Saturday News (includes West Ham)
Posted: 09 Nov 2024, 09:56
BBC
Pep Guardiola is preparing to relax his stance on January transfers to address Manchester City's faltering season with a move for Atalanta’s Brazilian defensive midfielder Ederson, 25. (i - subscription required)
Fenerbahce's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho has unfinished business in the Premier League and is targeting the Newcastle job if Eddie Howe leaves St James' Park. (Guardian)
The Brazilian Football Confederation have called Manchester City boss Guardiola several times this year with the Spaniard keen on the idea of managing the Selecao. (Athletic - subscription required)
Newcastle United are plotting a £50m move to sign Brentford and Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo, 25. (Football Insider)
Bayern Munich have inquired about Sporting and Sweden forward Viktor Gyokeres, 26, who may be allowed to leave next summer for about £60m. (Sky Germany)
Barcelona are hoping to beat Liverpool in the race to sign Borussia Dortmund and Germany forward Karim Adeyemi, 22, by offering to include Spain winger Ferran Torres, 24, in any transfer. (Fichajes - in Spanish)
Bayern Munich have offered left-back Alphonso Davies, 24, a new deal to fight off interest from Barcelona and several other top European clubs. (Bild - in German)
Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah, 28, will move to a bigger club when his contract runs out next summer and Bayern still have a good chance of signing the Germany international, according to his agent. (Sky Germany, via Welt am Sonntag)
Tottenham have set their sights on Rayo Vallecano's Romania right-back Andrei Ratiu, 26, as they prepare for Real Madrid to step up their interest in 25-year-old Spain defender Pedro Porro. (Fichajes - in Spanish)
Celtic's teenage forward Daniel Cummings, 18, is being tracked by a host of English clubs, with the Scotland youth international out of contract next summer. (Football Insider)
The mood inside Manchester United's dressing room has turned to optimism with the imminent arrival of Ruben Amorim as new head coach. (Manchester Evening News)
Arsenal are in talks to offer 17-year-old midfielder Ethan Nwaneri a new contract as a reward for his progress at the club. (Teamtalk)
Veteran Germany defender Mats Hummels, 35, is ready to leave Roma and return to the Bundesliga in January. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian)
Arsenal are set to wait until next summer to sign a striker rather than move for one in January. (Independent)
RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen are interested in signing Austria-born Germany U21s midfielder Paul Wanner, 18, whose future at Bayern Munich is up in the air. (Bild via Bundesliga News)
Inter Milan defender Yann Bisseck, 23, is set to sign a new contract with the club which ends West Ham's interest in the Germany international. (Tuttosport - in Italian)
Former Arsenal players Tomas Rosicky and Per Mertesacker are well thought of by the Gunners' hierarchy as they look for Edu's replacement as sporting director. (Footmercato - in French)
Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, 25, says he will not be leaving Galatasaray in January and will stay at the Turkish club until the end of the season when his loan deal from Napoli comes to an end. (Metro)
Hansi Flick has revitalised Barcelona with a strict approach to discipline, including dropping players for lateness. (Marca - in Spanish)
Sky Paper Talk
THE GUARDIAN
Jose Mourinho is targeting the manager's job at Newcastle if Eddie Howe leaves St James' Park.
Ruud van Nistelrooy has said he would like to take charge of Manchester United on a permanent basis in the future but is committed to stay as an assistant to incoming head coach Ruben Amorim after a four-game spell in caretaker charge.
THE SUN
Amad Diallo will be offered a new five-year contract before the end of the year to keep him at Old Trafford.
New Manchester United gaffer Ruben Amorim will be without assistant Darren Fletcher for his first two Premier League games.
Cole Palmer will road test his knee injury on Saturday in the hope of being ready for club and country.
One of the Premier League's first managers - Lennie Lawrence - has returned to the dugout after a near-20 year absence to take over Hartlepool United aged 76.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
England have been accused of playing "absolutely disgraceful" versions of opposition anthems before kick-off as Twickenham was criticised for a perceived lack of respect towards visiting teams.
DAILY MAIL
Steven Gerrard's role as the manager of Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq continues to come under pressure following his latest defeat.
Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner has admitted to holding talks with striker Eddie Nketiah to verify whether he suffered a hamstring injury during a private session with a personal trainer.
SCOTTISH SUN
Former Rangers hero Gennaro Gattuso found himself grilled during his usual pre-match press conference about rumours linking him with the possibility of succeeding Philippe Clement at Ibrox.
Steven Naismith still believes he could have turned Hearts' fortunes around.
DAILY RECORD
Brendan Rodgers has warned he expects Celtic to get even better after their Champions League dismantling of RB Leipzig.
The Athletic
Is Jarrod Bowen captain material?
By Roshane Thomas
It was on August 24, 2022, on the eve of West Ham United’s European tie against Viborg, when Jarrod Bowen was candid about why he lacks the traits of a leader.
“I’m quite quiet off the pitch,” he said. “In the changing room, I keep to myself… I wouldn’t class myself as a big leader.”
In August this year, he was appointed West Ham’s captain by head coach Julen Lopetegui, replacing Kurt Zouma, who joined Saudi Pro League side Al Orobah on a season-long loan, while stalwart defender Aaron Cresswell was named vice-captain.
Bowen is the face of the club, having signed a seven-year contract extension in October 2023, which does not have a release clause. The England international’s career highlight had come four months before the new deal when he scored the winner in the UEFA Conference League final against Fiorentina.
But although the 27-year-old winger remains a crucial player, by his own admission, he does not necessarily have the attributes of a stereotypical leader.
“I keep myself to myself and let the more experienced players speak,” Bowen said. “In terms of a group discussion, if there’s something I want to say, I will say it. But I’m not the loudest speaker, no.”
Bowen leads by example on the pitch with his offensive abilities. Last season, he equalled Paolo Di Canio’s West Ham record (16) for most goals scored in a Premier League campaign and the end of the 2023-24 season saw Bowen named in England’s European Championship squad. Since joining from Hull City in January 2020, he has registered 64 goals across 214 appearances for West Ham. The attacker wants to retire at West Ham and is widely considered a club legend.
But since being given the armband, Bowen’s honesty from 2022 has been laid bare this season. The winger is not the loudmouth, screaming, shouting type. He is softly spoken and has previously relied on experienced team-mates Cresswell, Declan Rice, Angelo Ogbonna and Lukasz Fabianski to unite the team in difficult times.
Bowen excels in big moments on the pitch. He produced his best performance of the season in the 4-1 victory over Ipswich Town last month. Before West Ham faced Ipswich, Lopetegui’s future was in the spotlight with his side winless in their previous five matches. Bowen’s ‘talking’ gesture celebration (below) seemed to be in response to the criticism the team has faced this season. But since then, they have suffered chastening defeats against Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest.
In August, former West Ham manager David Moyes was a guest on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast. When fellow ex-manager Sam Allardyce asked if Bowen was captain material, Moyes’ response was telling.
“I’m not actually sure,” he said. “I think he’s the right person at the club at the moment to take that role. I think more importantly, if you’re talking about Jarrod, you’re talking about his ability as a player. He’s stepped up incredibly.”
West Ham have not had a natural leader since Rice was at the club. The Athletic has mentioned previously the role the England midfielder played in uniting the squad when they were embroiled in a relegation fight. Rice’s predecessor, Mark Noble, went above and beyond to assist non-playing staff, help new signings settle and was not shy in voicing concerns to the manager on the players’ behalf.
Zouma failed to lead the team in his role as captain. Although he was a popular member of the dressing room, his defensive partnership with Nayef Aguerd regressed and the French defender did not show he could defuse a negative situation like Rice and Noble could.
Bowen spoke to the club website about how proud he was to be given the armband. Although he gave the quintessential response of always wanting to be captain, the added burden may have also played a part in his loss of form. He has a respectable return of three goals and two assists in 10 league games but was dropped from Lee Carsley’s England squads for October and November. Bowen’s initial response to the setback was his goal against Ipswich. This weekend’s game against Everton is another opportunity to reprise a similar performance.
But there are other factors at stake with Lopetegui under pressure. West Ham are 14th, with 11 points after 10 league games. The problem for the Spaniard is that when the choice for the captaincy is so limited it tends to backfire. Who else was a candidate?
Maximilian Kilman, the £40million ($52m) summer signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers was captain at his former club but is still settling at West Ham. Michail Antonio is a club legend but not a leader. Full-back Vladimir Coufal has leadership credentials but has lost his place in the team to Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Edson Alvarez is too much of a liability to be trusted with the armband, meaning the only other credible option is midfielder Tomas Soucek. The captaincy was bestowed to Bowen given the lack of options.
Now Bowen has a heck of a job trying to lift spirits in the coming weeks. Only time will tell if he will grow into the leader West Ham need.
Pep Guardiola is preparing to relax his stance on January transfers to address Manchester City's faltering season with a move for Atalanta’s Brazilian defensive midfielder Ederson, 25. (i - subscription required)
Fenerbahce's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho has unfinished business in the Premier League and is targeting the Newcastle job if Eddie Howe leaves St James' Park. (Guardian)
The Brazilian Football Confederation have called Manchester City boss Guardiola several times this year with the Spaniard keen on the idea of managing the Selecao. (Athletic - subscription required)
Newcastle United are plotting a £50m move to sign Brentford and Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo, 25. (Football Insider)
Bayern Munich have inquired about Sporting and Sweden forward Viktor Gyokeres, 26, who may be allowed to leave next summer for about £60m. (Sky Germany)
Barcelona are hoping to beat Liverpool in the race to sign Borussia Dortmund and Germany forward Karim Adeyemi, 22, by offering to include Spain winger Ferran Torres, 24, in any transfer. (Fichajes - in Spanish)
Bayern Munich have offered left-back Alphonso Davies, 24, a new deal to fight off interest from Barcelona and several other top European clubs. (Bild - in German)
Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah, 28, will move to a bigger club when his contract runs out next summer and Bayern still have a good chance of signing the Germany international, according to his agent. (Sky Germany, via Welt am Sonntag)
Tottenham have set their sights on Rayo Vallecano's Romania right-back Andrei Ratiu, 26, as they prepare for Real Madrid to step up their interest in 25-year-old Spain defender Pedro Porro. (Fichajes - in Spanish)
Celtic's teenage forward Daniel Cummings, 18, is being tracked by a host of English clubs, with the Scotland youth international out of contract next summer. (Football Insider)
The mood inside Manchester United's dressing room has turned to optimism with the imminent arrival of Ruben Amorim as new head coach. (Manchester Evening News)
Arsenal are in talks to offer 17-year-old midfielder Ethan Nwaneri a new contract as a reward for his progress at the club. (Teamtalk)
Veteran Germany defender Mats Hummels, 35, is ready to leave Roma and return to the Bundesliga in January. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian)
Arsenal are set to wait until next summer to sign a striker rather than move for one in January. (Independent)
RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen are interested in signing Austria-born Germany U21s midfielder Paul Wanner, 18, whose future at Bayern Munich is up in the air. (Bild via Bundesliga News)
Inter Milan defender Yann Bisseck, 23, is set to sign a new contract with the club which ends West Ham's interest in the Germany international. (Tuttosport - in Italian)
Former Arsenal players Tomas Rosicky and Per Mertesacker are well thought of by the Gunners' hierarchy as they look for Edu's replacement as sporting director. (Footmercato - in French)
Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, 25, says he will not be leaving Galatasaray in January and will stay at the Turkish club until the end of the season when his loan deal from Napoli comes to an end. (Metro)
Hansi Flick has revitalised Barcelona with a strict approach to discipline, including dropping players for lateness. (Marca - in Spanish)
Sky Paper Talk
THE GUARDIAN
Jose Mourinho is targeting the manager's job at Newcastle if Eddie Howe leaves St James' Park.
Ruud van Nistelrooy has said he would like to take charge of Manchester United on a permanent basis in the future but is committed to stay as an assistant to incoming head coach Ruben Amorim after a four-game spell in caretaker charge.
THE SUN
Amad Diallo will be offered a new five-year contract before the end of the year to keep him at Old Trafford.
New Manchester United gaffer Ruben Amorim will be without assistant Darren Fletcher for his first two Premier League games.
Cole Palmer will road test his knee injury on Saturday in the hope of being ready for club and country.
One of the Premier League's first managers - Lennie Lawrence - has returned to the dugout after a near-20 year absence to take over Hartlepool United aged 76.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
England have been accused of playing "absolutely disgraceful" versions of opposition anthems before kick-off as Twickenham was criticised for a perceived lack of respect towards visiting teams.
DAILY MAIL
Steven Gerrard's role as the manager of Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq continues to come under pressure following his latest defeat.
Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner has admitted to holding talks with striker Eddie Nketiah to verify whether he suffered a hamstring injury during a private session with a personal trainer.
SCOTTISH SUN
Former Rangers hero Gennaro Gattuso found himself grilled during his usual pre-match press conference about rumours linking him with the possibility of succeeding Philippe Clement at Ibrox.
Steven Naismith still believes he could have turned Hearts' fortunes around.
DAILY RECORD
Brendan Rodgers has warned he expects Celtic to get even better after their Champions League dismantling of RB Leipzig.
The Athletic
Is Jarrod Bowen captain material?
By Roshane Thomas
It was on August 24, 2022, on the eve of West Ham United’s European tie against Viborg, when Jarrod Bowen was candid about why he lacks the traits of a leader.
“I’m quite quiet off the pitch,” he said. “In the changing room, I keep to myself… I wouldn’t class myself as a big leader.”
In August this year, he was appointed West Ham’s captain by head coach Julen Lopetegui, replacing Kurt Zouma, who joined Saudi Pro League side Al Orobah on a season-long loan, while stalwart defender Aaron Cresswell was named vice-captain.
Bowen is the face of the club, having signed a seven-year contract extension in October 2023, which does not have a release clause. The England international’s career highlight had come four months before the new deal when he scored the winner in the UEFA Conference League final against Fiorentina.
But although the 27-year-old winger remains a crucial player, by his own admission, he does not necessarily have the attributes of a stereotypical leader.
“I keep myself to myself and let the more experienced players speak,” Bowen said. “In terms of a group discussion, if there’s something I want to say, I will say it. But I’m not the loudest speaker, no.”
Bowen leads by example on the pitch with his offensive abilities. Last season, he equalled Paolo Di Canio’s West Ham record (16) for most goals scored in a Premier League campaign and the end of the 2023-24 season saw Bowen named in England’s European Championship squad. Since joining from Hull City in January 2020, he has registered 64 goals across 214 appearances for West Ham. The attacker wants to retire at West Ham and is widely considered a club legend.
But since being given the armband, Bowen’s honesty from 2022 has been laid bare this season. The winger is not the loudmouth, screaming, shouting type. He is softly spoken and has previously relied on experienced team-mates Cresswell, Declan Rice, Angelo Ogbonna and Lukasz Fabianski to unite the team in difficult times.
Bowen excels in big moments on the pitch. He produced his best performance of the season in the 4-1 victory over Ipswich Town last month. Before West Ham faced Ipswich, Lopetegui’s future was in the spotlight with his side winless in their previous five matches. Bowen’s ‘talking’ gesture celebration (below) seemed to be in response to the criticism the team has faced this season. But since then, they have suffered chastening defeats against Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest.
In August, former West Ham manager David Moyes was a guest on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast. When fellow ex-manager Sam Allardyce asked if Bowen was captain material, Moyes’ response was telling.
“I’m not actually sure,” he said. “I think he’s the right person at the club at the moment to take that role. I think more importantly, if you’re talking about Jarrod, you’re talking about his ability as a player. He’s stepped up incredibly.”
West Ham have not had a natural leader since Rice was at the club. The Athletic has mentioned previously the role the England midfielder played in uniting the squad when they were embroiled in a relegation fight. Rice’s predecessor, Mark Noble, went above and beyond to assist non-playing staff, help new signings settle and was not shy in voicing concerns to the manager on the players’ behalf.
Zouma failed to lead the team in his role as captain. Although he was a popular member of the dressing room, his defensive partnership with Nayef Aguerd regressed and the French defender did not show he could defuse a negative situation like Rice and Noble could.
Bowen spoke to the club website about how proud he was to be given the armband. Although he gave the quintessential response of always wanting to be captain, the added burden may have also played a part in his loss of form. He has a respectable return of three goals and two assists in 10 league games but was dropped from Lee Carsley’s England squads for October and November. Bowen’s initial response to the setback was his goal against Ipswich. This weekend’s game against Everton is another opportunity to reprise a similar performance.
But there are other factors at stake with Lopetegui under pressure. West Ham are 14th, with 11 points after 10 league games. The problem for the Spaniard is that when the choice for the captaincy is so limited it tends to backfire. Who else was a candidate?
Maximilian Kilman, the £40million ($52m) summer signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers was captain at his former club but is still settling at West Ham. Michail Antonio is a club legend but not a leader. Full-back Vladimir Coufal has leadership credentials but has lost his place in the team to Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Edson Alvarez is too much of a liability to be trusted with the armband, meaning the only other credible option is midfielder Tomas Soucek. The captaincy was bestowed to Bowen given the lack of options.
Now Bowen has a heck of a job trying to lift spirits in the coming weeks. Only time will tell if he will grow into the leader West Ham need.