A Liverpool approach for Brighton and Brazil forward Joao Pedro is likely to have to wait until the summer as the Seagulls' demands for the 23-year-old will make a January move difficult. (Football Insider)
Paris St-Germain are willing to pay 100m euros (£83m) to sign Newcastle United's in-form Swedish striker Alexander Isak, 25. (Fichajes.net - in Spanish )
French side PSG are also looking to pay a 58m euros (£48m) release clause to Athletic Bilbao for Spain winger Nico Williams - but Manchester United and Barcelona are also interested in the 22-year-old. (El Desmarque - in Spanish )
Barcelona have lost faith in Netherlands midfielder Frenkie de Jong and it looks increasingly likely the 27-year-old will leave the Spanish club. (Relevo - in Spanish)
Leicester City are lining up an £8m deal for Argentine centre-half Valentin Gomez, 21, from Velez Sarsfield. (Sun)
Newcastle are one of the clubs interested in Barcelona defender Eric Garcia, 23, but the former Manchester City man wants to stay at the Nou Camp and fight for a first-team place. (Sport - in Spanish)
Crystal Palace want to sign Benfica's German midfielder Jan-Niklas Beste, 25, in January. (Sky Sports Switzerland)
Real Madrid are considering Spain Under-21 centre-back Rafa Marin, 22, who trained at their youth academy and currently plays for Napoli. (Fichajes.net - in Spanish)
Blackburn Rovers and Burnley want to sign Scottish former Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie, 28, from Spanish side Las Palmas. (Sun)
Spain winger Lamine Yamal, 17, is close to extending his contract with Barcelona until 2030. (Nicolo Schira)
Newcastle will let England striker Callum Wilson, 32, leave on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of the current season. (Football Insider)
Sky Paper Talk
THE SUN
Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford has lost the dressing room after admitting he wants to leave Old Trafford.
Rashford has broken up with his girlfriend who is set to appear on Love Island All Stars.
Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell is facing six months on the sidelines amid no interest from other clubs in the player.
Manchester United and Chelsea are keeping tabs on Bayern Munich star Leroy Sane.
DAILY MAIL
Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho has responded to worries about his health after undergoing surgery.
Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was spotted wearing a bizarre pair of gloves during Sunday's meeting with Fulham.
Tottenham fans protested against Daniel Levy before their game with Liverpool amid their mixed form this season.
DAILY MIRROR
Trent Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool team-mate Diogo Jota has publicly joked about the defender signing a new deal at Anfield.
Ruben Amorim is urging Manchester United to build a brand-new scouting team in Portugal.
Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi admits he will "try and find space" for champion players amid links with Paul Pogba.
Alejandro Garnacho will not find a route out of Manchester United with Barcelona after they turned down the potential of a move.
Bukayo Saka fears a damaging lay-off for the crunch time in Arsenal's season after picking up an injury against Crystal Palace.
Rico Lewis admits Manchester City's confidence is smashed - and things are "just not right".
DAILY STAR
Alexis Sanchez has admitted he wanted to cut short his stint with Manchester United after his first training session.
Manchester United are planning to go on a post-season trip to Malaysia, that will raise further concerns about player welfare.
DAILY RECORD
Hearts first-team coach Liam Fox is under consideration for the vacant Raith Rovers' job.
The Athletic
Aaron Wan-Bissaka is getting his career back on track at West Ham
By Roshane Thomas
If a compilation of Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s defending is in the works then footage of his courageous goal-saving clearance against Brighton & Hove Albion merits an inclusion.
The right-back ensured West Ham United sealed a point in their last match before Christmas with an incredible header to deny Tariq Lamptey. Wan-Bissaka might have momentarily had a sore head for his troubles, but goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski praised his team-mate. It was fitting that some supporters stood to applaud Wan-Bissaka too. An otherwise mundane game fleetingly evoked a similar response.
The 27-year-old defender, who joined from Manchester United in August for £15million, has been a consistent performer this season. He has adjusted well to Julen Lopetegui’s demands for his full-backs to play advanced roles. He scored his first West Ham goal in the 2-0 victory over Newcastle United and is showing the qualities that made him a highly rated talent. Wan-Bissaka has also kept Vladimir Coufal, previously the first-choice right-back, out of the XI.
“It was from an unbelievable clearance and I thanked him,” Fabianski told The Athletic. “The clearance was as important as any game-changing moment. Aaron has brought energy, quality and good defensive and offensive qualities. He’s been amazing, but you also have to give credit to Vladimir. The way he has responded (to being dropped) has been good along with his performances. The competition in the squad has risen, and hopefully we will continue to improve as a team.
“(In terms of the performance) it was decent. We found ourselves losing but we showed spirit to get back into the game. Then the game became very open after the equaliser. You’re always a bit disappointed, especially with the way that we conceded the goal. I should’ve done better but the team (and Aaron) helped me today.”
Wan-Bissaka left Crystal Palace for Manchester United for £50million in 2019. But there are mitigating factors behind his inability to thrive during his five-year spell at Old Trafford. He struggled with confidence as well as with being away from loved ones. He ruminated on his future with family in the summer.
They all agreed that a fresh start was needed and he returned to London with a point to prove. It has culminated in a career revival. The smile is back, so too are the highlight-reel tackles.
But there were no disorderly queues among clubs aiming to secure Wan-Bissaka’s signature. West Ham’s recruitment team, led by technical director Tim Steidten, felt the defender would be a good addition. Wan-Bissaka replaced Ben Johnson, who joined Ipswich Town in July after the expiration of his contract. Wan-Bissaka described joining West Ham as a “no brainer” and the feeling has been mutual. He has not looked back since his debut against boyhood club Crystal Palace. Two goals in 16 appearances, with potential for assists, is an encouraging start.
After the Carabao Cup win over Bournemouth in August, Wan-Bissaka was reluctant to speak about his England ambitions. The full-back is yet to earn a senior England call-up, but perhaps deserves one. Wan-Bissaka amassed five caps for England U20 and u21s. He has also been capped for the DR Congo U20s.
Thomas Tuchel, who starts officially as England manager in January, has a right-back conundrum. Kyle Walker, 34, is at the twilight of his career and his form for Manchester City has nosedived. Chelsea’s Reece James, 25, continues to suffer injury problems, as does Liverpool defender Joe Gomez, 27. Kieran Trippier, 34, of Newcastle, retired from international football in August.
There are question marks over whether Arsenal defender Ben White, 27, has any intention of rekindling his international career. The only other credible options are Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, 26, and Newcastle’s Tino Livramento, 22, and Manchester City defender Rico Lewis, 20.
“Aaron is a good player, he has started a new period in his life here, building a new career at West Ham,” said Lopetegui before the 5-2 defeat to Arsenal last month. “He is very happy here and we are very happy with him and we trust in him. When you are in a new group, it is not easy at first.
“This question (about an England call-up) is for Tuchel, not for me. I would like all my players in the English national team. For me, the most important thing is that Aaron remains hungry and wants to improve. His attitude tells me he is able to achieve anything.”
In November, Michail Antonio was asked what Wan-Bissaka has brought to the team. The forward was in a jovial mood when he said, “Silence”. Wan-Bissaka saw the humour in the answer, but his response highlighted his “I’m just here to work” mentality.
Wan-Bissaka can be viewed as West Ham’s best summer signing. The arrivals of Crysencio Summerville, Guido Rodriguez, Maximilian Kilman, Niclas Fullkrug, Jean-Clair Todibo and Carlos Soler have all made contributions to Lopetegui’s side. But it is Wan-Bissaka who has most consistently showcased his worth. If he maintains his form, he may be presented with a similar opportunity for Tuchel.
(Top photo: Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images)
Football talk
West Ham interested in making January attempt to land Hakim Ziyech
West Ham United have been overly reliant on Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus in the attacking third this season and it goes without saying that Julen Lopetegui needs another player or two in his offensive department sooner rather than later.
While the Spaniard would ideally like a striker given Niklas Fullkrug’s struggle with form and fitness as well as Michail Antonio’s car accident, an wide-man’s addition is not ruled out, especially with Kudus linked with departing the London Stadium.
According to Spanish source Fichajes (h/t 90min), the Hammers are pondering over a swoop for Galatasaray forward Hakim Ziyech in the winter but will face competition from Ipswich Town for the Moroccan international’s services. Ziyech has publicly announced plans to depart the Turkish giants in the summer, hence putting West Ham on alert.
Ziyech a good medium-term addition
West Ham have several problems in their squad right now and could do very well with the addition of an experienced figurehead like Hakim Ziyech, who will be a good medium-term solution to their worries in attack. Having said that, the former Ajax Amsterdam star could even be available for a lower price given that things between him and Galatasaray have got ugly.
Lopetegui and West Ham can be confident about Ziyech settling into the club. Not only is London a place where he has lived before, but he enjoyed a successful few years on Chelsea’s books, which included winning the Champions League in 2021.
He is capable of playing on either flank as well as the number 10, so even if Mohammed Kudus ends up staying at the club, West Ham can use Ziyech and Bowen alongside the Ghanaian speedster.
The player’s valuation on Transfermarkt is close to only £6 million, a figure West Ham don’t need to think twice about spending. Ziyech promises to be a worthy investment and time will tell if a transfer from Galatasaray successfully falls in place in January.
