Friday News (includes West Ham)

[Alan]

BBC

Arsenal and Chelsea are both targeting a striker and the two London clubs have a similar list of targets, which includes Newcastle United's Sweden forward Alexander Isak, 25. (Caught Offside)

Manchester United have also made signing a striker their top priority in the January transfer window. (Mirror)

Bayern Munich have made significant progress regarding a contract extension for Canada international Alphonso Davies, 24, who has been monitored by Manchester United. (Flor ian Plettenberg)

Manchester United are behind Chelsea in the race to sign Lecce's 20-year-old Denmark left-back Patrick Dorgu. (Teamtalk)

Former Chelsea and Brighton manager Graham Potter has been sounded out by both Wolves and West Ham. (Talksport)

Former Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic will not become the new manager of West Ham if Lopetegui is relieved of his position, but ex-Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand is in contention. (Florian Plettenberg)

Former West Ham boss David Moyes is among the contenders for the Wolves job should Gary O'Neil be sacked but Luton boss Rob Edwards is an outsider, having been well thought of at Molineux where he spent four years as a player. (Telegraph - subscription required)

Brighton and Southampton are tracking 18-year-old Motherwell teenager Lennon Miller, with the Scotland Under-21 midfielder also interesting Liverpool and Newcastle. (Mail - subscription required)

Liverpool are in contact with Bayer Leverkusen over a move for 23-year-old Dutch right-back Jeremie Frimpong. (Caught Offside)

Georgia and Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, 23, is attracting interest from Liverpool. (Give Me Sport)

Liverpool are also monitoring Bayern Munich's 28-year-old Germany winger Leroy Sane, who could be sold. (Fichajes - in Spanish)

Manchester City will allow Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, 33, to join one of the City Football Group's sister clubs when he leaves. (Telegraph - subscription required)

However, David Beckham's Inter Miami have made De Bruyne their main transfer target. (Mirror)

Everton's Guinea-Bissau striker Beto, 26, and Mali midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure, 31, are both wanted by Roma. (Gazzetta dello Sport, via Football Italia)

Liverpool are confident France defender Ibrahima Konate, 25, will sign a new contract with the club as talks progress over a new deal. (Fabrizio Romano)

Juventus and Marseille are interested in signing Chelsea's 23-year-old France defender Benoit Badiashile. (Caught Offside)

Chelsea have made contact with Benfica over a deal to sign Portugal centre-back Tomas Araujo, 22, with the London club willing to let French defender Axel Disasi, 26, leave in January. (Teamtalk)

Fabio Vieira's long-term future at Arsenal is in doubt with the Gunners ready to listen to offers for the 24-year-old Portugal midfielder, who is currently on loan at Porto. (Mail - subscription required)

Barcelona director of football Deco has met with the representatives of Germany defender Jonathan Tah, 28, who is out of contract at Bayer Leverkusen next summer. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish)




Sky Paper Talk

DAILY MIRROR

David Beckham and Inter Miami have made Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne their primary transfer target.

Former Egypt international Haytham Farouk has claimed Mohamed Salah has signed a new contract with Liverpool.

Kylian Mbappe has issued an apology after missing another penalty in a Real Madrid defeat.

Wayne Rooney's TV documentary looks set to be scrapped as the Manchester United legend fights to save his job at Plymouth Argyle.

Footage showing water flowing through Everton's new stadium on Thursday led to concerns from many of the club's supporters just months ahead of the ground opening - but all wasn't what it seemed.

DAILY MAIL

Wolves are actively sounding out replacements for Gary O'Neil and are believed to have held tentative conversations with Graham Potter last month.

Former Chelsea star Oscar broke down in floods of tears as he emotionally waved farewell to Shanghai Port after eight years at the Chinese club.

David Beckham has paid tribute to Manchester United's much-loved receptionist Kath Phipps after she passed away at the age of 85.

Premier League clubs want English football authorities to consider softening the Rainbow Laces initiative ahead of next season.

Former Premier League footballers were left in limbo last week after an A-list exhibition game in Dubai - that has been described as a 'shambles' - was postponed at late notice.

Arsenal's Fabio Vieira's long-term future at the club is in doubt with the club ready to listen to offers for the midfielder.

Brighton and Southampton are tracking Motherwell teenager Lennon Miller ahead of the January transfer window.

Clubs are going to covert lengths to ensure agents of players classified as minors can still be paid commission.

Manchester United are keeping their eye on the goalkeeper market amid concerns current No 2 Altay Bayindir wants to leave.

Paul Pogba was back with long-term partner Adidas this week ahead of his long-awaited return to professional football.

Manchester United have taken the extraordinary step of putting tickets for Saturday's game against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on open sale.

European football risks another identity crisis with roughly 60 clubs reportedly willing to take part in a renewed push to establish a Super League.

Scottish Rugby were unaware Stuart Hogg was carrying out a campaign of domestic abuse against estranged wife Gillian while playing for his country - and did not relieve him of the captaincy as a result of his behaviour.

THE SUN

Arsene Wenger left fans in stitches after he was awkwardly forced to dance live on air during the FIFA Club World Cup draw.

Robbie Savage is in the frame for the vacant Northampton job.

DAILY STAR

Jeremy Doku reckons Manchester City sensation Erling Haaland is one of the grumpiest strikers in Europe.

THE ATHLETIC

Arsenal assistant manager Albert Stuivenberg has agreed a new contract until 2027.

Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings says his recovery from a long-term knee injury was "awful" and led to doubts about whether he would ever play again.

Danish football clubs Nordsjaelland and AGF have been fined 5,000 kroner (€670, £555) each for a snowball fight involving supporters in a league match.

DAILY EXPRESS

Wrexham and Stockport County are reportedly set to go head-to-head in a bid to secure the loan signing of Manchester United's young talent Ethan Wheatley during the January transfer window.

DAILY TELEGRAPH

Manchester City would consider offering Kevin De Bruyne a role at clubs within their own football group when he eventually moves on from the Etihad Stadium, such is his standing at the Premier League champions.

Almost two-thirds of Manchester United supporters are "unhappy" with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazers' running of the club as the co-owners come under renewed pressure to abandon their controversial mid-season ticket-price hikes.

West Ham United have discussed the possibility of appointing a successor to Julen Lopetegui on an initial six-month contract until the end of the season.

EVENING STANDARD

Crystal Palace are in talks to sign Millwall star Romain Esse.

SCOTTISH SUN

Audible gasps were heard around the room of the Rangers AGM as the board revealed the surprisingly small amount of cash they made from player sales last summer.

Rangers could look to enter into partnerships with big clubs overseas.

DAILY RECORD

Kilmarnock are sweating the fitness of defender Joe Wright after he was sent to hospital following a worrying head-knock against Rangers.




The Athletic

Julen Lopetegui set to be in charge for West Ham vs Wolves

By David Ornstein

Julen Lopetegui is set to be in charge of West Ham United when they play Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night despite continued speculation over his long-term future at the club.

Tuesday’s 3-1 defeat to newly-promoted Leicester City saw away supporters chant about the head coach getting sacked at the King Power Stadium.

That result has left West Ham 14th in the Premier League table with a record of just four wins from their opening 14 games.

The Athletic reported on Wednesday that his future was being discussed and that dialogue will continue with the club of the view that results are not in line with the objectives set out ahead of the season.

Former Chelsea head coach Graham Potter is a strong contender should a change eventually be made but as things stand Lopetegui and his staff are focused on preparing for Monday’s meeting with his former side at the London Stadium.

The Spaniard was appointed as David Moyes’ successor in May, signing a two-year deal with the option of a further 12 months.

The new season began slowly for Lopetegui’s side, who won only once in their opening six Premier League games as well as exiting the Carabao Cup with a 5-1 loss against Liverpool.

The early pressure appeared to have eased with a 4-1 win over Ipswich Town before the October international break but heavy defeats at Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest came either side of a 2-1 home win over Manchester United.

The 2-0 win at Newcastle United was a welcome relief following November’s international break, but this was followed by defeats to Arsenal and Leicester.

Fans have frequently voiced their frustration with Lopetegui, with ‘sacked in the morning’ chants at Leicester following boos during the home games against Chelsea, Manchester United, Everton and Arsenal since September.



GiveMe Sport

Jaissle Discussed as an Alternative Candidate
German currently in charge of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli

 GMS sources have been told that West Ham could raid the Saudi Pro League if they decide to sack Lopetegui as Al-Ahli head coach Matthias Jaissle has been discussed by key decision-makers behind the scenes as they continue weighing up their options, but no contact has been made at this stage.

The 39-year-old has led his current employers to 31 wins from 56 matches, suffering just 14 defeats along the way, and is being monitored ahead of potentially being sounded out to discover whether he would be interested in heading to the Premier League for the first time in his managerial career.

Jaissle is being seen by influential figures at West Ham as a dynamic young coach with progressive ideas, GMS sources understand, while there is confidence that he would be capable of creating a new culture at the club if he is given the chance to replace Lopetegui in the coming days.

The German tactician also lifted silverware on three occasions - including the Austrian Bundesliga title twice - during a previous stint at Red Bull Salzburg, and that spell allowed him to gain experience in continental competitions before heading to Saudi Arabia and equalling a club-record for Al-Ahli's longest winning streak in the AFC Champions League.

West Ham would have to negotiate a compensation fee if they turn to Jaissle as his contract is due to run until the summer of 2026, GMS sources have learned, while Edin Terzic, Sergio Conceicao, Kasper Hjulmand, Roger Schmidt and Massimiliano Allegri are further contenders to replace Lopetegui.




Sport Witness

Goodbye on the way as €30-40m move to West Ham now possible – Negotiation on price looks likely

By Naveen Ullal

Earlier this week, we covered claims from Italy which stated West Ham United are in the picture to sign AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori.

Calciomercato provide the latest and it’s encouraging for West Ham and the defender’s other interested parties.

The former Chelsea man has lost prominence at the San Siro under Paulo Fonseca and has made only six league starts this season.

It’s claimed the England international ‘can say goodbye’ to the Serie A side and return to the Premier League at the end of this season.

The report adds Milan have identified Valencia’s Yerson Mosquera, Lille’s Bafodé Diakité and Sporting’s Ousmane Diomande as potential candidates to replace Tomori.

MilanLive.it relay claims made elsewhere about the Rossoneri looking at players to replace the 26-year-old and then give their own take. This is when they mention West Ham and their interest in the centre-back.

The player has market in the Premier League, where the Hammers and Newcastle United are mentioned.

Due to dip in his performances, Milan will consider offers for him, and the report says the starting price is set at €40m. It’s worth noting an earlier report had indicated Tomori can leave for less than the €30m requested by Milan in the summer window.

West Ham can take advantage of Milan’s openness to parting ways with Tomori to sign him for a lower price.

[Texas Iron]

Cheers…

[Mex Martillo]

Thanks Alan.

 

[With Kind Regards]

Thanks Alan.