Wednesday news (includes West ham)
Posted: 04 Dec 2024, 10:07
BBC
Nottingham Forest are considering a January bid for Brighton's 20-year-old Republic of Ireland striker Evan Ferguson. (Football Insider), external
Real Madrid only want to sign Liverpool's England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, 26, on a free transfer. (Telegraph - subscription), external
Liverpool are planning to make a combined £91m January move for Bournemouth's 21-year-old Hungary left-back Milos Kerkez and Real Sociedad's 25-year-old Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi. (Teamtalk), external
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham are interested in Athletic Bilbao's 22-year-old Spain winger Nico Williams. (Athletic - subscription), external
Barcelona are monitoring Newcastle United's 25-year-old Sweden striker Alexander Isak. (Caught Offside), external
Manchester United are interested in RB Leipzig's Germany defender David Raum, 26, and 19-year-old Juventus and Turkey forward Kenan Yildiz. (Sky Germany - in German)
Manchester United have approached 24-year-old Canada defender Alphonso Davies to gauge his interest in joining when his Bayern Munich contract expires next summer. (Teamtalk), external
Leicester City are keen to add to their attacking options with a new forward in the January transfer window. (Football Insider), external
Barcelona will attempt to rival Real Madrid for Manchester United's 25-year-old Portugal defender Diogo Dalot, should he want to leave Old Trafford. (Caught Offside), external
Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has emerged as a target for RB Leipzig. (Sun via Sky Germany), external
Ivory Coast winger Amad Diallo, 22, could leave Manchester United in January. (Express), external
Manchester United are assessing their goalkeeping options in case Turkish 26-year-old Altay Bayindir leaves in January. (Mail - subscription), external
Tottenham, Manchester City and Chelsea are interested in AC Milan's 26-year-old Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external
Former Juventus and AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri is a contender for the West Ham job should they sack Julen Lopetegui. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external
Arsenal have been rejected by AC Milan's Portugal attacker Rafael Leao, 25, after making an informal approach about a January move. (Football Transfers via Caught Offside), external
Real Madrid's Spanish defender Raul Asencio, 21, turned down the chance to join City Football Group in a £5m move this summer. (AS - in Spanish), external
Arsenal and Liverpool are the most likely destinations for Netherlands midfielder Xavi Simons, 21, should Paris St-Germain sell him next summer. He would cost at least £66m. (Athletic - subscription), external
Napoli are in pole position to sign Chelsea, Tottenham and West Ham target Patrick Dorgu, 20, from Lecce in January. (La Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian)
Sky Paper Talk
DAILY EXPRESS
Liverpool's failed bid to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi last summer could reportedly be revived.
Ruben Amorim has been urged to axe Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans and Casemiro in a 'ruthless' cull of Manchester United's elder statesmen.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Real Madrid are ready to abandon a January pursuit of Trent Alexander-Arnold and wait to see if the Liverpool full-back will be available on a free transfer in the summer.
Marc Guehi has risked an FA ban after writing the words "Jesus loves you" on his captain's rainbow armband in the match against Ipswich.
The senior leadership of the Rugby Football Union are to face a motion of no confidence as early as January over the bonus scandal that has engulfed the governing body.
Tiger Woods believes the United States Ryder Cup players should be paid £4m, not £315,000, for representing their country - but insists all the money should go to charity.
THE SUN
Feyenoord striker Anis Hadj Moussa is emerging as a January target for Premier League clubs.
Flamengo are to leave the legendary Maracana Stadium for a new state-of-the-art ground in Rio de Janeiro.
Erik ten Hag has reportedly emerged as a managerial target for Bundesliga giants RB Leipzig.
Lower-division clubs could see a "challenge" system in operation to overturn refereeing bloopers.
Jake Paul is in talks with FIVE potential opponents - with dates and venues already pencilled in for his next fight.
DAILY MIRROR
Feyenoord defender David Hancko has revealed he was shut down by former boss Arne Slot when the pair discussed the possibility of a reunion at Liverpool earlier this summer.
DAILY MAIL
Harry Maguire is reportedly hopeful that Manchester United will extend his contract beyond the end of the 2024/25 season.
Manchester United are assessing their goalkeeping options in case No 2 Altay Bayindir leaves during the January transfer window.
Manchester United scouts have been gathering information on Francisco Moura and Samu Aghehowa, formerly Omorodion, as they were deployed in Porto's match against Ruben Amorim's former team Casa Pia.
The father of England star Marc Guehi has slammed the FA after his son was reprimanded for writing 'I love Jesus' on his rainbow captain's armband.
THE TIMES
The FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, has insisted that he will not raid the organisation's reserves to fund the new Club World Cup - despite the failure so far to secure a broadcaster for the tournament.
The RFU president Rob Udwin has called an emergency council meeting for December 18 in the face of a grassroots revolt against the union's under-fire senior leaders Bill Sweeney and Tom Ilube.
THE ATHLETIC
The Premier League has asked its clubs to send a template letter to their local MPs as part of a lobbying effort to dramatically limit the powers of the proposed independent football regulator.
Reading owner Dai Yongge has rejected a bid for the League One club from former chairman Roger Smee in a move that raises serious doubts about his desire to sell the club.
Former United States head coach Jill Ellis is leaving her role as San Diego Wave FC president to become chief football officer at FIFA.
Plymouth Argyle chairman Simon Hallett has insisted there are "no conversations going on" about replacing Wayne Rooney as manager.
EVENING STANDARD
Tottenham's next signing Yang Min-Hyeok will join up with the squad this month ahead of his official move from K League side Gangwon FC in January.
Chelsea are in line for a tough Club World Cup draw after being placed in Pot 2 for Thursday's draw.
DAILY RECORD
Swedish football icon Zlatan Ibrahimovic will reportedly spearhead AC Milan's efforts to try to sign Bologna skipper Lewis Ferguson in January.
Internacional have once again expressed their desire to sign Celtic loanee Alexandro Bernabei on a permanent basis.
Philippe Clement has revealed he wants to tie down John Souttar to an extended Rangers contract.
Scotland manager Pedro Martinez Losa refused to discuss his long-term future after his side failed to make it to next summer's Euros.
SCOTTISH SUN
Rangers' talks with would-be chairman Malcolm Offord have stalled.
Jose Mourinho has launched a stunning defence of ex-Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst after he was sacked by Besiktas last week - despite them being rivals this season.
Guardian
Vardy starts Van Nistelrooy welcoming party as Leicester add to West Ham woe
Peter Lansley at the King Power Stadium
While one manager celebrated his first game in charge, another may have endured his last. As Ruud van Nistelrooy prepared to enjoy “a small beer” after this win allowed him to luxuriate in starting his Leicester reign by moving four points clear of the relegation zone, Julen Lopetegui claimed he could not hear his own fans singing: “You’re getting sacked in the morning.”
West Ham dominated play but failed to make the most of their many chances. Having spent more than £100m on players in the summer, without seeing any marked improvement in the play or results, the former Wolves manager might privately be relieved to still be in post by the time his previous club visit the London Stadium on Monday.
Asked if he was confident he would be granted time, Lopetegui replied: “I am. I am ready to prepare for the next match. There are a lot of matches in front of us and I believe in my team. We have to work a lot.
“It’s not easy because I think we deserved much more. We had 21 shots on goal but we didn’t score, it’s unbelievable. It’s true the first goal was key and we have to avoid this. We are very frustrated for the fans and for the players.”
When Lopetegui was asked how he felt about the crowd’s prediction of his imminent departure, he said: “I am a coach, I am not aware of what’s happening around me. I am focused on the game. We are able to change the situation for sure. I believe in the players. Today we played a good match but we have to improve defensively.”
The West Ham fans could point to a harsh foul given against Tomas Soucek on the goalkeeper Mads Hermansen as Crysencio Summerville’s sliced effort went over the line when it was still 1-0 but, despite having four times as many touches in the opposing area at one stage, West Ham appear to be moving backwards. After reading that Sérgio Conceiçao, the former Porto manager, is said to have been sounded out about taking over, the former Spain manager could have done without going behind so soon.
Van Nistelrooy’s grand entrance presaged the best of starts for his team. Only 98 seconds had elapsed when Jamie Vardy, after striding on to Bilal El Khannouss’s neat pass inside, calmly rolled the ball past Lukasz Fabianski and into the far bottom corner.
West Ham may have won away at Newcastle last week – no mean feat – but their sequence of two wins from 11 matches has brought the spotlight flashing back Lopetegui’s way.
But to his team’s credit, after Vardy almost scored again, West Ham dominated the rest of the half. They had eight very presentable chances before the interval, with Mads Hermansen saving three times from smart efforts from Jarrod Bowen. Danny Ings also headed against the post.
West Ham must have known their luck was out when, just before Leicester went two goals ahead, Summerville sliced the ball up into the air and over the line as Hermansen, jostled gently by Soucek, fudged his punch. But Josh Smith, the referee, gave a foul.
When El Khannouss stretched out to reach Kasey McAteer’s pass in from the left and guide the ball into the bottom corner, Leicester had done enough to give Van Nistelrooy his winning start, even if Coady was required to react brilliantly to toe-end Summerville’s effort off the line after Bowen’s great pullback.
Patson Daka, slashing home from the left corner of the box, and Niclas Füllkrug, heading in at the other end after Summerville flicked on Jarrod Bowen’s corner, traded goals in stoppage time but the die had been cast.
In many ways Füllkrug and Summerville reflect West Ham’s woes. Costing more than £25m each, this was the experienced German target man’s first Premier League goal since his move from Borussia Dortmund while neither has the young pacy winger arriving from Leeds yet to cement his starting place.
Van Nistelrooy was balanced in his perspective, accepting that West Ham dominated for a long part of the game. But he was gratified by his team’s commitment. “I’m very happy,” he said. “Look at the result – it’s three points, three goals, great goals and very effective. [But] we all saw the game and can see the chances West Ham had, so that’s something we have to look at and do better next time.
“I said beforehand that togetherness, energy, spirit, fighting together are the foundation to play the rest of this Premier League campaign,” he said, “and I saw that, from every single player, every player that came on. Without that, it’s impossible to get where we want to get.”
Nottingham Forest are considering a January bid for Brighton's 20-year-old Republic of Ireland striker Evan Ferguson. (Football Insider), external
Real Madrid only want to sign Liverpool's England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, 26, on a free transfer. (Telegraph - subscription), external
Liverpool are planning to make a combined £91m January move for Bournemouth's 21-year-old Hungary left-back Milos Kerkez and Real Sociedad's 25-year-old Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi. (Teamtalk), external
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham are interested in Athletic Bilbao's 22-year-old Spain winger Nico Williams. (Athletic - subscription), external
Barcelona are monitoring Newcastle United's 25-year-old Sweden striker Alexander Isak. (Caught Offside), external
Manchester United are interested in RB Leipzig's Germany defender David Raum, 26, and 19-year-old Juventus and Turkey forward Kenan Yildiz. (Sky Germany - in German)
Manchester United have approached 24-year-old Canada defender Alphonso Davies to gauge his interest in joining when his Bayern Munich contract expires next summer. (Teamtalk), external
Leicester City are keen to add to their attacking options with a new forward in the January transfer window. (Football Insider), external
Barcelona will attempt to rival Real Madrid for Manchester United's 25-year-old Portugal defender Diogo Dalot, should he want to leave Old Trafford. (Caught Offside), external
Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has emerged as a target for RB Leipzig. (Sun via Sky Germany), external
Ivory Coast winger Amad Diallo, 22, could leave Manchester United in January. (Express), external
Manchester United are assessing their goalkeeping options in case Turkish 26-year-old Altay Bayindir leaves in January. (Mail - subscription), external
Tottenham, Manchester City and Chelsea are interested in AC Milan's 26-year-old Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external
Former Juventus and AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri is a contender for the West Ham job should they sack Julen Lopetegui. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external
Arsenal have been rejected by AC Milan's Portugal attacker Rafael Leao, 25, after making an informal approach about a January move. (Football Transfers via Caught Offside), external
Real Madrid's Spanish defender Raul Asencio, 21, turned down the chance to join City Football Group in a £5m move this summer. (AS - in Spanish), external
Arsenal and Liverpool are the most likely destinations for Netherlands midfielder Xavi Simons, 21, should Paris St-Germain sell him next summer. He would cost at least £66m. (Athletic - subscription), external
Napoli are in pole position to sign Chelsea, Tottenham and West Ham target Patrick Dorgu, 20, from Lecce in January. (La Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian)
Sky Paper Talk
DAILY EXPRESS
Liverpool's failed bid to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi last summer could reportedly be revived.
Ruben Amorim has been urged to axe Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans and Casemiro in a 'ruthless' cull of Manchester United's elder statesmen.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Real Madrid are ready to abandon a January pursuit of Trent Alexander-Arnold and wait to see if the Liverpool full-back will be available on a free transfer in the summer.
Marc Guehi has risked an FA ban after writing the words "Jesus loves you" on his captain's rainbow armband in the match against Ipswich.
The senior leadership of the Rugby Football Union are to face a motion of no confidence as early as January over the bonus scandal that has engulfed the governing body.
Tiger Woods believes the United States Ryder Cup players should be paid £4m, not £315,000, for representing their country - but insists all the money should go to charity.
THE SUN
Feyenoord striker Anis Hadj Moussa is emerging as a January target for Premier League clubs.
Flamengo are to leave the legendary Maracana Stadium for a new state-of-the-art ground in Rio de Janeiro.
Erik ten Hag has reportedly emerged as a managerial target for Bundesliga giants RB Leipzig.
Lower-division clubs could see a "challenge" system in operation to overturn refereeing bloopers.
Jake Paul is in talks with FIVE potential opponents - with dates and venues already pencilled in for his next fight.
DAILY MIRROR
Feyenoord defender David Hancko has revealed he was shut down by former boss Arne Slot when the pair discussed the possibility of a reunion at Liverpool earlier this summer.
DAILY MAIL
Harry Maguire is reportedly hopeful that Manchester United will extend his contract beyond the end of the 2024/25 season.
Manchester United are assessing their goalkeeping options in case No 2 Altay Bayindir leaves during the January transfer window.
Manchester United scouts have been gathering information on Francisco Moura and Samu Aghehowa, formerly Omorodion, as they were deployed in Porto's match against Ruben Amorim's former team Casa Pia.
The father of England star Marc Guehi has slammed the FA after his son was reprimanded for writing 'I love Jesus' on his rainbow captain's armband.
THE TIMES
The FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, has insisted that he will not raid the organisation's reserves to fund the new Club World Cup - despite the failure so far to secure a broadcaster for the tournament.
The RFU president Rob Udwin has called an emergency council meeting for December 18 in the face of a grassroots revolt against the union's under-fire senior leaders Bill Sweeney and Tom Ilube.
THE ATHLETIC
The Premier League has asked its clubs to send a template letter to their local MPs as part of a lobbying effort to dramatically limit the powers of the proposed independent football regulator.
Reading owner Dai Yongge has rejected a bid for the League One club from former chairman Roger Smee in a move that raises serious doubts about his desire to sell the club.
Former United States head coach Jill Ellis is leaving her role as San Diego Wave FC president to become chief football officer at FIFA.
Plymouth Argyle chairman Simon Hallett has insisted there are "no conversations going on" about replacing Wayne Rooney as manager.
EVENING STANDARD
Tottenham's next signing Yang Min-Hyeok will join up with the squad this month ahead of his official move from K League side Gangwon FC in January.
Chelsea are in line for a tough Club World Cup draw after being placed in Pot 2 for Thursday's draw.
DAILY RECORD
Swedish football icon Zlatan Ibrahimovic will reportedly spearhead AC Milan's efforts to try to sign Bologna skipper Lewis Ferguson in January.
Internacional have once again expressed their desire to sign Celtic loanee Alexandro Bernabei on a permanent basis.
Philippe Clement has revealed he wants to tie down John Souttar to an extended Rangers contract.
Scotland manager Pedro Martinez Losa refused to discuss his long-term future after his side failed to make it to next summer's Euros.
SCOTTISH SUN
Rangers' talks with would-be chairman Malcolm Offord have stalled.
Jose Mourinho has launched a stunning defence of ex-Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst after he was sacked by Besiktas last week - despite them being rivals this season.
Guardian
Vardy starts Van Nistelrooy welcoming party as Leicester add to West Ham woe
Peter Lansley at the King Power Stadium
While one manager celebrated his first game in charge, another may have endured his last. As Ruud van Nistelrooy prepared to enjoy “a small beer” after this win allowed him to luxuriate in starting his Leicester reign by moving four points clear of the relegation zone, Julen Lopetegui claimed he could not hear his own fans singing: “You’re getting sacked in the morning.”
West Ham dominated play but failed to make the most of their many chances. Having spent more than £100m on players in the summer, without seeing any marked improvement in the play or results, the former Wolves manager might privately be relieved to still be in post by the time his previous club visit the London Stadium on Monday.
Asked if he was confident he would be granted time, Lopetegui replied: “I am. I am ready to prepare for the next match. There are a lot of matches in front of us and I believe in my team. We have to work a lot.
“It’s not easy because I think we deserved much more. We had 21 shots on goal but we didn’t score, it’s unbelievable. It’s true the first goal was key and we have to avoid this. We are very frustrated for the fans and for the players.”
When Lopetegui was asked how he felt about the crowd’s prediction of his imminent departure, he said: “I am a coach, I am not aware of what’s happening around me. I am focused on the game. We are able to change the situation for sure. I believe in the players. Today we played a good match but we have to improve defensively.”
The West Ham fans could point to a harsh foul given against Tomas Soucek on the goalkeeper Mads Hermansen as Crysencio Summerville’s sliced effort went over the line when it was still 1-0 but, despite having four times as many touches in the opposing area at one stage, West Ham appear to be moving backwards. After reading that Sérgio Conceiçao, the former Porto manager, is said to have been sounded out about taking over, the former Spain manager could have done without going behind so soon.
Van Nistelrooy’s grand entrance presaged the best of starts for his team. Only 98 seconds had elapsed when Jamie Vardy, after striding on to Bilal El Khannouss’s neat pass inside, calmly rolled the ball past Lukasz Fabianski and into the far bottom corner.
West Ham may have won away at Newcastle last week – no mean feat – but their sequence of two wins from 11 matches has brought the spotlight flashing back Lopetegui’s way.
But to his team’s credit, after Vardy almost scored again, West Ham dominated the rest of the half. They had eight very presentable chances before the interval, with Mads Hermansen saving three times from smart efforts from Jarrod Bowen. Danny Ings also headed against the post.
West Ham must have known their luck was out when, just before Leicester went two goals ahead, Summerville sliced the ball up into the air and over the line as Hermansen, jostled gently by Soucek, fudged his punch. But Josh Smith, the referee, gave a foul.
When El Khannouss stretched out to reach Kasey McAteer’s pass in from the left and guide the ball into the bottom corner, Leicester had done enough to give Van Nistelrooy his winning start, even if Coady was required to react brilliantly to toe-end Summerville’s effort off the line after Bowen’s great pullback.
Patson Daka, slashing home from the left corner of the box, and Niclas Füllkrug, heading in at the other end after Summerville flicked on Jarrod Bowen’s corner, traded goals in stoppage time but the die had been cast.
In many ways Füllkrug and Summerville reflect West Ham’s woes. Costing more than £25m each, this was the experienced German target man’s first Premier League goal since his move from Borussia Dortmund while neither has the young pacy winger arriving from Leeds yet to cement his starting place.
Van Nistelrooy was balanced in his perspective, accepting that West Ham dominated for a long part of the game. But he was gratified by his team’s commitment. “I’m very happy,” he said. “Look at the result – it’s three points, three goals, great goals and very effective. [But] we all saw the game and can see the chances West Ham had, so that’s something we have to look at and do better next time.
“I said beforehand that togetherness, energy, spirit, fighting together are the foundation to play the rest of this Premier League campaign,” he said, “and I saw that, from every single player, every player that came on. Without that, it’s impossible to get where we want to get.”