Liverpool are ready to rival Manchester United for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite and could even move for the 22-year-old Englishman in January. (Mail)
But Sean Dyche will be given funds to improve the Everton squad in January once the Friedkin Group complete their takeover of the club - and no top players will be sold. (Football Insider)
Former England boss Gareth Southgate is Manchester United's top pick to replace Erik ten Hag as manager. (ipaper)
The Old Trafford club are also interested in speaking to ex-Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri if they sack Dutchman Ten Hag. (Football Insider)
But Ten Hag retains the support of the senior players at Manchester United despite the side's poor start to the season. (Telegraph)
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has dismissed speculation he will take over as Germany manager. (Mail)
Newcastle must pay more than £1bn if they press ahead with plans to redevelop St James' Park and increase capacity beyond 60,000. (Telegraph - subscription)
Barcelona and Spain midfield legend Andres Iniesta, 40, is expected to announce his retirement from football in the coming days. (Goal)
Crystal Palace and England midfielder Adam Wharton, 20, and Atalanta's 25-year-old Brazil midfielder Ederson are high on Manchester City's list should they try to replace injured Spaniard Rodri, 28, in January. (Caught Offside)
England winger Anthony Gordon, 23, is set to sign a new contract to keep him at Newcastle until 2030. (Fabrizio Romano)
Sky Paper Talk
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Erik ten Hag has support within the Manchester United dressing room among senior players as he fights for his future at the club.
Newcastle United will be left with a bill of around £1bn if they push ahead with a proposal to expand and rebuild St James' Park.
The Football Association has been accused of "wasting" a coroner's time after claiming that it was not in the public interest for him to investigate whether football killed a former professional player with dementia.
English cricket is ready to block players appearing in franchise leagues amid fears of an exodus of talent during the domestic season.
The England and Wales Cricket Board is closing in on securing as many as 100 suitors for the £500m-valued Hundred sell-off ahead of a first-bid deadline this month.
George Ford and Alex Mitchell are both doubts for England's autumn internationals after the half-back pairing were sidelined with injury with no clear return date.
The French Rugby Federation (FFR) is expected to present a raft of potential law amendments to World Rugby in a bid to speed up the game and increase ball-in-play time.
The Barcelona cost-cutting measures that saw Ilkay Gundogan leave this summer, as well as other recent major departures, means the club have reduced their wage bill from €670m (£557m) to €500m (£415m) - but even so it has announced losses of €91m (£75m).
DAILY STAR
Manchester United players would welcome Ruud van Nistelrooy becoming their next manager if Erik ten Hag gets sacked.
Dwight McNeil fired Everton to their first three points of the season over the weekend - and he celebrated in style, making a trip to his local Toby Carvery.
THE SUN
Erik ten Hag's former assistant Benni McCarthy has claimed the Dutchman lacks "passion", "wasted Cristiano Ronaldo", and admits "it's not easy" under his leadership.
Everton's prospective new owners have committed to giving Sean Dyche significant transfer funds in January.
Manchester United cult hero Federico Macheda has signed for his 13th club just 15 years after his iconic debut against Aston Villa.
Scott McTominay has revealed the main difference between playing for Manchester United and Napoli, explaining tactical work is more intense in Italy.
Liverpool are reportedly ready to hijack Manchester United's move for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite - by swooping in January.
THE TIMES
Manchester United face fresh Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) challenges if they go another year without playing in the Champions League.
Worcester Warriors have confirmed they will apply to join the Championship for the 2025-26 season and Wasps are expected to follow suit.
DAILY MIRROR
Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted retirement is on the horizon after admitting his priority is no longer winning awards for being the best player.
Jurgen Klopp has again distanced himself from the German national team job, tipping Julian Nagelsmann to stay in the role for "much, much longer" than his current contract.
Arsenal have suffered a major blow with Martin Odegaard still a 'long way' from being considered fully fit.
DAILY MAIL
Victor Osimhen has boldly declared his own price tag, insisting his transfer value should be in excess of €100m (£83.3m).
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has quashed any speculation linking him with the Germany national team role.
Ex-Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has the backing of none other than Sir Alex Ferguson to become a potential replacement for embattled Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag according to reports in Italy.
THE ATHLETIC
Bayern Munich are set to make a late decision on the availability of striker Harry Kane before Wednesday's Champions League tie against Aston Villa.
Nottingham Forest have arranged a deal with Viv Anderson to buy the European Cup winner's medal that their former player had put up for auction.
DAILY RECORD
Ianis Hagi's return to the Rangers first team has boosted the dressing room - after several prominent top team stars backed him to be welcomed back.
Crisis-hit Inverness CT are on the verge of going into administration.
The Athletic
Mohammed Kudus and Julen Lopetegui had words – the tension at West Ham is palpable
By Roshane Thomas
It was the moment West Ham United’s season threatened to boil over.
Having won just once in the Premier League while conceding 10 goals in six games, they were 1-0 down away to Brentford — and lucky to be just that.
At half-time at the Gtech Stadium, where Julen Lopetegui’s team trailed to Bryan Mbeumo’s strike after 38 seconds, the frustrations came out in the dressing room.
Star winger Mohammed Kudus and head coach Julen Lopetegui had a frank exchange of words. Lopetegui was not impressed with the 24-year-old’s performance and the Ghana international felt the criticism he received from Lopetegui was unfair. Kudus was not happy — and spoke out — at his half-time withdrawal (replaced by Carlos Soler) but joined his team-mates to watch the rest of the match.
Those in Kudus’ inner circle, speaking on condition of anonymity to protect relationships like all those in this article, have denied that he and Lopetegui had to be separated.
Club insiders say the matter has been blown out of proportion and it was business as usual when the players reported for training on Monday at Rush Green. Members of West Ham’s hierarchy reached out to Kudus’ camp to reassure them that there were no issues between the player and the head coach.
Lopetegui, in his post-match press conference, explained why he brought off Kudus.
“It was for tactical reasons,” said the head coach. “The second half we worked as a team, and for me this is a very important step. I highlighted the behaviour in the second half because I think we put on the pitch what we needed.”
West Ham impressed after the interval with Tomas Soucek equalising, and they had opportunities to complete a turnaround. In particular, they posed a better threat on the left flank, with summer signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka playing in an advanced role.
Lopetegui withdrawing Kudus shows he is not afraid of making big decisions. The Spaniard’s blunt challenge has been laid down to the Ghanaian — he needs to hit the heights of his first season at the club.
This was not in the script when Lopetegui was appointed as David Moyes’ successor in May. West Ham’s hierarchy were adamant he was the right choice, despite Ruben Amorim, the Sporting Lisbon manager, Hansi Flick and Paulo Fonseca, now of Barcelona and AC Milan respectively, being on their shortlist.
West Ham spent more than £120million ($159.4m) on nine summer signings but they have struggled to click.
Kudus was a key performer for West Ham last season. He scored 14 goals across 45 appearances after joining from Ajax in August 2023 for £38million, but has struggled with consistency and is yet to score this season. The same could also be said about captain Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio and Lucas Paqueta, who have scored a combined total of two league goals so far.
Lopetegui needs to get Kudus back to his best, quickly, with newly-promoted Ipswich Town arriving at the London Stadium next, followed by matches against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. West Ham are winless in their last five matches and have conceded first in six of their eight games in all competitions.
Kudus has mainly operated on the left flank with little joy, and the player has said openly which position he believes he is most effective in.
“The No 10, as an attacking midfielder (is my favourite position),” Kudus told Sky Sports. “That’s where I’ve played since I was a kid. It’s only recently I’ve started playing in other positions like on the wing, or even as a striker for Ajax, but I’ve always been a midfielder.”
Paqueta is Lopetegui’s preferred option in the No 10 role, with Bowen on the right and Antonio leading the line. But Paqueta has struggled with his form amid the Football Association’s investigation into his alleged betting breaches. Lopetegui dropped the Brazil international for the 1-1 draw against Fulham and played Soucek further upfield. Although Kudus is a versatile attacker, playing him as No 10 could help reignite his performances.
Kudus, whose contract expires in 2028, with the option of a further year, remains a sought-after talent that West Ham will struggle to keep beyond this season.
Kudus had an £85million release clause which expired on July 10 and will not be active again until the end of the 2024-25 season. Off the field, Kudus has parted ways with French agent Jennifer Mendelewitsch and is now represented by family members.
One of his memorable moments from 2023-24 was an acrobatic goal against Manchester City. It was applauded by members of the home crowd seated in front of the press box. Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol revealed what it was like coming up against him.
“Mohammed Kudus from West Ham was my toughest opponent,” Gvardiol told Manchester City’s podcast. “In the first game, he was on the bench, and when he came on for the last 20 minutes, he was on my side. I realised that he was quite good. He looks sharp and was good on the ball. In the second game of the season, he even scored a bicycle kick. He was the one I struggled against.”
The talent Gvardiol eulogised about is the player Lopetegui desperately needs to unlock. Their exchange of words at Brentford could be the turning point. Kudus has a point to prove and Lopetegui needs his attacker to deliver to help ease pressure
TBR
Agent confirmed Everton interest with £8m ace open to ‘dream’ Toffees or West Ham move
Dan Owen
With Everton interested and West Ham United linked, the transfer-linked midfielder will turn plenty of heads when opening up on his Premier League dream.
The question is, however, whether the ship has sailed. Will he go boating by the Thames up to the London Stadium, or drop anchor in Bramley Moor docks?
On paper, neither Everton nor West Ham are in any particular need of a midfielder. The Toffees signed Tim Iroegbunam from Aston Villa over the summer, after all. Everton snapped up Orel Mangala on a loan-to-buy deal from Lyon too.
West Ham, meanwhile, brought in Guido Rodriguez to provide competition at the base of Julen Lopetegui’s midfield.
Though, delve a little deeper, and there appears to be little reason to write of Emiliano Martinez’s hopes of following in his namesakes footsteps in English football.
Everton, regardless of Ireogbunam’s potential and the power they hold to make Mangala’s deal permanent, will soon have to consider replacements for Abdoulaye Doucoure and Idrissa Gana Gueye.
And if a couple of dismal defeats is anything to go by – Julen Lopetegui is under pressure at West Ham United already, TBR understands – neither Rodriguez nor the equally snail-paced Edson Alvarez appear to be the long-term solution to Julen Lopetegui’s engine room issues.
So Martinez, a Uruguay international who plies his trade in Denmark for FC Midtjylland, can be forgiven for keeping the dream alive.
Emiliano Martinez opens door to Everton and West Ham United
“My goal is to achieve as much as possible here at FC Midtjylland,” 25-year-old Martinez tells reporters. “To get into the Europa League, to progress, and to become a champion.
“I have [also] always dreamed of the Premier League. It is a goal I have had since I was a child and which I would like to achieve at some point.”
This is no pipe dream, either.
Martinez’s agent, Mauricio Machado, told Sport890 in May that Everton had come knocking.
That was before The Toffees swooped for Mangala and Iroegbunam; the latter arriving in exchange for Aston Villa’s Lewis Dobbin in a deal which helped ease both club’s Profit and Sustainability Concerns.
But Martinez would be another potentially low-cost, high-reward addition, however. Tipsbladet believe that Midtjylland would be looking for a fee in the region of £8 million.
“Everton, in England, were interested in Emiliano Martinez a while ago, and now they are interested again. He could be a good option,” Machado said, albeit the prediction he would make in that very same conversation proving to be a little wide of the mark.
“In June, he leaves Denmark. We have teams interested in the Premier League and in Spain.”
Machado might have been wrong about a summer exit.
But with his client making a strong start to the Europa League campaign – Martinez completed three tackles as Midtyjlland claimed a credible 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim on the first matchday – the four-time Uruguay international may be well placed to enter the conversation should Everton look to replace Gueye or if West Ham decide that the under-fire Rodriguez is not up to the speed of the Premier League.
TBR
West Ham could sign South American star in 2025, deal made easier thanks to Daniel Kretinsky
West Ham were busy in the summer transfer window under Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten, making ten new signings.
The Hammers made several expensive moves, such as the £40m signing of Max Kilman, a £25m deal for Crysencio Summerville and a £27m swoop for Niclas Fullkrug.
Mark Schwarzer rates Fullkrug highly, and even dubbed the German as the most exciting signing in the Premier League during the summer.
Unfortunately, Julen Lopetegui has only overseen one win in six Premier League games with these new talents in east London.
Now – despite huge investment over the summer – TBR Football have been told that West Ham are looking to make further additions, with one of Daniel Kretinsky’s Sparta Prague stars on the radar.
West Ham want Sparta Prague No.17 Angelo Preciado
TBR Football understand that West Ham are already lining up replacements for Vladimir Coufal when the Czech Republic international’s contract expires in July 2025, and are closely monitoring Angelo Preciado.
It is believed that West Ham will allow Coufal to depart the London Stadium as soon as January 2025 if he wishes to do so, with Besiktas one of the sides who looked to sign the 32-year-old over the summer.
Sources have also informed TBR Football that a deal for Preciado would “not be difficult” to complete, as the aforementioned Kretinsky, who co-owns West Ham, owns Sparta Prague, so there is a concrete link between the two sides.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka may be concerned by Tim Steidten plan
West Ham signed Aaron Wan-Bissaka in a £15m move from Manchester United back in August, with the starting XI in need of a new right-back.
Therefore, Steidten – Director of Football – only needs to find someone who can provide cover for the Londoner, although the pedigree of the Sparta Prague No.17 might concern Wan-Bissaka, who West Ham feel was a bargain.
Preciado boasts 44 caps for Ecuador, is just 26 years of age and also holds experience in the UEFA Champions League, as well as the UEFA Europa League.
Therefore, we doubt the South American would be willing to sacrifice a starting role at Sparta Prague to play second fiddle to Wan-Bissaka, so if this deal materialises, the Crystal Palace academy graduate may end up fearing for his position.
Nevertheless, competition for places is needed at any football club, or else players can become complacent, so West Ham fans should welcome a battle in the right-back department.
OS
Scarles commits future to West Ham United
West Ham United is delighted to announce that Ollie Scarles has signed a new long-term contract with the Club.
Following in the footsteps of Kaelan Casey, George Earthy, Patrick Kelly, Callum Marshall, Regan Clayton, Gideon Kodua and Lewis Orford, Scarles is the latest member of West Ham’s 2023 FA Youth Cup-winning squad to have committed his future to the Hammers.
At the Club since he was eleven, Scarles has been an instrumental part of the Academy’s success in recent years. A key figure in the squad that won the Premier League South and FA Youth Cup double during the 2022/23 campaign, he also made his senior debut that season, appearing at just 16 years and 326 days old in a 3-0 victory over FCSB in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Reflecting on his journey, he said: “I’ve loved every minute of my experience at West Ham since I joined as an eleven-year-old boy. I know the Club inside out. It’s the best thing that’s happened to me. I’ve had some great memories so far, winning the FA Youth Cup with the boys, making my debut for the first team in the Conference League, so I’m hoping to build on those memories and progress at this Club even further.”
After missing the final months of last season due to a back injury, Scarles has made a strong return, playing a key role for the U21s in their strong start to the new Premier League 2 campaign.
“At the moment with the U21s, the goal is to keep performing well and finish as high as possible in the league,” he confirmed. “By continuing to put the work in, I’m hoping to eventually break into that first team. Hopefully we can make it into Europe and there will be even more opportunities!”
A versatile player who can excel in multiple positions, Scarles has impressed many during his time at the Club, including former captain and current Sporting Director Mark Noble.
Commenting on Noble’s role on his development, Scarles added: “Nobes has been brilliant. I’ve always been able to text him when I needed some guidance. He’s always been around for all of the boys to talk to. He’s had a massive impact on my career. He’s always believed in me and I can’t give him enough credit for that.”
