Monday News (includes West Ham)
Posted: 02 Dec 2024, 10:29
BBC
Paris St-Germain are in talks with Egypt striker Mohamed Salah over a free transfer when the 32-year-old's Liverpool contract expires at the end of the season. (L'Equipe - in French)
Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham are monitoring Borussia Dortmund's 20-year-old England Under-21 forward Jamie Gittens. (Florian Plettenberg)
Manchester United, Tottenham, Barcelona and Paris St-Germain sent scouts to watch 25-year-old Egypt striker Omar Marmoush play for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League on Thursday. (Mirror)
Bournemouth are willing to consider offers for Antoine Semenyo in the summer, with Liverpool among the clubs interested in the Ghana forward, 24. (Football Insider)
Arsenal are in advanced talks with Real Sociedad's Roberto Olabe to succeed Edu as Gunners sporting director. (Footmercato - in French)
Bournemouth, Brentford and Southampton are eyeing 22-year-old Portuguese forward Fabio Silva, who is on loan at Las Palmas from Wolves. (Fichajes - in Spanish )
Liverpool hope to beat Manchester United to the January signing of 21-year-old Hungary full-back Milos Kerkez, who Bournemouth value at £40m. (CaughtOffside)
Newcastle are willing to sell 34-year-old former England right-back Kieran Trippier in January. (Football Insider)
Al-Hilal are set to rival Arsenal for the signing of Las Palmas' 21-year-old Spain Under-21 winger Alberto Moleiro. (Teamtalk)
Struggling Luton would have to pay as much as £1.5m to sack manager Rob Edwards because of the four-year deal he signed in the summer. (Sun)
Sky Paper Talk
THE SUN
Paris Saint-Germain have offered Chelsea a surprise swap deal involving forward Christopher Nkunku, according to reports.
Bruno Fernandes has left Manchester United fans sweating on his fitness after limping off during Ruben Amorim's side's 4-0 trouncing of Everton.
Manchester United have suffered a double blow ahead of Wednesday's trip to Arsenal with Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez both suspended for the crunch clash.
Roma are preparing to move to a new state-of-the-art 52,000-seater stadium.
Gabriel hinted he will be fit to face Manchester United on Wednesday - despite an injury concern.
Real Valladolid fans protested against Ronaldo's ownership before and during Saturday's clash with Atletico Madrid.
THE ATHLETIC
Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana is facing around a month out with a hamstring injury.
DAILY MAIL
Chelsea are set to bring in a number of further hires on the business side of their operation.
The attempt by Welsh clubs playing in the English league to qualify for Europe by entering the Welsh League Cup will now go before the full FA Board, rather than just a sub-committee.
Fulham midfielder Andreas Pereira has slammed a 'malicious' publication claiming he wants to join Marseille by stating he 'deeply regrets' quotes attributed to him after being dropped for Sunday's trip to Tottenham.
Paul Pogba was not due to play in this weekend's cancelled Kings Cup in Dubai.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Manchester United fans turned against co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe during a protest at Old Trafford against rising ticket prices.
Max Verstappen launched an astonishing attack on George Russell after winning the Qatar Grand Prix, describing the Mercedes driver as "two-faced" and saying he had "lost all respect" for the Briton.
The president of the Rugby Football Union has told its council members and former presidents that the furore over the governing body's salary and bonus payments is a result of "media spinning" and clickbait.
Bernie Ecclestone is putting his entire collection of historic Grand Prix and Formula One cars - 69 cars worth an estimated £500,000,000 - up for sale.
THE TIMES
A bodyguard working for the family of Michael Schumacher stole 1,500 photographs and 200 videos, to use in a blackmail conspiracy to demand £12.5 million, German prosecutors have alleged.
THE GUARDIAN
Wayne Rooney is fighting to save his job at Plymouth Argyle, with the manager under heightened scrutiny after a hugely damaging week of results.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement has revealed Neraysho Kasanwirjo could be out for the rest of the season after having knee surgery.
EVENING STANDARD
An investigation has been launched after multiple fights broke out in the stands during West Ham's home loss to Arsenal on Saturday night.
DAILY RECORD
Rangers have raided Aberdeen to appoint Kevin Bain as their new head physio.
Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin has a major concern over Dimitar Mitov going into their top-of-the-table clash with Celtic.
The Athletic
West Ham’s defence is porous. Julen Lopetegui must find solutions quickly
By Roshane Thomas
It can be no consolation to fans in the Bobby Moore Lower stand that the only fight they saw against Arsenal was within their vicinity.
When a small group of away supporters failed to conceal their loyalty when celebrating Kai Havertz’s goal, a scuffle ensued with disgruntled home fans and they were later escorted out of the London Stadium by stewards. As for on the pitch? It was another woeful performance; poor defending by a porous defence and a 5-2 loss that heightens the pressure on head coach Julen Lopetegui.
West Ham conceded four goals within 36 minutes, with Gabriel, Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard and Havertz getting on the scoresheet. It is the sixth time this season Lopetegui’s side have conceded three or more goals. Many fans headed to the concourse after the third goal. Those who returned were encouraged by a mini-revival as Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson Palmieri scored within two minutes, but once Bukayo Saka converted his penalty right on half-time the damage was done.
This is West Ham, a team which capitulates like no other. They conceded three goals against Chelsea in September, suffered a chastening 5-1 defeat by Liverpool in the League Cup, shipped four goals against Tottenham Hotspur and three against Nottingham Forest. This season, West Ham have only kept three clean sheets in 13 league games.
The feel-good factor from the win over Newcastle United on November 25 lasted as long as Lopetegui’s touchline ban. Whenever you suspect this team will turn a corner, defeat awaits them. There is no consistency, no sign of a sustained upward trajectory and no evidence that the team will quell the boos for home games.
Post-match, Lopetegui said West Ham had prepared for Arsenal’s set pieces. But the hapless defending for Gabriel’s opener suggested otherwise. It was a move straight from the training ground.
Odegaard, Gabriel and Jurrien Timber are unmarked, while Havertz, William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori have to fend off Emerson, Jean-Clair Todibo and Wan-Bissaka…
Michail Antonio is tasked with marking Gabriel, but Calafiori shields the defender from the Jamaica international. Antonio is then unable to track Gabriel’s run and the Brazilian heads in Saka’s pinpoint cross. Pablo Sanz, the assistant head coach, is the man assigned to oversee West Ham’s set pieces. But he was dejected, his shoulders hunched, having witnessed the team fail to execute the game plan.
Lopetegui received his third booking of the season during the 2-0 win at St James’ Park and the Spaniard served his touchline ban by sitting in the directors’ box, communicating to his backroom staff on the touchline with an earpiece. Having had a higher vantage, he believed Timber obstructed Lucas Paqueta in the build-up to the opening goal.
“The first one was a set piece that we prepared but, in my opinion, it is a very clear foul,” said Lopetegui. “If it’s not a foul, we have to review the rules. But, for sure, we have to do better with the second and third goal.
“In all offensive blocks there is a limit. All coaches prepare set pieces with blocks. In my opinion he (Paqueta) had the position (and Timber pushed him) without the intention to play the ball. We have a lot of talks in (meetings) with the referees about these kinds of actions. Sometimes we are a little bit lost with the interpretation of the rules.”
By half-time, Saka and Odegaard had taken 60 touches between them and the duo exploited West Ham’s hesitant defending. But it was a lapse in concentration which led to Trossard’s goal.
When Saka is in possession in the build-up here, West Ham have a good defensive line…
But Odegaard spots Saka’s run and threads a pass…
Todibo and Maximilian Kilman are late to respond, while Wan-Bissaka loses sight of Trossard and the Belgian converts from close range.
Paqueta was back to his best against Newcastle but he has only fleetingly produced good performances since August. The Brazilian tends to switch off and has a habit of giving away possession.
With West Ham already 2-0 down, he conceded a penalty for a foul on Saka, which Odegaard converted.
Paqueta was at fault for the fourth goal, too, when he gave the ball away in midfield.
Jorginho intercepts his pass to Carlos Soler…
And Trossard quickly plays a long ball to Havertz, leaving Kilman as the last man…
The defender, a £40million ($51.2m) summer signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers, misses the ball and Havertz duly converts.
Lukasz Fabianski has been solid since replacing Alphonse Areola in goal, but a misjudgement saw him foul Gabriel from an Arsenal corner, prompting referee Anthony Taylor to award another penalty before half-time, which Saka scored.
West Ham limited Arsenal to one shot on target in the second half, but many fans had left by the time Danny Ings’ scuffed shot went wide from close range. He refrained from punching the ground in frustration, a feeling shared by those who stayed.
“The fifth goal, before half-time, killed the match,” bemoaned Lopetegui. “We scored two goals and ended the half with positive energy. It wasn’t a penalty. Compare the contact for the first goal on Lucas Paqueta and then it happened with Lukasz (Fabianski) and Gabriel. We were unlucky with the decision but it’s not one excuse because we can and must do better.”
A trip to struggling Leicester City on Tuesday is a chance to make amends. There have been a number of passionate pleas from the head coach this season; some have had the desired effect, others have fallen on deaf eyes. Whichever of the two transpire against a Leicester side who will be led by Ruud van Nistelrooy for the first time could have a bearing on Lopetegui’s future.
All Nigeria Soccer
Left-footed Nigerian midfielder reveals he nearly joined Chelsea before transfer to West Ham
Left-footed Nigerian midfielder Tyron Akpata has revealed that he was on the verge of joining Chelsea before moving to their London rivals West Ham United on schoolboy terms.
Akpata, widely regarded as one of the most talented players of Nigerian descent on the books of a Premier League club, has no regrets about choosing West Ham United over other suitors vying for his signature.
A pathway to the first team was the key factor that convinced the 18-year-old to sign with West Ham.
The likes of Emmanuel Omoyinmi, Matthias Fanimo, Ajibola Alese, Mipo Odubeko, and Armstrong Oko-Flex progressed through the youth ranks to make their first-team debuts for West Ham United.
Having made his debuts in the FA Youth Cup, Premier League 2, EFL Trophy and Premier League International Cup, the 18-year-old Akpata is hoping to follow in the footsteps of the aforementioned players of Nigerian descent by making his senior debut for the Londoners in the future.
Discussing his football journey, Akpata told allnigeriasoccer.com: "I joined West Ham at U15 after playing grassroots league level and then for a professional development organization called Soccer Shop Window.
"I was developed to where I had interest from five Premier League academies and decided to trial with Chelsea. Covid stalled the trial process and other clubs were still interested in offering me a contract.
"West Ham’s offering was a great long term pathway to pro and it was very local to where I was living so it became an offer I couldn’t shy away from."
A versatile player, Akpata revealed that central midfield role is his preferred position on the pitch.
"I think midfield is good for me. I’ve been told I play like a quarterback, as I like picking up the ball to make short and long passes for players to run in towards goal.
"I like manipulating the ball and also using my quick feet and body to get out of situations while also controlling the pace of play with my reading of the game and calmness on the ball.
"As well as centre midfield, can also play as a number 10, central attacking midfielder or second striker. I can also play left wing and left-back if needed."
While a call-up to England's Young Lions is a potential opportunity, Akpata is also open to playing for Nigeria on the international stage.
Paris St-Germain are in talks with Egypt striker Mohamed Salah over a free transfer when the 32-year-old's Liverpool contract expires at the end of the season. (L'Equipe - in French)
Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham are monitoring Borussia Dortmund's 20-year-old England Under-21 forward Jamie Gittens. (Florian Plettenberg)
Manchester United, Tottenham, Barcelona and Paris St-Germain sent scouts to watch 25-year-old Egypt striker Omar Marmoush play for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League on Thursday. (Mirror)
Bournemouth are willing to consider offers for Antoine Semenyo in the summer, with Liverpool among the clubs interested in the Ghana forward, 24. (Football Insider)
Arsenal are in advanced talks with Real Sociedad's Roberto Olabe to succeed Edu as Gunners sporting director. (Footmercato - in French)
Bournemouth, Brentford and Southampton are eyeing 22-year-old Portuguese forward Fabio Silva, who is on loan at Las Palmas from Wolves. (Fichajes - in Spanish )
Liverpool hope to beat Manchester United to the January signing of 21-year-old Hungary full-back Milos Kerkez, who Bournemouth value at £40m. (CaughtOffside)
Newcastle are willing to sell 34-year-old former England right-back Kieran Trippier in January. (Football Insider)
Al-Hilal are set to rival Arsenal for the signing of Las Palmas' 21-year-old Spain Under-21 winger Alberto Moleiro. (Teamtalk)
Struggling Luton would have to pay as much as £1.5m to sack manager Rob Edwards because of the four-year deal he signed in the summer. (Sun)
Sky Paper Talk
THE SUN
Paris Saint-Germain have offered Chelsea a surprise swap deal involving forward Christopher Nkunku, according to reports.
Bruno Fernandes has left Manchester United fans sweating on his fitness after limping off during Ruben Amorim's side's 4-0 trouncing of Everton.
Manchester United have suffered a double blow ahead of Wednesday's trip to Arsenal with Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez both suspended for the crunch clash.
Roma are preparing to move to a new state-of-the-art 52,000-seater stadium.
Gabriel hinted he will be fit to face Manchester United on Wednesday - despite an injury concern.
Real Valladolid fans protested against Ronaldo's ownership before and during Saturday's clash with Atletico Madrid.
THE ATHLETIC
Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana is facing around a month out with a hamstring injury.
DAILY MAIL
Chelsea are set to bring in a number of further hires on the business side of their operation.
The attempt by Welsh clubs playing in the English league to qualify for Europe by entering the Welsh League Cup will now go before the full FA Board, rather than just a sub-committee.
Fulham midfielder Andreas Pereira has slammed a 'malicious' publication claiming he wants to join Marseille by stating he 'deeply regrets' quotes attributed to him after being dropped for Sunday's trip to Tottenham.
Paul Pogba was not due to play in this weekend's cancelled Kings Cup in Dubai.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Manchester United fans turned against co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe during a protest at Old Trafford against rising ticket prices.
Max Verstappen launched an astonishing attack on George Russell after winning the Qatar Grand Prix, describing the Mercedes driver as "two-faced" and saying he had "lost all respect" for the Briton.
The president of the Rugby Football Union has told its council members and former presidents that the furore over the governing body's salary and bonus payments is a result of "media spinning" and clickbait.
Bernie Ecclestone is putting his entire collection of historic Grand Prix and Formula One cars - 69 cars worth an estimated £500,000,000 - up for sale.
THE TIMES
A bodyguard working for the family of Michael Schumacher stole 1,500 photographs and 200 videos, to use in a blackmail conspiracy to demand £12.5 million, German prosecutors have alleged.
THE GUARDIAN
Wayne Rooney is fighting to save his job at Plymouth Argyle, with the manager under heightened scrutiny after a hugely damaging week of results.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement has revealed Neraysho Kasanwirjo could be out for the rest of the season after having knee surgery.
EVENING STANDARD
An investigation has been launched after multiple fights broke out in the stands during West Ham's home loss to Arsenal on Saturday night.
DAILY RECORD
Rangers have raided Aberdeen to appoint Kevin Bain as their new head physio.
Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin has a major concern over Dimitar Mitov going into their top-of-the-table clash with Celtic.
The Athletic
West Ham’s defence is porous. Julen Lopetegui must find solutions quickly
By Roshane Thomas
It can be no consolation to fans in the Bobby Moore Lower stand that the only fight they saw against Arsenal was within their vicinity.
When a small group of away supporters failed to conceal their loyalty when celebrating Kai Havertz’s goal, a scuffle ensued with disgruntled home fans and they were later escorted out of the London Stadium by stewards. As for on the pitch? It was another woeful performance; poor defending by a porous defence and a 5-2 loss that heightens the pressure on head coach Julen Lopetegui.
West Ham conceded four goals within 36 minutes, with Gabriel, Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard and Havertz getting on the scoresheet. It is the sixth time this season Lopetegui’s side have conceded three or more goals. Many fans headed to the concourse after the third goal. Those who returned were encouraged by a mini-revival as Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson Palmieri scored within two minutes, but once Bukayo Saka converted his penalty right on half-time the damage was done.
This is West Ham, a team which capitulates like no other. They conceded three goals against Chelsea in September, suffered a chastening 5-1 defeat by Liverpool in the League Cup, shipped four goals against Tottenham Hotspur and three against Nottingham Forest. This season, West Ham have only kept three clean sheets in 13 league games.
The feel-good factor from the win over Newcastle United on November 25 lasted as long as Lopetegui’s touchline ban. Whenever you suspect this team will turn a corner, defeat awaits them. There is no consistency, no sign of a sustained upward trajectory and no evidence that the team will quell the boos for home games.
Post-match, Lopetegui said West Ham had prepared for Arsenal’s set pieces. But the hapless defending for Gabriel’s opener suggested otherwise. It was a move straight from the training ground.
Odegaard, Gabriel and Jurrien Timber are unmarked, while Havertz, William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori have to fend off Emerson, Jean-Clair Todibo and Wan-Bissaka…
Michail Antonio is tasked with marking Gabriel, but Calafiori shields the defender from the Jamaica international. Antonio is then unable to track Gabriel’s run and the Brazilian heads in Saka’s pinpoint cross. Pablo Sanz, the assistant head coach, is the man assigned to oversee West Ham’s set pieces. But he was dejected, his shoulders hunched, having witnessed the team fail to execute the game plan.
Lopetegui received his third booking of the season during the 2-0 win at St James’ Park and the Spaniard served his touchline ban by sitting in the directors’ box, communicating to his backroom staff on the touchline with an earpiece. Having had a higher vantage, he believed Timber obstructed Lucas Paqueta in the build-up to the opening goal.
“The first one was a set piece that we prepared but, in my opinion, it is a very clear foul,” said Lopetegui. “If it’s not a foul, we have to review the rules. But, for sure, we have to do better with the second and third goal.
“In all offensive blocks there is a limit. All coaches prepare set pieces with blocks. In my opinion he (Paqueta) had the position (and Timber pushed him) without the intention to play the ball. We have a lot of talks in (meetings) with the referees about these kinds of actions. Sometimes we are a little bit lost with the interpretation of the rules.”
By half-time, Saka and Odegaard had taken 60 touches between them and the duo exploited West Ham’s hesitant defending. But it was a lapse in concentration which led to Trossard’s goal.
When Saka is in possession in the build-up here, West Ham have a good defensive line…
But Odegaard spots Saka’s run and threads a pass…
Todibo and Maximilian Kilman are late to respond, while Wan-Bissaka loses sight of Trossard and the Belgian converts from close range.
Paqueta was back to his best against Newcastle but he has only fleetingly produced good performances since August. The Brazilian tends to switch off and has a habit of giving away possession.
With West Ham already 2-0 down, he conceded a penalty for a foul on Saka, which Odegaard converted.
Paqueta was at fault for the fourth goal, too, when he gave the ball away in midfield.
Jorginho intercepts his pass to Carlos Soler…
And Trossard quickly plays a long ball to Havertz, leaving Kilman as the last man…
The defender, a £40million ($51.2m) summer signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers, misses the ball and Havertz duly converts.
Lukasz Fabianski has been solid since replacing Alphonse Areola in goal, but a misjudgement saw him foul Gabriel from an Arsenal corner, prompting referee Anthony Taylor to award another penalty before half-time, which Saka scored.
West Ham limited Arsenal to one shot on target in the second half, but many fans had left by the time Danny Ings’ scuffed shot went wide from close range. He refrained from punching the ground in frustration, a feeling shared by those who stayed.
“The fifth goal, before half-time, killed the match,” bemoaned Lopetegui. “We scored two goals and ended the half with positive energy. It wasn’t a penalty. Compare the contact for the first goal on Lucas Paqueta and then it happened with Lukasz (Fabianski) and Gabriel. We were unlucky with the decision but it’s not one excuse because we can and must do better.”
A trip to struggling Leicester City on Tuesday is a chance to make amends. There have been a number of passionate pleas from the head coach this season; some have had the desired effect, others have fallen on deaf eyes. Whichever of the two transpire against a Leicester side who will be led by Ruud van Nistelrooy for the first time could have a bearing on Lopetegui’s future.
All Nigeria Soccer
Left-footed Nigerian midfielder reveals he nearly joined Chelsea before transfer to West Ham
Left-footed Nigerian midfielder Tyron Akpata has revealed that he was on the verge of joining Chelsea before moving to their London rivals West Ham United on schoolboy terms.
Akpata, widely regarded as one of the most talented players of Nigerian descent on the books of a Premier League club, has no regrets about choosing West Ham United over other suitors vying for his signature.
A pathway to the first team was the key factor that convinced the 18-year-old to sign with West Ham.
The likes of Emmanuel Omoyinmi, Matthias Fanimo, Ajibola Alese, Mipo Odubeko, and Armstrong Oko-Flex progressed through the youth ranks to make their first-team debuts for West Ham United.
Having made his debuts in the FA Youth Cup, Premier League 2, EFL Trophy and Premier League International Cup, the 18-year-old Akpata is hoping to follow in the footsteps of the aforementioned players of Nigerian descent by making his senior debut for the Londoners in the future.
Discussing his football journey, Akpata told allnigeriasoccer.com: "I joined West Ham at U15 after playing grassroots league level and then for a professional development organization called Soccer Shop Window.
"I was developed to where I had interest from five Premier League academies and decided to trial with Chelsea. Covid stalled the trial process and other clubs were still interested in offering me a contract.
"West Ham’s offering was a great long term pathway to pro and it was very local to where I was living so it became an offer I couldn’t shy away from."
A versatile player, Akpata revealed that central midfield role is his preferred position on the pitch.
"I think midfield is good for me. I’ve been told I play like a quarterback, as I like picking up the ball to make short and long passes for players to run in towards goal.
"I like manipulating the ball and also using my quick feet and body to get out of situations while also controlling the pace of play with my reading of the game and calmness on the ball.
"As well as centre midfield, can also play as a number 10, central attacking midfielder or second striker. I can also play left wing and left-back if needed."
While a call-up to England's Young Lions is a potential opportunity, Akpata is also open to playing for Nigeria on the international stage.