Sunday News (includes West Ham)

[Alan]

BBC

Liverpool have offered England right-back and Real Madrid target Trent Alexander-Arnold, 26, a five-year contract worth £78m. (Mirror)

Paris St-Germain are set for talks with Aston Villa over a cash-plus-player swap deal involving France forward Randal Kolo Muani, 26, and Colombia striker Jhon Duran, 21. (Football Insider)

Napoli have opened negotiations with Liverpool and Federico Chiesa's agent to secure a six-month loan for the 27-year-old Italy winger. (Footmercato)

Netherlands forward Joshua Zirkzee wants to leave Manchester United, with Juventus interested in the 23-year-old. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian)

United and England forward Marcus Rashford, 27, has attracted interest from Major League Soccer side Seattle Sounders. (Teamtalk)

Liverpool want Bayern Munich and Germany winger Leroy Sane, 28, as a replacement for Egypt forward Mohamed Salah, 32. (Fichajes - in Spanish)

Wolves are close to extending Brazil forward Matheus Cunha's contract despite the 25-year-old being a January target for Arsenal. (Eduardo Burgos, Diario AS)

Brighton have made an offer of about £23m for Palmeiras defender Vitor Reis, 18, as the club look to bring in reinforcements during the January transfer window. (Mail)

Manchester United left-back Tyrell Malacia, 25, is a surprise transfer target for Italian club Juventus. The Dutchman is seen as a replacement for experienced Brazil defender Danilo, 33. (Daily Star )

Real Betis are in advanced talks to sign 20-year-old Spanish midfielder Stefan Bajcetic on a loan deal from Liverpool. (Fabrizio Romano)

Manchester City are preparing an offer for Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush, 25, as they bid to beat Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool to the Egypt international's signing. (Footmercato - in French)

Bournemouth have agreed a deal to sign Argentine left-back Julio Soler, 19, from Lanus in a deal worth about £12m. (Uriel Lugt )

Crystal Palace's English midfielder Jadan Raymond, 21, is a target for Dundee and Colchester United in this month's transfer window. (Football Insider)  

Ipswich Town have agreed a deal to sign defender Ben Godfrey on loan from Atalanta. The 26-year-old is said to have completed the first part of his medical on Saturday. (Fabrizio Romano )




Sky Paper Talk

STAR ON SUNDAY

Juventus are weighing up a shock move for Manchester United defender Tyrell Malacia.

Barcelona have emerged as the bookmakers' favourites to sign Manchester United outcast Marcus Rashford.

SUNDAY MIRROR

Liverpool have offered Trent Alexander-Arnold a huge £78m five-year contract to try to keep the England defender out of the clutches of Real Madrid.

Manchester United will not be signing Swedish hot-shot Viktor Gyokeres this month because of a promise made by head coach Ruben Amorim when he left Sporting.

Johnny Heitinga is set to reject the West Brom job and remain at Liverpool as Arne Slot's No 2.

The proud owner of the agency that represents Manchester City's January transfer target Abdukodir Khusanov says his client is ready to play for the best clubs in world football.

SUN ON SUNDAY

Luke Littler could bag £100m and eclipse the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi with his meteoric rise.

Max Aarons is set to be handed a transfer lifeline to escape his Bournemouth exile by French club Lille.

Ruben Amorim urged his Manchester United flops to use Luke Littler's world darts triumph to hit the bullseye against Liverpool.

Leeds have opened talks to bring in Nottingham Forest centre-half Andrew Omobamidele this month.

Liverpool are set to let Federico Chiesa leave the club on loan this month, according to reports.

Frank Lampard wants to add Rob Holding to his Coventry City squad this summer.

Stoke face a double threat in their bid to keep on-song striker Tom Cannon.

MAIL ON SUNDAY

AC Milan are the latest club to consider a potential loan for Marcus Rashford.

Fulham are weighing up a move for Manchester City attacking midfielder James McAtee.

Bournemouth will seal the £12m signing of left back Julio Soler from Lanus this week, with regular left back Milos Kerkez attracting interest from the likes of Manchester United.

THE OBSERVER

Barcelona have failed in their latest attempt to register the Spain international Dani Olmo for the second half of the season, but are likely to take their case to Spain's sports council as they continue to challenge the decision.

THE ATHLETIC

Liverpool goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga is returning to Brazil to sign for former club Fluminense on a permanent deal.

Barcelona are planning to file a complaint to the Spanish government in their final attempt to register Dani Olmo and Pau Victor.

SUNDAY MAIL

In-demand Kieran Tierney has reportedly knocked back a trio of Premier League clubs to secure a return to Celtic.

Michael Carrick insisted "nothing's changed" regarding Ben Doak's immediate future at Middlesbrough after the Liverpool loanee helped earn a point against Cardiff amid interest from the Premier League.

Everton are preparing to submit an official offer for Galatasaray full-back Elias Jelert which could impact the future of Toffees defender Nathan Patterson, who has been linked with a return to Rangers.

Greg Taylor's priority is to stay at Celtic - despite the club's pursuit of former hero Kieran Tierney.

Rangers face a waiting game in their pursuit of NK Osijek midfielder Marko Soldo.




Guardian

Manchester City spank West Ham with Erling Haaland back on song at home

Jamie Jackson at the Etihad Stadium

After Pep Guardiola’s latest mea culpa – “I blame me, not the players,” he said on Friday – Manchester City returned a heady second consecutive win for the first time since late October, and a third successive outing without defeat.

Under the manager’s own logic he takes credit for a victory decorated by a scintillating Savinho performance, featuring two assists and the forcing of Vladimir Coufal’s own goal, and crowned by Erling Haaland’s second. The Brazilian received the ball in midfield and fed the Norwegian, whose slaloming run was as elegant as the chip over an onrushing Alphonse Areola.

That was 3-0 on 55 minutes and the fourth goal soon arrived. A defensive horror show allowed Kevin De Bruyne to take over, he squared to Phil Foden and, at close range, Areola was beaten again, causing relief for the champions, who had holes punched in them each time Julen Lopetegui’s unit attacked.

Guardiola offered an explanation. “When we attack quick, the opponent attacks quicker,” he said. “We have to make 1,000 million passes. We don’t pass the ball [enough]. That’s why we suffer. We need to find our tempo.”

In his direct manner, De Bruyne criticised City fans’ nervousness. “I don’t know why,” the 33-year-old said. “I can understand that we are not up to the level but they should support us because the effort is there and we are still winning 4-1. I don’t understand what is happening.”

After Foden’s strike, the same support taunted Lopetegui with the standard that has come Guardiola’s way recently: “You’re getting sacked in the morning.” Harsh, maybe, given the Hammers’ profligacy, but, after losing 5-0 at home to Liverpool, this is how football works.

The Spaniard said: “We deserved more, we had to do better in the first half. I am not thinking about the last match – today was very different. It is not easy for me to explain 4-1.”

Guardiola had spoken of the luck involved in Sunday’s win at Leicester and City enjoyed fortune here, too, via Coufal’s inadvertent finish. Savinho ran through a left channel and crossed, the ball came back to him, and his second go smacked off the right-back, defeating Areola.

Savinho was a whirl of action, closing down Areola, earning applause from Guardiola, tormenting Coufal continually, or materialising on the right, as he did at a corner alongside De Bruyne and Foden, to cause an overload.

Guardiola configured his men in a 4-1-4-1, making solving how sieve-like they were simple: pull Bernardo Silva or De Bruyne back from their central berths to operate alongside Mateo Kovacic to stop him and the rearguard being overrun.

Errant ball custodianship was evident, too. A miscommunication involving De Bruyne and Haaland ceded possession to Lucas Paquetá, who shot wide, while at times City were comically open, as Niclas Füllkrug’s 71st-minute consolation illustrated.

Paquetá spread play left, Tomas Soucek crossed and the centre-forward swept in. The goal left Guardiola raging – possibly at Kyle Walker, on as a substitute – and there was further concern when Stefan Ortega needed treatment. But as Scott Carson, 39, contemplated a very rare outing, the German goalkeeper recovered.

The contest was a tale of missed chances, particularly before the interval. A Haaland toe-poke rolled the ball to Silva, who drove at Areola’s legs; then the Portuguese and Rico Lewis combined to send the No 9 thundering in but he was thwarted. After a Lewis blaze had Areola flying right to repel, a chance was converted, at last.

That was a supreme attacking play from City: Foden floated the ball left to Savinho, who skated past his marker and swept over a cross that had Haaland leaping for his first.

The question now was whether City would kill off the visitors or allow them back into the game. Initially the answer was yes to the second part, as a Coufal tester warmed Ortega’s fingertips, before City took over. By the close, De Bruyne’s second full 90 ­minutes in two games was a bonus.

Out of contract this summer, he brushed off questions about his future. “I don’t care,” the Belgian said. “I am just trying to get back to my level.”

Salford City are up next here, on Saturday in the FA Cup, meaning a third successive win is surely coming.





The Athletic

West Ham’s Julen Lopetegui ‘not optimistic’ on Jean-Clair Todibo injury

By Roshane Thomas

West Ham United head coach Julen Lopetegui has admitted he is “not optimistic” about the nature of Jean-Clair Todibo’s injury.

The defender was forced off in the 53rd minute of Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Manchester City and was replaced by Konstantinos Mavropanos.

Lopetegui did not disclose the nature of the injury but Todibo has endured calf problems this season. The 25-year-old centre-back, who joined in August on a season-long loan from Nice, previously missed games against Leicester City and Bournemouth with injury this season.

“We don’t know exactly (the nature of his injury),” said Lopetegui. “We have to assess him tomorrow, but I am not optimistic with him. We suffered an injury yesterday with Emerson (Palmieri) too in the last training session, that’s why he was not here.”

Todibo was substituted in the 53rd minute for Konstantious Mavropanos, but West Ham conceded two goals within five minutes of Todibo’s withdrawal. The defender has been a solid performer but now joins captain Jarrod Bowen and full-back Emerson Palmieri on the sidelines.

West Ham have conceded nine goals in their last two league games, but Lopetegui was reluctant to express concern on any defensive issues

“We are not thinking about the number (conceded) from the previous match,” he said. “I am thinking about today’s match. They have been very different matches, in my opinion. It is a frustrating day.”

West Ham return to action with an away game against Aston Villa in the third round of the FA Cup on Friday, January 10.



Football Talk

West Ham handed big boost in bid to sign Carney Chukwuemeka from Chelsea

West Ham United are expected to be busy in the ongoing transfer window as they seek some more additions to their squad. The Hammers are still lingering in the bottom half of the Premier League standings and need a couple of more signings if they are to justify their summer purchases and finish higher up in the table.

One of the players they were looking at was Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, who has been unable to find a spot in Enzo Maresca’s plans. The Blues had set an asking price of £40 million for the attacking midfielder which was proving to be a deterrent in West Ham’s pursuit of their preferred target for the winter.

Football London has reported that Chelsea’s stance has now been eased as they are willing to let go of Chukwuemeka on loan this month. The 21-year-old’s availability on a temporary deal comes as a huge boost for West Ham considering their hands were tied after an expensive summer revamp and any transfer in January would have to be a low-cost acquisition.

A potential wildcard for West Ham

It is hard to see Carney Chukwuemeka finding a way back into Chelsea’s main starting eleven with the Blues heavily investing on the likes of Joao Felix and Pedro Neto some months ago. That said, a loan to West Ham could still work superbly in favour of all parties concerned, not least for West Ham, who need some quality up top.

The Hammers would have landed a player that will be hungry to prove a minute, especially keeping in mind that his future could be up in the air in the summer with a more realistic chance of reaching a resolution. With Carlos Soler and James Ward-Prowse struggling to be impactful, Chukwuemeka’s addition as a number 10 could be a helpful one.

Chelsea will also hope that the next six months prove to be productive for their young star as it would put them in a better position to demand a decent asking price following the conclusion of the season. It will be interesting to see how Chukwuemeka does at London Stadium given that the possibility of a loan has significantly upped West Ham’s chances of signing him.

[Texas Iron]

Cheers…

[With Kind Regards]

Thanks Alan.