Thursday News (includes West Ham)

[Alan]

BBC

Manchester City have met with Bayer Leverkusen forward Florian Wirtz, 22, over a potential summer move for the German. (Bild, external)

However, Liverpool have also made contact with Wirtz to express interest in signing the playmaker this summer. (Athletic - subscription required, external)

Premier League clubs including Manchester City and Arsenal are circling Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, 24, amid reports of the Brazilian falling out with club staff. (AS - in Spanish, external)

Real Madrid are willing to pay the £50m release clause to sign Spanish central defender Dean Huijsen, 20, from Bournemouth. (Sky Sports, external)

Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee, 23, is a summer transfer target for Inter Milan after the Dutchman's disappointing campaign. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian, external)

Liverpool will not accept an £850,000 fee from Real Madrid to allow defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, 26, to make an early move to the Spanish club. (Sun, external)

Newcastle have moved ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign English defender Marc Guehi, 24, from Crystal Palace. (Teamtalk, external)

Bayern Munich have agreed a fee with Bayer Leverkusen to sign Germany centre-back Jonathan Tah, 29. (Fabrizio Romano, external)

Barcelona are keen to rival Arsenal in moving for Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, 24. (AS - in Spanish, external)

Barcelona are willing to offload up to eight first-team players this summer in order to finance transfers and new contracts. (Mirror, external)

Barca want to sign a central defender, a full-back and a winger as cover for 17-year-old Spain star Lamine Yamal. (Espn), external

RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons is ready to leave the club this summer, despite the 22-year-old Netherlands midfielder only signing a permanent deal in January. (Fabrizio Romano, external)

Bristol City want to keep striker Nahki Wells, 34, next season after failing to reach the Premier League via the Championship play-offs. (Sky Sports, external)




Sky Paper Talk

THE TELEGRAPH

Real Madrid are understood to have won the race to sign Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen.

Dejan Kulusevski has been ruled out of the Europa League final after Tottenham Hotspur confirmed the midfielder has undergone surgery on a knee injury.

Real Madrid have asked Liverpool to release Trent Alexander-Arnold for free so he can play in the group stages of the Club World Cup.

Norwich City are set to interview Pep Lijnders, the former assistant to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, as they advance their search for a new head coach.

THE TIMES

Real Madrid have contacted Bournemouth about signing Dean Huijsen in a blow to Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, who wanted to sign the highly rated young centre back.

Florian Wirtz flew to the UK and visited Manchester on Tuesday amid interest from Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.

The UK has been urged to bid to host the men's World Cup by one of football's most powerful leaders.

Alexis Ohanian, the husband of tennis icon Serena Williams, has bought a 10 per cent stake in Chelsea Women FC.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is set to be ruled out until June after sustaining a fractured jaw that will require surgery, but Australia's star player is expected to be fit for the first Test against the British & Irish Lions.

DAILY MAIL

Liverpool like Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz but the Premier League champions face fierce competition and Bayern Munich are still leading the race.

Inter Milan are reportedly targeting Manchester United flop Joshua Zirkzee in a shock summer move.

Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White has been banned from driving for six months after admitting to speeding six times.

THE SUN

Franki Dettori has issued a huge career update amid rumours he could make a spectacular British return at Royal Ascot.

Cole Palmer admitted to throwing up in a swimming pool on holiday during a bizarre quiz.

Snooker star Mark King has lost his appeal against his five-year ban for match fixing.

Manchester City are set to complete a stunning deal by selling a forgotten star for a fee that would see them almost triple their profit for the midfielder.

DAILY EXPRESS

Emma Raducanu will reportedly be coached by Mark Petchey at Wimbledon, with their partnership expected to span the entirety of the grass-court swing.

DAILY MIRROR

Real Madrid have approached Liverpool to try and secure Trent Alexander-Arnold's early release - but they are unwilling to offer the Reds a transfer fee for the outgoing England star and want them to release him for free.

DAILY RECORD

Red-hot Michel-Ange Balikwisha is giving a Celtic transfer a thumbs-up in more ways than one as he stands on the brink of a money-spinning exit from Royal Antwerp.




TBR

West Ham have told £20m player he can leave amid interest from Leeds United

West Ham United have told Tomas Soucek that he can leave the club this summer, TBR Football can reveal.

Since he arrived at the club in 2020, Soucek has amassed 243 appearances for West Ham and he’s enjoyed a strong season despite the Hammers’ struggles.

Soucek has scored nine goals this term and the 30-year-old has continued to force a way into Graham Potter’s starting eleven, just as he did under Julen Lopetegui.

The Czech Republic international is on target to hit double figures for a second season in a row — something West Ham’s strikers often fail to achieve.

However, the former David Moyes favourite could be set to depart east London in a few months’ time.

West Ham put Tomas Soucek up for sale

TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey understands that a host of West Ham’s Premier League rivals are showing interest in signing Soucek.

Both Everton and Leeds United are keen on Soucek and it’s understood that up to five Premier League clubs have held talks.

TBR are informed that one of those teams are currently pushing for a Champions League place, which should therefore be an exciting proposition for Soucek.

Despite his contributions over the last four or so years, Soucek is not seen as part of Potter’s long-term plans.

West Ham need to raise funds to help their summer recruitment and the Czech international is seen as one of their most sellable assets.

In fact, West Ham are interested in Junior Firpo at Leeds for example, even if he might be available on a free transfer.

Tomas Soucek’s asking price

If Moyes is keen to take Soucek to Merseyside, or if Daniel Farke envisions the 30-year-old as someone who could help Leeds stay in the top flight, then it’s believed that a £20m bid could suffice.

Soucek’s West Ham contract runs until 2027 and the Hammers would be looking to sell the midfielder for a similar fee which they paid to Slavia Prague for his services in 2020.

Interestingly, when speaking in an interview in January, Soucek seemed pretty enthused about Potter’s new style, even if he now might not be sticking around for the journey.

Soucek said: “We can see what he wants to do at the training ground as his message is very clear how he wants to keep the ball and press the opponent.

“It depends on the team we are playing against, but as players we know the approach and we practice at the training ground all the time and if I see this progress like I saw on Sunday I will be happy as we’ll keep improving.”

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