Saturday News (includes West Ham)

[Alan]

BBC

Brazil winger Rodrygo, 24, wants to leave Real Madrid amid interest from Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool. (AS - in Spanish), external

Manchester United are looking into the possibility of signing Brighton's Carlos Baleba, 21, but are likely to hold off making an offer for the Cameroon midfielder until the summer. (Sky Sports), external

West Ham are in talks to sign Lazio and Argentina forward Taty Castellanos, 27, for £25m. (Mail), external

A centre-back is also a priority for West Ham, who retain an interest in Toulouse defender Charlie Cresswell, 23, who has played for England Under-21s. (Guardian), external

Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle are all keeping tabs on Watford's Morocco Under-20 forward Othmane Maamma, 20. (Teamtalk), external

Juventus have made contact with West Ham over the availability of Argentina midfielder Guido Rodriguez, 31, as they assess potential options during the winter window. (La Corriere dello Sport - in Italian), external

Crystal Palace, Leeds and Nottingham Forest are interested in Newcastle's 26-year-old English midfielder Joe Willock. (i paper - subscription required), external

Newcastle are plotting a move for French defender Dayann Methalie, 19, who made his senior debut for Toulouse in 2025. (Sun), external

Eintracht Frankfurt are confident of signing French striker Arnaud Kalimuendo, 23, on loan from Nottingham Forest. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Fulham are facing an uphill battle in their quest to sign USA forward Ricardo Pepi, 22, from PSV. (Teamtalk), external

Manchester United will allow Sam Mather, 21, is set to leave this month with teams from Turkey and Major League Soccer interested in the English winger. (Sun), external

Chelsea are plotting a move for Aston Villa and England midfielder Morgan Rogers, 23, and Arsenal's 18-year-old English forward Ethan Nwaneri. (CaughtOffside)




Sky Paper Talk

Premier League

Kobbie Mainoo is determined not to give up on his Manchester United career despite a bleak 13 months under Ruben Amorim - The Sun

Manchester City and Bournemouth have reached an agreement in principle over the transfer of Antoine Semenyo - talkSPORT

Enzo Maresca stormed out of Stamford Bridge without even speaking to his Chelsea players after the Blues dropped points against Bournemouth on Tuesday - The Sun

Newcastle are set for a defensive overhaul as Eddie Howe gets ready to move for a top target - Toulouse teenager Dayann Methalie - The Sun

Eintracht Frankfurt are trying to finalise a loan deal for Nottingham Forest forward Arnaud Kalimuendo - Daily Mail

Manchester United winger Sam Mather is in talks to join Turkish club Kayserispor on a free transfer with a sell-on clause - Daily Mail

Mykhailo Mudryk has urged Chelsea fans 'don't give up on me' as the suspended star hinted at a return, as he awaits a verdict in his doping case - Daily Mail
EFL

Coventry City could begin their January transfer window with a loan swoop for Crystal Palace's Romain Esse - Telegraph

Southampton are finalising a loan for Bayern Munich goalkeeper Daniel Peretz - Daily Mail

Sheffield Wednesday are in talks to keep Manchester United youngster Harry Amass at the club until the end of the season - Mirror

Charlton want to offer Scotland star Lyndon Dykes an English Championship switch - Daily Record

Scotland

Former Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos is reportedly pushing to get out of his contract with Santos over a dispute about salary payments - Daily Record

Neil McCann could be a shock contender for the Kilmarnock job - Daily Record

Jim Goodwin has spoken highly of Jak Alnwick and insisted that if Dundee United can strengthen in key positions in January then they will push to do it - Daily Record

Rangers have no interest in Emil Bohinen - despite widespread reports linking the Venezia midfielder with a move to Ibrox - Daily Record

Cricket

Ben Stokes has said he has no doubt he wants Brendon McCullum alongside him as the England head coach, but accepted the Ashes defeat means the pair must sit down before the summer and work out how they can upgrade the team - Guardian




Sport Witness

West Ham medical and ‘lucrative’ contract done on Friday – Everyone celebrating January transfer

By Sean Lunt

Lazio striker Taty Castellanos visited West Ham United on Friday for a medical and to sign a ‘lucrative’ four-year contract with the Hammers.

That’s according to Corriere dello Sport. They cover the striker today and how his move is now in the final stages.

According to their information, Castellanos travelled to London yesterday for his West Ham medical. He then signed a four-year deal with the Hammers. They are paying €29m to sign him from Lazio this month.

They say that Castellanos profile ‘appealed’ to West Ham, who have also signed Pablo Felipe from Gil Vicente. The belief is that Castellanos will provide the movement up front that Nuno Espirito Santo seeks. Whether he can break their long-standing striker curse, remains to be seen.

Some have questioned whether the deal is a standard January transfer panic buy, particularly given where West Ham are in the Premier League table. Lazio are certainly happy with the deal, though, having paid €15m for the striker in 2023.

They’re not the only side celebrating the deal either. La Tercera report that Universidad de Chile are set to receive around €300,000 from the deal thanks to FIFA’s Solidarity Scheme.

They’re due 1% after Castellanos came through their youth ranks before departing in 2018. Now they, like Lazio, are due to benefit from West Ham’s need to bolster their forward options.




C&H

Exciting New Target Emerges as Traore Deal collapses

West Ham United have shifted their transfer focus after negotiations for Adama Traore collapsed late in the process – as exclusively revealed by Claret & Hugh yesterday and this morning.

The focus has now reportedly shifted to former Tottenham Hotspur winger Steven Bergwijn.

According to EXWHU Employee the player has been offered to the Hammers who are considering bringing the Al-Ithaad winger back to the Premier League.

This breakdown in talks for Traore opened the door for a renewed push for Bergwijn, who previously spent two and a half seasons in the Premier League with Spurs.

Now aged 28, the Netherlands international has been made available by the Saudi team having joined in 2024 for €21m on a three year contract. The player has made 33 appearances weighing in with 18 goals.

The Hammers’ attack has lacked depth, and Bergwijn’s pace and creativity are viewed as essential upgrades. West Ham have been long term admirers of the player, having tried to sign him from Ajax in January 2024.

A stumbling block is the players wages – reported at roughly £8m a year. Talks are ongoing with his representatives HCM Sports, yet according to Fabrizio Romano other clubs are also interested.

[With Kind Regards]

Thanks Alan.