Manchester City have identified Bayer Leverkusen and Germany attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, 21, as the ideal replacement for departing 33-year-old Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Manchester City are willing to spend £100m to sign Wirtz, but face competition from Bayern Munich for his signature. (Sunday Mirror), external
Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, Juventus, and Bayern Munich are all keen on signing 27-year-old French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta from Crystal Palace this summer. (Teamtalk), external
Leicester are considering the possibility of appointing former Southampton manager Russell Martin if they sack Ruud van Nistelrooy. (Sun), external
Aston Villa have been given encouragement by Chelsea over a deal to sign 23-year-old England winger Noni Madueke, with the player unhappy about his lack of game time at Stamford Bridge. (Football Insider), external
Fulham and United States left-back Antonee Robinson, 27, leads Liverpool's three-man shortlist for the position before of the summer window. (Mirror), external
The agent of Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres will be at Arsenal's Champions League tie with Real Madrid, fuelling rumours the 26-year-old Sweden forward is poised to join the Gunners. (Football Transfers), external
Liverpool and Manchester City are monitoring the contract situation of Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal but the 17-year-old Spain international looks set to remain with the Catalan club. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish), external
Barcelona would consider a swap deal involving Uruguay centre-back Ronald Araujo, 26, and Liverpool's 28-year-old Colombia winger Luis Diaz. (Relevo - in Spanish), external
Arsenal have been tipped to make five big signings this summer now new director of football Andrea Berta is at the helm. (Guillem Balague via TNT Sports), external
Manchester City hope to sign Aston Villa winger Morgan Rogers, 22, with Pep Guardiola a huge admirer of the England international, who was previously in City's academy. (Teamtalk), external
Aston Villa are considering selling their Women's Super League (WSL) side because of concerns they might breach the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules (PSR). (Times - subscription required), external
Alejandro Garnacho's decision to put his house up for sale is not because the 20-year-old Argentina winger plans to leave Manchester United. (Mirror)
Sky Paper Talk
MIRROR ON SUNDAY
Manchester City have identified Florian Witrz as the talent to replace Kevin De Bruyne - and the champions are prepared to smash through the £100m barrier to get the Bayer Leverkusen wonder boy.
Arsenal could be forced to change their transfer plans after Mikel Arteta admitted there are "big question marks" over how some of their key players will recover from surgery.
Antonee Robinson leads a three-man shortlist to make big-money Liverpool transfer.
Alejandro Garnacho's decision to put his house up for sale is not a sign he plans to leave Manchester United.
SUN ON SUNDAY
Arsenal are ready to raid Blackburn for England youth striker Harvey Higgins.
Jockey Micheal Nolan has been banned from racing for ten days following his ride on Celebre D'Allen in the 2025 Grand National.
Nicky Butt has a new job coaching at Burnley and helping out with their academy.
Everton loans manager James Vaughan is quitting his post - and may start to work for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Russell Martin is emerging as a shock contender to lead Leicester back to the Premier League.
Arsenal are ready to raid Blackburn for England youth striker Harvey Higgins.
THE GUARDIAN
Animal rights organisations have criticised the Grand National after a horse that was leading the race suffered a grim fall, and a second collapsed shortly after the competition.
The BBC and ITV have declined to pursue the chance to televise this summer's Club World Cup, leaving FIFA increasingly concerned about the visibility of its flagship new tournament in a key market.
THE ATHLETIC
About 500 Manchester United fans who sit in the general admission seats closest to the dugouts will be moved for next season.
The Premier League has written to its clubs to inform them about the second legal challenge Manchester City launched relating to their amended associated party transactions (APT) rules this year.
DAILY RECORD
Furious Barry Ferguson let rip at his Rangers flops after they lost again at Ibrox to Hibs. The interim gaffer slated the players and threatened to drop several of them for Thursday night's Europa League quarter-final against Athletic Bilbao.
STAR ON SUNDAY
Barnsley's Kieran Flavell could be set to go from non-league to Premier League in the space of just seven months amid interest from a number of clubs.
DAILY EXPRESS
Alexander Zverev believes players should get a chance to hold talks with leaders of the four Grand Slam tournaments after putting his name on a letter asking for more prize money.
Luke Humphries has suggested that he could take a break from darts and admits he feels 'emotionless' up on stage.
Ronnie O'Sullivan admitted that he has been "scared" to go near a snooker table, even just to practice on, as the Rocket continued to cast doubt on his World Championship hopes.
Guardian
Evanilson doubles up as Bournemouth rescue draw against West Ham
John Brewin at the London Stadium
Jarrod Bowen heads West Ham in front in the 68th minute. Photograph: John Walton/PA
A single point was not nearly enough for Bournemouth. The wear and tear on a talented but brittle squad is enveloping European ambitions. With them winless in six Premier League matches, Champions League horizons have lowered to outside hopes of the Europa League now dropping down to the Conference League as an outside chance if form does not improve. In east London they almost fell victim to dozing opponents.
Graham Potter had lately suggested that the West Ham players he inherited in January are now playing for their futures. Relegation has been averted but the Hammers are in danger of finishing their joint lowest since relegation in 2010-11.
A decisive summer awaits. Potter has a more ruthless, sharper edge than his public persona might suggest. A dreadful first half was followed by a marked improvement in which changes of personnel and tactics brought about a revival. A crashing header from the forgotten summer signing Niclas Füllkrug lifted a cat-napping London Stadium, attentions switched away by the Grand National, and when Jarrod Bowen scored his own equally good header, Bournemouth appeared sunk only for Evanilson’s poached second to rescue a draw of little practical use to the visitors.
“We have to value the point, playing away, but we are not very happy with a point,” said Andoni Iraola. “It was not what we wanted.”
Whether Lucas Paquetá is part of Potter’s future plans depends on the verdict of an independent Football Association panel on four counts of spot-fixing. The Brazilian is playing under a shadow that either lifts or descends in the coming days. If this was farewell, he signed off with a forgettable performance.
Potter said of his team’s overall showing: “The good, the bad and the ugly. It’s a tough situation for everybody. We need to acknowledge that we are not where we want to be.”
With Füllkrug and Evan Ferguson on the bench, Bowen began centrally. The club captain had not scored or assisted at home for five games; his goal came once he was restored to his usual place on the right.
“It’s really frustrating. It’s a point but it feels like a loss,” said Bowen, far more annoyed than his manager. “I’m focused on trying to score and trying to help the team. It’s been a really difficult and disappointing season. Every week I focus on what I can do and try not to listen to the noise.”
Not that there was much noise at a becalmed London Stadium. Tomas Soucek had initially played close to Bowen, in what time-honoured Hammers may recognise as the Teddy Sheringham role, though the Czech came far closer to scoring at the wrong end when the ball bounced from his midriff.
That was saved by Alphonse Areola, less convincing when palming Antoine Semenyo’s effort into Evanilson’s path for the opener, the Brazilian’s fifth in six. The video assistant referee briefly intervened but Evanilson was level with Maximilian Kilman. “A bit cheap,” said Potter, lamenting the defending. Bournemouth had upped a gear against opponents who appeared to be running through holiday brochures in their mind’s eye.
After swapping Emerson for Ollie Scarles at the break, Potter waited 10 minutes to throw on Füllkrug and Carlos Soler, the Soucek experiment abandoned. From James Ward-Prowse’s corner, Füllkrug powered in his first London Stadium goal, the type of header that made his reputation. “We should have defended much better,” said Iraola. “We know the threat [Füllkrug] is.”
“I need to remain patient with him,” said Potter. “You could see some nice touches, some link-up play. If we can get him fit and firing he can be a success here.”
Potter is an adept in-game manager, often far more acute in amending mistakes in his starting XI than his initial selections. Those changes paid quick dividends. Coming in from the right, Bowen scored a goal Füllkrug would be proud of.
It was Bournemouth’s turn to wake from their torpor and Evanilson soon tapped in Dean Huijsen’s towering header. “He is in great form,” Iraola said of his striker. “The time he has been out has given us energy to finish the season strong.”
The chase for a winner oscillated from end to end but a summer of change and disappointment is beckoning both teams. When the final whistle came, a number of Bournemouth players sank, exhausted to the turf. How much more can they give?
All Nigeria Soccer
The two Nigerian players who signed new deals with West Ham United this week
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
Two talented teenagers of Nigerian descent signed new contracts with Premier League side West Ham United this week.
Through the club's official website, the Hammers confirmed that Rayan Oyebade and Lanre Awesu have signed their first professional contracts.
A defender by trade, Oyebade has been on the books of the Hammers since U14 level following a successful trial, after ten years at grassroots clubs Broadwater Farm and Focus Football.
The 17-year-old has played in the U18 Premier League, U18 Premier League Cup, FA Youth Cup and Premier League 2 this season.
The north London native has represented England at U15 level but has not been called up to the Young Lions squads since 2022.
Oyebade has been identified as a player with leadership qualities, captaining West Ham U18s in competitive matches several times this season.
Two days before Oyebade's new contract was announced, West Ham confirmed that Awesu had gone professional—five years after swapping the number 9 shirt for the number 1.
He was initially a center forward in his earlier years before deciding to become a goalkeeper.
Just last month, Awesu became provisionally cap-tied to England, making his competitive debut for the England youth team in a European U17 Championship qualifier against Northern Ireland, keeping a clean sheet in a 5-0 victory.
Norwich City passed up the opportunity to sign Awesu before he joined West Ham, following a successful trial that lasted for about two months.
C&H
West Ham Eye 26-Goal Payet Clone
West Ham have been linked with a move for a prodigiously skilled midfield player who is enjoying a remarkable season in front of goal.
FC Twente star Sem Steijn is a Dutch attacking midfielder who has been in exceptional form in the Eredivisie, notching an incredible 26 goals and six assists from 39 appearances so far this campaign.
The 23-year-old has been linked with a move to West Ham and Crystal Palace, but he will surely be on the radar of several other clubs.
Genuinely two-footed, Steijn has gained a reputation as something of a set-piece specialist, with obvious comparisons being drawn to former Irons star Dimitri Payet.
While Steijn doesn’t dribble as frequently as the Hammers’ famous Frenchman, he is an exquisite passer of the ball — often using unorthodox and audacious methods to unlock opposition defences.
However, it’s his eye for goal and calmness in the 18-yard box that will undoubtedly attract the most attention, particularly as he is outscoring many strikers this season.
West Ham are actively searching for an attacking midfielder ahead of the summer transfer window, with creativity in short supply at the London Stadium.
As reported by Claret & Hugh last week, Brazilian playmaker Lucas Paquetá is expected to leave East London if he is acquitted of his betting charges. That would create yet another void in the Irons’ supply line — one Graham Potter must fill if he is to rebuild a misfiring attack.