BBC
England midfielder John Stones is not expected to be offered a new deal by Manchester City, with the 31-year-old's former club Everton among those monitoring his situation. (Talksport), external
Sandro Tonali's representatives have made contact with Real Madrid as part of a widening search for the 25-year-old's next club, while Manchester City are also interested in signing the Newcastle and Italy midfielder. (Teamtalk), external
Barcelona are leading the race to sign 31-year-old Manchester City and Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva on a free transfer this summer. (Sun), external
Arsenal are monitoring 19-year-old Bayer Leverkusen and Cameroon forward Christian Kofane, with the German club wanting up to £60m for a summer transfer. (Florian Plettenberg), external
Barcelona's £26m option to buy on-loan England forward Marcus Rashford, 28, expired in March, meaning the Spanish club must now negotiate a transfer fee with Manchester United. (Cadena SER - in Spanish), external
Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea are keeping tabs on 27-year-old Barcelona and France defender Jules Kounde. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish), external
Inter Milan and Netherlands right-back Denzel Dumfries, 29, has been offered to Premier League clubs including Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle United. (Teamtalk), external
Manchester United are interested in 23-year-old Benfica and Sweden defender Samuel Dahl, and have sent scouts to watch him more than 10 times this season. (Record via SportWitness), external
Celta Vigo want 21-year-old Spanish midfielder Fer Lopez to remain at the club after his loan from Wolves expires at the end of the season. (Faro de Vigo via SportWitness), external
Roberto de Zerbi wants to sign Juventus and Italy midfielder Manuel Locatelli, 28, for Tottenham in the summer. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external
Manchester United and Liverpool are pursuing a move for 19-year-old Ivory Coast and RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande. (Sportsboom)
Sky Paper Talk
TRANSFERS
Barcelona are leading the race to sign Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva on a free transfer this summer - Sun.
Everton are montoring former defender John Stones, who looks set to leave Manchester City as a free agent this summer - talkSport.
Arsenal are monitoring Bayer Leverkusen's teenage striker Christian Kofane - Sky in Germany.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Manchester City have formally asked Pep Guardiola whether he plans to see out his contract - talkSport.
Alexander Isak could return to the Liverpool bench for Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City after more than three months out injured - Times.
Chelsea players have been left unimpressed by Enzo Fernandez's leadership during the club's dramatic slump in form after he made comments about his future - Telegraph.
Roman Abramovich's plan to spend Chelsea sale proceeds on war victims beyond Ukraine is seeking registration as a charity in defiance of Sir Keir Starmer - Telegraph.
WORLD FOOTBALL
Former QPR owner Tony Fernandes has joined KSI in buying a stake of Dagenham & Redbridge - talkSport.
SCOTTISH FOOTBALL
Newcastle's head of football strategy Jack Ross is one of the names the Scottish Football Association has shortlisted to become their new chief football officer - Daily Record.
The Athletic
West Ham squad audit: Exploring every player’s contract situation as the club fight to stay up
West Ham's players celebrate Konstantinos Mavropanos's goal against Manchester City in March Ian Kingston/Getty Images
By Roshane Thomas
“Relax? We can’t relax,” said West Ham United head coach Nuno Espirito Santo before the international break.
With seven games to secure their Premier League status, Nuno and his players are still in the relegation zone — one point from safety and in a battle with Tottenham Hotspur, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United for their top-flight future.
It is unlikely that Nuno’s squad have slept entirely soundly either — their own fates will be defined by their results between now and May 24.
So now feels like the perfect time for the The Athletic to audit West Ham’s squad.
If the worse comes to pass, star players Jarrod Bowen, Crysencio Summerville and Mateus Fernandes will have suitors, but what happens to big earners like Maximilian Kilman, Alphonse Areola and Niclas Fullkrug?
What are the contract statuses of their key players and whose futures could be determined by whether or not the club stays in the Premier League?
Goalkeepers
Mads Hermansen (2030)
The Denmark international joined from Leicester City for £20million last summer. Hermansen had a difficult start and was dropped from the starting XI after the 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in September. But after Alphonse Areola restored to the line-up, West Ham failed to keep a clean sheet in their next 20 Premier League games. Hermansen, 25, kept one on his return against Burnley in February and has been an ever-present since, which doesn’t look like changing anytime soon.
Alphonse Areola (2027)
Areola, 33, has not featured for West Ham in the league since their 3-2 away defeat against Chelsea in late January. After the goalless draw against Bournemouth, Nuno explained how Hermansen’s attributes differ to the five-time France international.
“Mads gives us this option also to play from the back,” the head coach told the club’s official website. “The team is acknowledging and realising that we have an extra man that can help us.”
As one of West Ham’s higher earners, a potential summer departure would not come as a surprise.
Lukasz Fabianski (2026)
Fabianski was released alongside stalwarts Michail Antonio, Vladimir Coufal, Aaron Cresswell and Danny Ings last summer. But the former Poland international rejoined the club as a third-choice goalkeeper on a one-year deal in September. He sustained a back injury earlier in the season and has not featured in a West Ham matchday squad since the loss to Tottenham in September.
He is yet to hold talks with the club over a contract extension but does appear open to remaining at the London Stadium in some capacity.
“We’ll see what form the club takes, what the situation will be like (if I will stay for another season), but I’d definitely be very interested in working in the West Ham academy (as a goalkeeping coach),” the 40-year-old told Polish media outlet WP SportoweFakty.
Finlay Herrick (2028)
The England Under-20 international is highly rated. Herrick was recalled from his loan spell at National League side Boreham Wood, in England’s fifth tier, in November after Fabianski’s injury. The 20-year-old, who was part of West Ham’s FA Youth Cup-winning squad in 2023, has been an unused substitute in FA Cup ties against Queens Park Rangers, Burton Albion and Brentford.
Full-backs
El Hadji Malick Diouf (2030)
Diouf has been a solid performer since his £19million arrival from Slavia Prague in July. The 21-year-old, who is close friends with fellow defender Jean-Clair Todibo, has registered five assists across 26 appearances this season. Given Diouf’s potential, it would not come as a surprise if the full-back has a long list of suitors this summer whether West Ham survive the drop or not.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (2031)
Wan-Bissaka was voted West Ham’s player of the year last season, his first with the club after signing from Manchester United, but has struggled with consistency in this campaign. The DR Congo international, 28, remains the first-choice right-back under Nuno, having provided three assists in 22 league games.
Kyle Walker-Peters (2028)
Since joining on a free transfer last summer from Southampton, Walker-Peters has struggled to displace Wan-Bissaka. His last league start was against Nottingham Forest on January 6. Since then, the versatile 28-year-old has played two minutes in the last 10 fixtures against Aston Villa, Manchester City, Fulham, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Manchester United, Burnley, Chelsea, Sunderland and Tottenham, and will surely be hoping for more game time in 2026-27 whatever happens at the end of the season.
Ollie Scarles (2028)
Scarles, 20, has not been able to dislodge Diouf from the starting XI. In December, the youngster was at fault for Raul Jimenez’s winner in the 1-0 loss to Fulham but Scarles bounced back the following month when he performed well while Diouf was away with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.
But since Diouf’s return, Scarles has been an unused substitute in four of West Ham’s last seven league games. If West Ham retain their top-flight status, a season-long loan to an EFL club next season would help his development.
Ezra Mayers (2028)
Mayers, who signed a new contract in October, would be a deserving of young player of the year. The 19-year-old defender has displayed great temperament in the nine fixtures he has played under Nuno so far. Mayers, who made his first-team debut against Brighton & Hove Albion in December, was rewarded with a call-up to the England Under-19s and featured in their European Championships qualifier against Serbia and Poland last week.
Centre-backs
Konstantinos Mavropanos (2028)
Mavropanos is now recognised as the club’s best defender. He has come a long way since being nicknamed “Mavropanic” by sections of the fanbase. The defender’s viral face block in the 1-1 draw against Manchester City is the image of the season.
Axel Disasi (2026, on loan from Chelsea)
As previously reported, Chelsea had no intention of including an option to buy in Disasi’s loan at the London Stadium in the hope his valuation would increase. That has proven to be the case during his appearances for West Ham to date.
The 28-year-old has impressed alongside Mavropanos and is enjoying his time in east London. But the five-time France international wants to wait until the end of the current campaign before deciding his next move. His contract at Chelsea expires in the summer of 2029.
Jean-Clair Todibo (2031)
Todibo has gradually improved under Nuno. Time-keeping and performances in training were issues under former head coach Graham Potter, but that has not been a concern since Nuno’s arrival in late September. Last summer, his loan was converted into a permanent move. The defender remains a key part of West Ham’s future.
Maximilian Kilman (contract expires 2031)
Nuno opting not to start Kilman when Todibo got injured in the warm-up before the 2-0 loss at Aston Villa showed how much his stock has fallen. Kilman’s last league start was the 3-0 loss to former club Wolverhampton Wanderers two months ago. It seems unlikely the 28-year-old will feature again this season. A summer departure would be best for all parties.
Kaelan Casey (2027)
The 21-year-old initially joined Swansea City on loan last summer, but the move it was cut short in January. Casey only made eight league appearances, three of which were starts. In January, the England Under-20 international joined League One side Leyton Orient on loan. Another loan for 2026-27 would be beneficial for his development.
Airidas Golambeckis (2029)
The 18-year-old is yet to play under Nuno, and has mainly featured for the under-21s.
Golambeckis had loan interest from EFL clubs last summer and in January. West Ham were reluctant to let the defender leave because he was needed for squad depth. He has been capped at England Under-19 level and is highly thought of behind the scenes.
Midfielders
Tomas Soucek (2027)
The club is in no rush to offer Soucek an improved deal. The Czech Republic international’s contract expires at the end of next season but the club have the option to extend for another year. Since joining from Slavia Prague in January 2020, the 31-year-old has become a key figure at the club, scoring 46 goals across 276 appearances.
Mateus Fernandes (2030)
Fernandes has stepped up his game since Lucas Paqueta’s departure to Flamengo. He is the heart of West Ham’s attack and a player that other clubs will continue to cast a close eye on. This season, the 21-year-old has registered three goals and assists in 29 league appearances.
Expect the Portugal international to be linked with moves elsewhere in the summer.
Soungoutou Magassa (2031)
Although the summer arrival from Monaco has had encouraging displays, Magassa’s ball-retention remains a concern. It is why Nuno has recently opted for other options when naming his team. Magassa’s late equaliser against Manchester United in December shows he is capable of making a difference but the 22-year-old has lacked consistency.
Freddie Potts (2029)
It has been a solid first full season for Potts, who has benefited from previous loans at EFL clubs Wycombe Wanderers and Portsmouth. The 22-year-old was named man of the match in his first start against Newcastle United in November.
James Ward-Prowse (2027)
In January, The Athletic revealed what led to Ward-Prowse’s internal exile under Nuno. The 31-year-old started the five league games under Potter, but he was dropped from the starting XI after Nuno’s appointment.
The only time he was named in the matchday squad under the Portuguese was for the 3-1 home win against Sunderland on January 24. Ward-Prowse is now on loan at Burnley and is expected to seal an exit this summer.
Edson Alvarez (2027)
Alvarez’s last appearance for West Ham was against Ipswich Town in May. The Mexico international, 28, is on a season-long loan at Turkish side Fenerbahce. The midfielder has not featured since undergoing ankle surgery in February. Nuno opted against recalling Alvarez in January, so it appears unlikely he has a future under the head coach.
Mohamadou Kante (2031)
Nuno handed Kante his first-team debut against Manchester United in December. The 20-year-old, who is considered a promising talent, has made 10 appearances so far this season, and first-team coach Mark Robson has high hopes for the youngster.
“Mo is a big boy,” Robson told West Ham’s official website in August. “A couple of times when he pressed, he’s got these long legs and he just nicked the ball off people, really clever. He’s like a Patrick Vieira kind of central midfield player.”
Lewis Orford (contract expires 2029)
Orford, 20, had a difficult loan spell at League One side Stevenage this season. The midfielder only played 16 minutes in one league appearance against Reading. His loan was cut short and he has since featured for the under-21s. The England Under-20 international was invited by England manager Thomas Tuchel to train with the first-team in September but probably requires another loan to an EFL club next season to gain experience.
Preston Fearon (2028)
Fearon had loan offers in January but decided to continue his development with the under-21s. The 19-year-old midfielder, who received his first England Under-20 call-up during the international break, played for West Ham’s first-team against Manchester United during their U.S. pre-season tour.
Attacking midfielders and wingers
Crysencio Summerville (2029)
Summerville’s loyalty was tested in January when Tottenham enquired about his availability, but the winger informed his representatives he had no intention of leaving.
A calf injury prevented the 24-year-old from earning his first call-up to the Netherlands national team for March’s friendlies against Norway and Ecuador, but Summerville is expected to return to action for this Sunday’s quarter-final FA Cup tie against former club Leeds United.
He remains one of West Ham’s major talents and would doubtlessly be of interest to Premier League clubs should the club suffer relegation.
Adama Traore (2026)
Traore has made more headlines off the pitch than on it since joining in January on a permanent transfer from Fulham. In March, Nuno revealed the winger has been banned from lifting weights due to his muscular frame.
West Ham are yet to benefit from Traore’s strength, with the winger having failed to dislodge Bowen and Summerville in the starting XI. Although Traore is entering the final months of his deal, the club have a one-year option to extend it.
Maxwel Cornet (2027)
Remember him? Cornet is on his second loan away from the club since joining from Burnley in August 2022. He rejoined Italian side Genoa after scoring twice in 10 league games last season.
The winger has not played for the east London side since the 2023-24 season. According to club sources, speaking on condition of anonymity to protect relationships, West Ham plan to sell the Ivory Coast international this summer.
George Earthy (2027)
West Ham activated a one-year option in Earthy’s contract before he joined Bristol City on loan last summer, but the 21-year-old has not had regular game time at the Championship side. Only two of his seven appearances have been starts. The midfielder will hope to receive more opportunities under new manager Roy Hodgson, who has succeeded Gerhard Struber, but he looks no closer to breaking into the first-team scene at the London Stadium.
Keiber Lamadrid (2026)
In January, the club paid a £200,000 loan fee to sign the 22-year-old Venezuela international from Deportivo La Guaira. A clause in the deal enables West Ham to exercise a £1million purchase option in the summer. Lamadrid is yet to feature under Nuno but scored in his first appearance for the under-21s against Middlesbrough.
Strikers
Taty Castellanos (2030)
West Ham had a long-standing interest in Castellanos before his January arrival from Italian side Lazio. Three goals across 14 appearances is an encouraging start, but the 27-year-old will need to be more clinical in the remaining games of the season.
The Argentina international is under contract until 2030.
Pablo Felipe (2030)
Given the club’s precarious league position, attacking options like Pablo need to ease the offensive burden on Bowen and Summerville. Although the forward is yet to score or assist in seven league games, his work rate on and off the ball have made a difference.
Callum Wilson (2026)
Wilson is entering the final months of his one-year deal. Since joining on a free transfer last summer from Newcastle United, Wilson has registered five goals and one assist in 25 league games. His winner against Tottenham in January is one of the standout moments of the season but according to club sources, speaking on condition of anonymity to protect relationships, the 34-year-old is unlikely to remain next season.
Niclas Fullkrug (2028)
To highlight Fullkrug’s lack of impact, the 33-year-old has scored even fewer goals (three in 29 appearances) than Wilson. Fullkrug, who joined from Borussia Dortmund for £27m in August 2024, has not had an easier time during his loan spell at AC Milan. Since joining the Italian side in January, the Germany international has a paltry return of one goal in 14 appearances. There are two years remaining on Fullkrug’s deal, but West Ham intend to sell him.
Callum Marshall (2027)
In October, Nuno handed Marshall his first-team debut against Arsenal. But the Northern Ireland international, 21, failed to feature again under the head coach, with Wilson and Fullkrug his then preferred strikers. Marshall joined German side Bochum on loan in January and has scored twice in 10 appearances.
Joshua Ajala (2028)
Ajala is another promising prospect from the academy. Last month, the 19-year-old signed a contract extension until the summer of 2028. He was named in the matchday squad for the cup tie against Burton Albion.