England forward Cole Palmer, 22, is drawing attention from Real Madrid because of his consistent performances at Chelsea. (Fichajes - in Spanish)
West Ham will step up their interest in Brighton and Republic of Ireland striker Evan Ferguson, 20, when the January transfer window opens. (Football Insider)
Arsenal, Manchester United and Barcelona are ready to battle it out for the services of Lille's Canada forward Jonathan David, 24, who is out of contract in the summer. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish)
Manchester City are willing to offer Norway forward Oscar Bobb, 21, or English midfielder James McAtee, 22, as they look to convince Bayer Leverkusen to part company with their 21-year-old Germany winger Florian Wirtz. (TBR Football)
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim could offload Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen, 32, and Brazil winger Antony, 24, to free up some funds in January. (GiveMeSport)
Liverpool are hoping to beat several European rivals to the signature of Bologna's Dutch defender Sam Beukema, 26. (Teamtalk)
Motherwell's Scottish midfielder Lennon Miller, 18, is also a target for Liverpool and could be available for £8m. (Caught Offside)
Everton's Beto, 26, could be heading back to Italy in January, with Torino interested in the Guinea-Bissau striker. (Tuttomercartoweb - in Italian)
AC Milan would want at least 50m euros if they were to sell 27-year-old France left-back Theo Hernandez, who has been linked with Manchester United and Real Madrid. (Calciomercato - in Italian)
Germany winger Leroy Sane is out of contract at Bayern Munich in the summer and, while he has yet to receive the offer of a new deal, the 28-year-old Germany international is keen to stay at the Bundesliga club. (Sky Sports Germany)
Bayer Leverkusen are closely monitoring the situation of Real Madrid attacking midfielder Arda Guler, as they see the 19-year-old Turkey international as a possible replacement for Florian Wirtz if the 21-year-old German international leaves. (Sky Sports Germany)
Atalanta's Ademola Lookman, 27, is open to returning to England, with several Premier League clubs interested in the Nigeria forward. (GiveMeSport)
Chelsea will send English midfielder Omari Kellyman out on loan in January to help the 19-year-old earn some senior experience. (Football Insider)
Graham Potter is willing to take the West Ham job initially until the end of the season, if they sack Julen Lopetegui. (Talksport)
Tottenham are set to stand by manager Ange Postecoglou and back the Australian in the January transfer window, despite their poor run of results.(Teamtalk)
Manchester United could be set to do battle with Arsenal for Luis Campos, Paris St-Germain's football adviser. (ipaper)
Sky Paper Talk
DAILY MIRROR
Erik ten Hag and Graham Potter are set to battle it out to replace Marco Rose as RB Leipzig boss.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is in negotiations over a new Liverpool contract and his team-mates want him to stay, according to Alexis Mac Allister.
THE TIMES
Manchester City could learn their fate over the charges for multiple alleged breaches of Premier League rules before the end of January - but legal experts think that any appeal will drag on until next season.
The former Manchester United and England centre-back Gary Pallister has revealed that he suffered debilitating migraines and violent headaches during his playing career that left him unable to train.
West Ham United are considering extending Michail Antonio's contract beyond its expiry date at the end of the season, depending on his recovery from surgery on a broken leg.
THE GUARDIAN
Alisson could make his Liverpool return against Girona in the Champions League at Montilivi on Tuesday night after Arne Slot confirmed that he is ready to start again.
THE SUN
Man Utd have ditched the role of sporting director after their failed Dan Ashworth experiment.
Graham Potter is willing to take the West Ham job until the end of the season, according to reports.
Fluminense defender Thiago Silva walked the length of the pitch on his knees after the club narrowly avoided relegation.
Barcelona star Dani Olmo lost his tooth after clashing with Real Betis defender Marc Bartra during a LaLiga match on Saturday.
DAILY MAIL
Tottenham defender Cristian Romero has warned Daniel Levy that the club are slipping behind their Premier League rivals due to a lack of investment.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Wolverhampton Wanderers players and staff had to be separated from fighting amongst themselves as tempers flared after their latest disappointing defeat.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's ruthless axing of Dan Ashworth just 159 days after being appointed as Manchester United sporting director has added to a growing sense of unease and concern among stunned staff.
DAILY EXPRESS
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has refused to rule out leaving the club in the future as he pleaded with the Reds to keep Mohamed Salah at Anfield.
Salah and Chelsea sensation Cole Palmer were amongst the names to be snubbed after the FIFPRO World XI was released on Monday.
Nigel Pearson has revealed that he has been forced to learn to walk again due to a 'neurological situation' which reared its head last year.
Tottenham defender Pedro Porro has deactivated his account on X (formerly Twitter) after he was criticised by supporters for sharing a post following the 4-3 loss against Chelsea.
DAILY RECORD
Celtic are said to be keen on a permanent deal in January for rising Lyon star Mahamadou Diawara, who is frustrated at his lack of game time.
Aberdeen chief executive Alan Burrows has revealed the club are growing frustrated and impatient with the SPFL as they await a verdict on just how much Rangers will have to pay for Connor Barron.
With nine first-team players free to move on at the end of the season, Hearts boss Neil Critchley says he will know when the time is right to open up talks about new deals.
Lee McCulloch reckons resurgent Rangers can heap fresh pressure on former Old Firm tormentor Ange Postecoglou and his "fragile" Tottenham team this week.
SCOTTISH SUN
Celtic fans who have travelled over to Croatia for their match against Dinamo Zagrebhave already been "targeted" by rivals fans, the club has revealed.
Guardian
Soucek and Bowen stave off Wolves on emotional night for West Ham
Jacob Steinberg at the London Stadium
Tomas Soucek holds up nine fingers in a tribute to Michail Antonio, West Ham’s No 9, who was injured in a car crash at the weekend. Photograph: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Wolves could not convince Julen Lopetegui to stay at Molineux last year but they have kept him in his current job. Woeful defending from set pieces cost Gary O’Neil’s side again and, while West Ham hardly played with much style, they can continue to defer making a call on Lopetegui’s future after seeing off wasteful opponents thanks to opportunistic goals from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen.
Ultimately the sense persists that West Ham are delaying the inevitable given that defeat here would have brought an end to their unpopular manager’s unhappy reign. They are in an odd place – nine points above the bottom three, seven off fifth place – and the overall vibe is unconvincing. This performance did little to energise the home crowd and, although it was important to win for Michail Antonio, who is recovering after his horrific car crash, West Ham would be kidding themselves to think a draw would have flattered Wolves.
As it was, this defeat may prove the end for O’Neil. Wolves created chances, crafted a fine equaliser from Matt Doherty and had two big penalty claims turned away, but the walls are closing in. O’Neil, who talked up his side’s display, is running out of time to prove he can stave off relegation.
The problem for Wolves, who remain in the bottom three, is that they have the worst defensive record in the Premier League. West Ham needed only two minutes to respond to Doherty’s strike, Bowen curling in the winner, and there will come a point when O’Neil’s bosses snap.
“Whenever it ends I’ll be unbelievably proud of the job,” the Wolves manager said. “To the last moment the players are going to give everything for me. They’re devastated for me. They’re devastated for the supporters.”
The pain of defeat was so intense that Mario Lemina erupted at full time, clashing with Bowen, the situation almost boiling over. Lemina’s teammates had to drag him away and the midfielder even had an altercation with Shaun Derry, one of O’Neil’s assistants. “Mario’s calm now,” O’Neil said.
This was bound to be a night of heightened emotions after Antonio’s accident. Although the forward survived, fans cannot help but wonder if he will play again after having surgery on a broken leg.
At least Antonio was able to speak to his teammates via video link before kick-off. For West Ham, though, the absence of their record Premier League goalscorer weighed heavy. They paid tribute to him with special training tops and it was disconcerting to consider a future without him up front.
Those lung-busting runs have been a constant feature since the now 34-year-old joined from Nottingham Forest in 2015. Supporters love Antonio’s graft and West Ham missed his presence during the first half. Having decided not to sack Lopetegui after last week’s defeat at Leicester, they saw few signs of an identity developing under the Spaniard. The football was too slow and Wolves were not placed under severe pressure before half-time.
O’Neil took encouragement from his side’s discipline and work rate. Wolves sat in a low block and, when there was an opening for West Ham, Crysencio Summerville’s deft pass finding Carlos Soler, Rayan Aït-Nouri blocked the midfielder’s goalbound shot.
West Ham played in spurts, sudden bursts making Wolves wobble. Bowen and Mohammed Kudus tested Sam Johnstone. Konstantinos Mavropanos missed from close range.
Wolves were cautious after their 4-0 defeat by Everton. Nevertheless they should have led when Jørgen Strand Larsen’s pass sent Doherty beyond Emerson Palmieri on the right. João Gomes somehow volleyed Doherty’s cross wide at the far post.
West Ham were more decisive. They stirred after a slow start to the second half, Aaron Wan-Bissaka winning a debatable corner. Bowen’s delivery was deep, the marking was nonexistent and Soucek looped a header beyond Johnstone.
Wolves wobbled after their fifth successive concession from a set piece. West Ham, playing with renewed zest, were soon denied a second, Kudus offside when converting Bowen’s cutback.
Now Wolves spied a reprieve. O’Neil made positive changes, the introduction of Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Gonçalo Guedes altering the flow. Wolves raged when Guedes was denied a penalty after being pushed by Emerson, who was on a booking. West Ham got away with another when Mavropanos clipped Bellegarde.
It was not to be for Wolves, even after Doherty clobbered Aït-Nouri’s cross past Lukasz Fabianski. Two minutes later West Ham pushed from another set piece. O’Neil saw a foul on Santiago Bueno but play continued and Kudus found Bowen, who twisted past a weak challenge from Guedes and shaped a beautiful shot beyond Johnstone.
“A fighter and a warrior,” Bowen had said of Antonio. Now West Ham’s captain ran behind the goal to pull out a shirt in honour of the striker. The narrative was set. Wolves had further chances but O’Neil’s luck was out and Lopetegui clung on – for now.
The Athletic
West Ham 2 Wolves 1: Lopetegui relief, pressure increases on O’Neil and support for Antonio
By Tim Spiers, Roshane Thomas
After days of speculation about the future of West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui and his Wolverhampton Wanderers counterpart Gary O’Neil, this meeting between their teams was widely considered to be pivotal to both men’s respective job prospects.
Lopetegui has endured a difficult start to life at the London Stadium, so this victory — courtesy of goals from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen — will come as a huge relief.
Wolves had cancelled out Soucek’s header when Matt Doherty struck and twice thought they might have had a penalty in the second half, but both VAR reviews found in favour of the home team.
Defeat leaves Wolves in 19th place, four points adrift of safety and with O’Neil’s position increasingly insecure.
Tim Spiers, Roshane Thomas and Steve Madeley analyse the main talking points.
What does this result mean for the managers?
This was dubbed El Sackico before kick-off, with both managers likely to be one defeat away from the sack… and with Wolves on the losing end, it is difficult to see how O’Neil keeps his job now.
The club have been putting feelers out for a new head coach for some time but wins over Southampton and Fulham bought O’Neil time. However, heavy defeats by Bournemouth (4-2), Everton (4-0) and now a loss to West Ham have surely made his position untenable.
It did not look like his players had downed tools — the effort was there, they rallied to score a superb equaliser through the recalled Doherty and there was a late surge for another leveller in the closing stages, as well as a very good appeal for a penalty turned down.
But Wolves’ biggest problem is their feeble, meek defence, highlighted again here by two soft goals for West Ham, especially the first, which saw Soucek’s tame header bounce apologetically in at the back post.
In a desperately quiet away end, there was not much audible anger, just resigned apathy and indifference.
Wolves were eighth at the start of March and dreaming of Europe last season, but since then have beaten only Southampton, Fulham, Luton Town and Burnley (in the Carabao Cup) and are now four points adrift of safety. O’Neil did a good job last season but under him they have conceded 103 goals in 53 league matches.
As for West Ham and Lopetegui, this narrow win moves the team nine points clear of the drop zone but the Spaniard remains unpopular and unconvincing and it remains to be seen if he lasts until next Monday’s trip to Bournemouth.
There were swathes of empty seats around the London Stadium by the final whistle in a desperately muted atmosphere, reflecting two teams, fanbases and managers who are waiting for the inevitable.
Tim Spiers
Bowen steps up when West Ham need him
This season West Ham’s defensive vulnerability has been their undoing. They have kept only three clean sheets in 15 league games and it seemed that might cost them once again when Doherty cancelled out Soucek’s header.
But, as has so often been the case in recent seasons, Bowed stepped up when his team needed him, lifting the mood to score his fourth goal of the campaign and earn a victory which might give his manager a stay of execution.
The result should not disguise what was an uninspiring first-half display from West Ham just when they really needed a performance, culminating in a smattering of boos from supporters at the break.
But after the interval, they impressed offensively, with Bowen and Mohammed Kudus testing Wolves’ defence.
Kudus had an effort ruled out for offside but in the end they held on. The manner of their second-half display will provide some encouragement for Lopetegui but the question will now be whether that is enough to convince the club’s decision-makers that he deserves more time.
Roshane Thomas
How were West Ham affected by Antonio’s accident?
This was West Ham’s first match since striker Michail Antonio was involved in a car accident on Saturday in Coppice Row, Epping. The 34-year-old has had surgery on a lower limb fracture and is recovering at a central London hospital.
His team-mates wore ‘Antonio 9’ shirts during the warm-up and kept them on as they walked out onto the pitch at the start of the game. West Ham will auction the shirts, with each one signed by every member of the squad, including Antonio.
Antonio has long been a popular figure at the London Stadium and he received lots of messages of support from current and former team-mates following the crash.
Here, there was another show of support in the ninth minute, when fans stood to applaud him, with Lopetegui joining in from the touchline. Bowen held up a shirt with Antonio’s name on it after scoring the winner.
“It has been a tough few days for all of us,” Lopetegui told Sky Sports before the game. “Fortunately it was a miracle. There are more important things — the person, the father, the dad, the brother, the son he is. We are happy he has overcome the surgery he had yesterday and let’s see (how long) he is going to stay. We spoke with him today so we are happy for him despite that he suffered a lot.”
Roshane Thomas
Sport Witness
Winter move to West Ham not what manager is looking for – Hammers would have to wait
Massimiliano Allegri is one of multiple managers to have been linked with a move to West Ham United over the past couple of weeks or so.
Three days ago, it was suggested that the Italian is a candidate to become the next Hammers’ manager, even if AS Roma are a potential destination for him too.
There is now an update from Italy which talks down a move to West Ham, or anywhere else for that matter in the coming months.
Tuttomercatoweb report on the ex-Juventus manager today and as they look at the rumours surrounding his future, West Ham get a mention.
The report mentions that Allegri has a ‘very clear’ stance about his future and for now, he is declining any proposals that come his way.
The 57-year-old does not want to take up a job in the middle of the season, preferring to wait so he has a preseason with any new club.
André Hernan
@andrehernan
West Ham has made the decision and agreed to loan former São Paulo defender Luizão. The player is looking forward to returning to Brazil because he will soon be a father. The player almost signed a deal with Corinthians recently.
