Friday news (includes West Ham)

[Alan]

"BBC Bayern Munich forward Jamal Musiala is emerging as Manchester City's top target for the summer, while Chelsea are also monitoring the Germany international's situation. (Guardian) However, Bayern have no intentions of selling Musiala and are preparing a new contract offer for the 21-year-old. (Fabrizio Romano) Arsenal are looking at bringing in a striker and winger in the summer, with Newcastle's Sweden forward Alexander Isak, 24, and 22-year-old French winger Michael Olise, who is at Crystal Palace, among their targets. (Guardian) Arsenal are monitoring 20-year-old RB Leipzig and Slovenia forward Benjamin Sesko as they step up their plans to sign a striker this summer. (Standard) Sporting Lisbon and Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres, 25, is also on the radar of Arsenal as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his attacking options. (Mirror) Chelsea and Manchester United are also monitoring Sesko, who has a 50m euro (¬£42.8m) release clause. (Ben Jacobs) Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders is being targeted by Besiktas for the Turkish side's vacant head coach role. (Athletic - subscription required) Liverpool and Paris St-Germain are considering a move for Chelsea and England defender Levi Colwill, 21. (GiveMeSport) Tottenham are interested in former Arsenal forward Serge Gnabry, with Bayern Munich willing to sell the 28-year-old Germany international. (Football Insider) Liverpool and Manchester United are among the clubs interested in Barcelona B defender Mikayil Faye, 19, but will face competition from Lille, Monaco and Nice for the Senegal international. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish) Spurs are also leading the race for Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, 24, and are ready to make a move for the Englishman in the summer. (Football Insider) Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku is expected to return to Chelsea at the end of his season-long loan in Italy at Roma, who will not be able to afford the 43m euros to sign the 30-year-old on a permanent basis. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian) Chelsea and Newcastle United are interested in Arsenal and England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, 25. (CaughtOffside) Newcastle are scouting Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, 24, as they consider a summer move for the England international. (Chronicle) Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann is talking not just to Bayern Munich about becoming their manager and will make a decision in the next week or so, according to his agent. (Spielmacher podcast, via Metro) Former Liverpool and Everton boss Rafael Benitez is set to take over as manager at Sao Paulo a month after being sacked by Celta Vigo. (Sun) Sky Paper Talk THE GUARDIAN Manchester City are planning a big push to sign Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala this summer. Pep Guardiola wants more options in attacking midfield and Musiala is emerging as his top target. Arsenal are targeting a striker and winger in the summer to strengthen Mikel Arteta's squad after their hopes of reaching a first Champions League semi-final since 2009 were ended by Bayern Munich. Former Australia cricket captain Meg Lanning struggled with ""an unhealthy relationship"" with exercise and food leading up to her shock retirement. Barcelona have been fined ¬£21,500 by Uefa for Nazi salutes and monkey gestures made by fans at their Champions League game away to Paris Saint-Germain last week. Dundee are considering an appeal after being handed a ¬£186,000 fine - most of which is suspended - following a disciplinary hearing over their troublesome pitch. THE TIMES UK Sport, the government agency that provides funding for the British Olympic and Paralympic programme, will have to cut 25 per cent of staff jobs and 50 per cent of its directors by July. Manchester United are conducting detailed analysis of the stadium projects at Real Madrid and Barcelona, knowing that redeveloping the existing Old Trafford site could be as much as ¬£1 billion cheaper than building a new site. The chief executive of the ECB has said that the decision not to award Yorkshire a top-tier women's professional team was not ""punishing them for past sins."" DAILY MAIL Aaron Ramsdale has interest from Newcastle and Chelsea, while clubs from abroad are also monitoring his situation at Arsenal. A chef at Manchester United was left 'sick and confused' after touching a faulty light switch and giving himself an electric shock, while a steward at Chelsea had a pint of beer thrown over his head by a 'helpful' fan after a spark from a burning flare went into his eye. Gremio winger Gustavo Nunes is among the talent identified as part of a fresh focus on South America, with the Red Devils preparing for their present and future. Jude Bellingham or Harry Kane will miss England's friendly against Bosnia due to potential involvement in the Champions League final two days before. England rugby players are growing increasingly concerned about the RFU's hybrid contract scheme. Nathan Patterson will learn this weekend if his hopes of playing for Scotland at this summer's Euro finals are over. THE SUN Liverpool star Alisson's ¬£4.75m house has been put on the market. Rafa Benitez is the top candidate to take over as manager at Sao Paulo. Manchester United have made signing a new left-back their top summer priority, according to reports. Ivan Toney is hoping to earn more than Bruno Fernandes if he joins Manchester United this summer. Usain Bolt made a quick visit to Burnley's training ground this week. DAILY EXPRESS Pep Lijnders could reportedly take Liverpool's entire backroom team with him to Besiktas after offering himself to the Turkish giants. Manchester United have reportedly locked onto the first signing of the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era as Juventus prepare a succession plan for Gleison Bremer. Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has faced further scrutiny over his tactics after former star Andreas Pereira claimed his side were easy to play against this season. Bastian Schweinsteiger has admitted he wants to see Marcus Rashford play in a better team amid his struggles in Manchester United's latest disastrous season. Sunday's London Marathon is expected to smash its own charity fundraising record of ¬£66.4m. DAILY MIRROR Manchester United are benefitting from a significant financial windfall after Borussia Dortmund triggered another payment for Jadon Sancho by reaching the Champions League semi-final. Harry Kane warns England team-mate Jude Bellingham he's ready for Champions League ""war"". Reece James has declared that his comeback is on and told his fans he will see them soon as he continues his injury rehabilitation. Kylian Mbappe reportedly sparked a brawl involving 60 people in the tunnel after Paris Saint-Germain beat Barcelona to qualify for the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday night. Ilkay Gundogan's wife has added fuel to the fire in defending the Barcelona midfielder after his public criticism of team-mates Ronald Araujo, Joao Cancelo and Robert Lewandowski. Wembley will ramp up security for the FA Cup semi-finals this weekend - in a dress rehearsal for when it hosts the Champions League final. THE INDEPENDENT Aitana Bonmati insisted things ""have not changed"" for women's footballers in Spain, despite the public attention on issues in the aftermath of Spain's 2023 Women's World Cup victory. THE TELEGRAPH Talks on throwing Israel out of world football over its response to the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks are to be held at Fifa's annual congress next month. THE SCOTTISH SUN Dundee are seeking legal advice after being hammered by the SPFL over their recent Dens Park pitch woes. Guardian Leverkusen knock out West Ham as Frimpong‚Äôs strike saves unbeaten run Jacob Steinberg at the London Stadium Jeremie Frimpong‚Äôs late, deflected shot rescues Bayer Leverkusen‚Äôs undefeated record. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters Bayer Leverkusen will be waking up with sore heads again. Their treble hopes remains alive, as does their sheen of invincibility, but only just. After the beer-stained celebrations that followed their regal charge to the Bundesliga title, Xabi Alonso‚Äôs side looked groggy on a pulsating night at the London Stadium and can count themselves lucky to be in a Europa League semi-final against Roma after beating West Ham 3-1 on aggregate. The home fans responding to Jeremie Frimpong‚Äôs late equaliser extending Leverkusen‚Äôs unbeaten run to 44 matches with rueful applause spoke volumes. West Ham gave everything in their pursuit of a comeback and had the chances to turn the tie around after taking an early lead through Michail Antonio. It was not enough to prolong West Ham‚Äôs third consecutive European campaign. David Moyes, whose contract expires at the end of the season, could only look back with pride. His future is up in the air, last year‚Äôs triumph in the Europa Conference League fading from view, and although a change of direction is on the cards this performance was a reminder of how brilliant Moyes has been for West Ham. They were powerful and intense from the start, which kept a boisterous home crowd noisy and engaged, and stopped Leverkusen from building any momentum. Alonso, whose side have made a habit of hoarding possession, had to be worried when the woeful Odilon Kossounou lost possession and picked up an early booking for wiping out James Ward-Prowse. It was impossible to tell that Leverkusen were Europe‚Äôs most in-form side. Then again, perhaps Moyes was on to something with his pre-match comments about the visitors having a few too many drinks after their historic title win last weekend. West Ham, refusing to be weighed down by the absence of the suspended Lucas Paquet?° in attacking midfield, hunted down every sign of lethargy. Their reward arrived after 13 minutes. Leverkusen were pinned back and Tomas Soucek headed Josip Stanisic‚Äôs weak clearance to Jarrod Bowen. The winger, who passed a late fitness test on the spine injury that kept him out of the first leg, exchanged passes with Vladimir Coufal before crossing to the far post, where Antonio lost Kossounou and headed past a flapping Matej Kovar. Michail Antonio heads West Ham into an early lead on the night. Photograph: Rob Newell/CameraSport/Getty Images Their aggregate lead halved, Leverkusen looked stunned. West Ham ripped into them, Ward-Prowse pressing hard, the German side increasingly skittish. Mohammed Kudus, dribbling in from the left, shot at Kovar. Antonio spurned a header and almost reached a fizzing cross. Moyes collapsed in disbelief when Kovar made an astonishing save from Bowen, then when Edson ?Ålvarez‚Äôs shot hit Antonio. The tension floated to the touchline. A row midway through the half ended with red cards for Billy McKinlay, West Ham‚Äôs assistant coach, and Sebasti?°n Parrilla, a member of Leverkusen‚Äôs backroom staff. Alonso, observing it all, had already put Kossounou out of his misery. The centre-back was either going to get a second yellow or give away another goal before being replaced by Edmond Tapsoba. Leverkusen needed half-time. Alonso made his next move, swapping out Patrik Schick and Nathan Tella for Victor Boniface and Frimpong. West Ham, who had rejigged their defence when Angelo Ogbonna came on for Nayef Aguerd, had an escape when Florian Wirtz miscued Frimpong‚Äôs cross. There was a different feel, Leverkusen showing more poise, albeit without convincing. They remained edgy and could have conceded when Piero Hincapi?© made a mess of dealing with a long ball down the right. Bowen stole possession but dragged his shot wide. Too many chances went begging and the problem for West Ham was that they lacked options on a bench that contained six academy players. They grew leggy, their inactivity during the January transfer window coming back to bite them. The threat had disappeared by the end. Leverkusen poured through on the break and Frimpong blazed over. Alonso could not relax. The relief was huge when Frimpong‚Äôs deflected shot spun off Aaron Cresswell and beat Lukasz Fabianski with two ¬?minutes left."

[Texas Iron]

Cheers…

[Banjo]

"Jason-fucking-Steinburg has got his head up his arse making comments like that about Moyes, the wanker."

[bill green]

Thanks Alan 1:30 Fri Apr 19

[Thanks Alan]

Thanks Alan