Wednesday news (includes West ham)

[Alan]

BBC

Liverpool are preparing to offer 23-year-old Netherlands midfielder Ryan Gravenberch a new long-term contract. (Talksport, external)

Arsenal are interested in signing 24-year-old Japan winger Takefusa Kubo from Real Sociedad during the January transfer window. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

Liverpool have been told they have next to no chance of persuading Crystal Palace to sell them England midfielder Adam Wharton, 21, in the January transfer window. (Teamtalk, external)

Barcelona have reached a breakthrough with 28-year-old Netherlands midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who has agreed to extend his stay until 2029 on reduced wages. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish), external

Getafe are closing in on signing former Leeds United and Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford, 32, who is a free agent after leaving Leeds by mutual consent in the summer after seven years at the club. (Football Espana), external

Both Arsenal and Liverpool have been informed that 25-year-old Brazil winger Vinicius Junior's future is uncertain at Real Madrid. (TBR Football, external)

Fulham manager Marco Silva says Wales midfielder Harry Wilson, 28, who was targeted by Leeds over the summer, will hold talks over a contract extension. (Sky Sports), external

Leeds are looking to bring in a winger and an attacking midfielder in the January transfer window. (Football Insider)






Sky Paper Talk

TALKSPORT

Liverpool are set to hand Netherlands midfielder Ryan Gravenberch a new long-term contract at Anfield, with the 23-year-old's current deal running out in 2028.

DAILY MAIL

Patrick Bamford is in talks over a shock move to Spanish side Getafe.

DAILY TELEGRAPH

Fabio Paratici remains a consultant to Tottenham Hotspur after accepting a suspended prison sentence as part of a settlement agreement aimed at finally freeing him of the Juventus financial controversy.

Former Arsenal striker Billy Vigar is in an induced coma after suffering "a significant brain injury" during a match.

THE SUN

Kalvin Phillips has missed out on the long-awaited chance to get some minutes with Manchester City - as he is about to become a dad for the second time.

Manchester United have offered Amad Diallo support after the winger suffered online abuse after taking a picture with Alejandro Garnacho at the weekend.

Manchester United are ramping up the return of proper old-school atmospheres by doubling safe standing at Old Trafford.

THE GUARDIAN

The son of former Conservative Party deputy chairman and billionaire donor Lord Ashcroft has bought a 3.4% stake in Tottenham Hotspur in the latest change at the north London club.

The era of profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) in the Premier League will likely continue after another quarterly shareholders' meeting ended without progress on adopting new measures of financial governance.

DAILY MIRROR

Blackburn Rovers boss Valerien Ismael insists he never agreed to postpone their game with Ipswich Town at the weekend after their Championship clash was abandoned in the 80th minute.

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed they are investigating after a Manchester United supporter who has gone viral on social media for vowing not to cut his hair until the club win five games in a row was assaulted at the weekend.

DAILY RECORD

A Glasgow-based magician has revealed that he performed for the Celtic players and boss Brendan Rodgers as part of a team bonding exercise.

SCOTTISH SUN

Several Celtic fan groups have turned down an invitation from the club to discuss a number of concerns raised following the derby clash against Rangers in March.






C&H

West Ham in 19th place | Former PL manager points finger of blame

Propping up the league in nineteenth position, with just Wolverhampton Wanderers separating the Hammers from rock bottom 20th spot is not how Graham Potter would have ‘envisioned’ his start to the new season after the ‘positives’ of the summer tours and pre-season. Fine words don’t count for much in professional sport and West Ham have been found wanting: Whether it be through squad deficiencies, tactics, fitness or selection issues.

The axe looms large for Potter after just five Premier League fixtures but with just two home wins during his nine month tenure, few would argue. Former Premier League manager Tony Pulis has stepped away from the usual ‘manager’s union’ unwritten rule of not being critical of fellow coaches and pointed the finger of blame squarely at West Ham’s embattled manager.

According to insidefulbol.com, Pulis made the point pretty clear: West Ham’s squad might not be perfect but it is far too good to be sitting in nineteenth position:

The chairman has taken loads of stick, but he has spent an absolute fortune there. Are the players at West Ham good enough to be better than where they are now? That is the question we are going to ask, really. You have been given a deck of cards and you have to make the most of that. You have got to win, whether it is a good deck or not a good deck.”

Few would argue with Pulis’ position. Potter’s persistence with his ‘pet’ players such as James Ward-Prowse and Tomas Soucek has come in for huge criticism along with his failed attempts to win games without fielding a striker.

As Pulis agrees, there’s a pretty expensive squad been assembled which might not be perfect but is certainly good enough to sit higher than nineteenth: Let us hope the chairman agrees and puts Potter out of his managerial misery soon enough for a successor to turn the team’s performance around before the drama becomes a full-blown relegation crisis.

The gap between sixth-placed Chelsea and West Ham right now is just five points. Chances are, by the international break that will have grown to double figures, so the time to act, surely, is right now.




Sport Witness

Aston Villa, West Ham and Wolves ‘ready to make offers’ to sign same player in January

By Naveen Ullal

Aston Villa, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers are all in the picture to sign Juventus’ Manuel Locatelli.

That’s according to Radio Radio, relayed by Tutto Juve, who cover Aston Villa, West Ham and Wolves’ plans and the Serie A side’s stance on the midfielder.

In the summer window, he was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, but a transfer didn’t go through.

Igor Tudor has started the 27-year-old in all four league games this season, but he’s yet to play the full 90 minutes.

According to the report, the Italy international is ‘no longer untouchable’ for the Old Lady and they are considering selling him, probably in January.

Luckily for Juventus, there are several clubs interested, and this is when Aston Villa, West Ham and Wolves are named. The Premier League trio are ‘ready to make offers’ to sign Locatelli as early as the winter market.

There’s no mention of the fee Aston Villa, West Ham and Wolves could offer, Juve’s asking price or if the former Sassuolo man is willing to join one of the three.

[Heavi995]

Thanks Alan

[With Kind Regards]

Thanks Alan.

[Texas Iron]

Cheers…