied Alexis Mac Allister. Álvarez stupidly picked up his second booking of the night for a late foul on Salah two minutes later. Gakpo capitalised ruthlessly, drilling his first goal of the season into the near corner after exchanging passes with Darwin Núñez and seeing another low shot deflect into the opposite corner off Todibo.

“For two months people only asked me about [signing] new players,” said Slot, who made nine changes from the Premier League win against Bournemouth on Saturday. “I constantly told you about the amount of quality players we already have here. We have many quality players.” It showed.




Sport Witness

Juventus worry growing over West Ham potentially beating them to another signing

By Naveen Ullal

West Ham United have been repeatedly credited with interest in Lille’s Jonathan David.

The striker starred for the Ligue 1 side last season, managing 26 goals and nine assists. He has four goals and two assists from 10 games this season.

David has less than a year left on his contract, which makes him attractive for other clubs. West Ham are included in that bracket, according to Tutto Juve.

Earlier this month, we covered claims from Italy that Juventus are closely monitoring the 24-year-old’s situation. Tutto Juve talk about the Serie A side’s desire to sign him for free next summer.

David has ‘attracted the interest’ of several European clubs and West Ham are mentioned. It’s claimed the Premier League side are ‘monitoring the availability’ of the player.

West Ham summer signing Niclas Füllkrug is yet to impress for the London club. It’s quite possible Julen Lopetegui will request the Hammers director, Tim Steidten, for a striker in the winter market. This is where David would fit in.

If West Ham chairman David Sullivan is willing to spend, Steidten could consider offering around €30-40m for the Canada international in January.

The London club overcame competition from Juve to sign Jean-Clair Todibo in the summer window.

West Ham are now showing interest in David. There are growing concerns at Juve over potentially missing out on another player to the Hammers.




Football Talk

West Ham ‘preparing an offer’ to sign Julio Enciso

West Ham United are reportedly ‘preparing an offer’ to sign Brighton and Hove Albion star Julio Enciso, as per the Spanish outlet Fichajes.

Despite spending big money in the summer transfer window, the Hammers have endured a disappointing start to this season under the new manager Julen Lopetegui. They are currently 14th in the Premier League table with four points from five games.

So, it appears the Spanish boss feels he still needs more reinforcements to implement his system and achieve success. Therefore, the East London club have started exploring the market before the upcoming January transfer window.

According to the report by Fichajes, West Ham are interested in South American ‘gem’ Enciso and are pushing to lure him to the London Stadium. They are already ‘preparing an offer’ of around £29m-£33m to sign the midfielder and Brighton could eventually cash-in on him, although they wouldn’t make it easy for his potential suitors.

The youngster is set to enter the final year of his current contract next summer therefore, Brighton are seemingly open to letting him leave next year to make the most profit out of his departure and avoid losing him for free in 2026.

Enciso to West Ham

Enciso burst onto the scene after showcasing his qualities in the Premier League a couple of years ago having joined the Seagulls back in 2022. However, the Paraguyan’s development has halted a bit in recent times due to his injury problems.

The 20-year-old is a specialist attacking midfielder. He is technically sound, can dribble past opposition defenders in tight areas, can link-up the play, has an eye for scoring goals from distance and is also efficient in creating chances for the attackers.

Enciso is a highly talented player and possesses the potential to become a top-class midfielder in future. However, in order to reach his full potential, he needs to stay fit and play regularly.

The Brighton star would definitely be a shrewd signing for West Ham if they purchase him. However, it is going to be interesting to see whether the East London club eventually opt to make a concrete approach to secure his signature next year.









 

[Texas Iron]

Cheers…

[147man]

Thanks Alan