Saturday News (includes West Ham)
Posted: 11 Jan 2025, 11:57
BBC
Aston Villa have increased their bid for Borussia Dortmund forward Donyell Malen to 25m euros (£21m), but the German side are still demanding 30m euros (£25.1m) for the Netherlands international, 25. (Florian Plettenberg)
Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are interested in Wolves' 23-year-old Brazil midfielder Joao Gomes. (Sun)
Monaco are the latest club to express an interest in Manchester United's 27-year-old England forward Marcus Rashford. (Telegraph)
Barcelona are also interested in Rashford. (Fabrizio Romano)
Paris St-Germain are interested in Aston Villa's 21-year-old Colombia striker Jhon Duran. (RMC Sport - in French)
Manchester United are doing all they can to beat Tottenham to the signing of Paris St-Germain's 26-year-old France forward Randal Kolo Muani. (Teamtalk)
Borussia Dortmund have identified Brentford's 23-year-old Germany forward Kevin Schade as a potential target. (Sky Sports)
New West Ham boss Graham Potter is interested in signing 26-year-old English midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and England full-back Ben Chilwell, 28, from former club Chelsea. (Teamtalk)
Brighton and Borussia Dortmund are interested in Liverpool's 21-year-old England Under-21 winger Harvey Elliott. (Sun)
Ipswich are exploring a deal to sign 36-year-old former Serbia midfielder Nemanja Matic from Lyon. (Florian Plettenberg)
Bournemouth's 28-year-old Denmark midfielder Philip Billing has flown to Italy to complete a loan move to Napoli. (Fabrizio Romano)
Everton are considering a bid for Lyon's 21-year-old Ghana winger Ernest Nuamah. (RMC Sport - in French)
Leicester have agreed a deal to sign 25-year-old French full-back Woyo Coulibaly from Parma. (Gianluca di Marzio)
Fenerbahce have held talks with Aston Villa over a £10m deal for their 31-year-old Brazilian centre-back Diego Carlos. (Sky Sports)
Manchester United and Netherlands defender Tyrell Malacia, 25, is a target for Como. (Mail)
Sky Paper Talk
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Monaco have put Marcus Rashford on their shortlist of targets for the January transfer window and are willing to offer a realistic package to land the Manchester United forward.
DAILY MAIL
Barcelona have held meetings with Marcus Rashford's entourage as the Manchester United striker evaluates his next move.
Arsenal midfielder Jorginho could leave the club this month, according to reports.
DAILY MIRROR
Aston Villa have emerged as a potential destination for Manchester United target Randal Kolo Muani.
Dan Ashworth's hopes of becoming Arsenal's new sporting director appear to have been dashed after it emerged that Jason Ayto is the frontrunner for the role.
Liverpool target Milos Kerkez will not be allowed to leave Bournemouth this month.
THE SUN
Arsenal have made contact with Manchester United over a shock move for Marcus Rashford, it has stunningly been claimed.
Francis Ngannou is set for a boxing return in 2025, with a Tyson Fury rematch and a Deontay Wilder fight targeted.
Ryan Giggs has indicated he is ready to return to the managerial dugout.
THE TIMES
Antony, the Manchester United winger, has taken Ajax to court after claiming they unlawfully fined him hundreds of thousands of pounds in the days before he completed his £85m transfer to Old Trafford.
Sam Underhill is in danger of missing the whole of England's Six Nations campaign after undergoing a second ankle operation in the space of seven months.
EVENING STANDARD
Arsenal are set to bank a seven-figure sum by Mika Biereth joining Monaco from Sturm Graz.
Coventry City manager Frank Lampard is looking to raid former club Chelsea with a loan move for Sam Rak-Sakyi.
DAILY RECORD
Rangers are considering an out-of-contract move for Dundee's Lyall Cameron.
Watford boss Tom Cleverley has played down speculation that Ryan Porteous is "unhappy" at the club amid speculation over a move to Rangers.
THE SCOTTISH SUN
Rangers loan star Neraysho Kasanwirjo is set to be recalled by Feyenoord despite being out for the season, so they can loan another one of their players out.
Guardian
Potter’s spell starts with FA Cup exit as Aston Villa battle back to beat West Ham
Peter Lansley at Villa Park
Graham Potter’s first game back in the dugout for 20 months ended not only in an FA Cup exit, after the brightest of starts, but with the loss of two more strikers as West Ham’s hopes of resuscitating their season received further damage.
After his appointment the day before this FA Cup third-round tie, the new West Ham manager saw his team carry out his brief but clear pre-match requests stylishly, as they led through Lucas Paquetá’s early goal. But after injuries to Niclas Füllkrug, with what appears a serious hamstring problem, and Crysencio Summerville, Potter will not be contemplating any honeymoon period.
Aston Villa prevailed through Amadou Onana’s equaliser, following a corner that should not have been given, and Morgan Rogers’ late goal as the club continued their 150th anniversary celebrations by winning only their second FA Cup game in nine years.
Potter enthused, in his understated manner, over the “excitement” of being back on the touchline but also said that “you still can’t replicate that feeling when the opposition score and [you feel it] into your stomach”.
“I think the first half we started really well,” he said, “had a good defensive organisation, carried a threat [and] scored a really good goal. Everything we spoke about, you could see the players were trying to do. There was a lot to be pleased about. Losing Niclas was a blow for us.”
With Michail Antonio out for the season with a broken leg and talisman Jarrod Bowen out with a foot injury until March, West Ham’s attacking resources are extremely stretched as they prepare for critical home games against Fulham and Crystal Palace next week in the bid to climb away from the relegation zone.
West Ham’s playing style under Julen Lopetegui, who was dismissed after only nine months in charge, is something Potter can clearly improve, as the players displayed in the first 20 minutes, but what can be done in the transfer market may prove to be as significant. “We have to see the extent of the injuries and see how long it will take for guys to come back,” the former Brighton and Chelsea manager said. “We don’t know the extent. If those are out it [the transfer market] is something we have to look at.”
Füllkrug played a key role in West Ham’s goal. Max Kilman, receiving Lukasz Fabianski’s ball out, played a deliberate pass up for the Germany striker to head back for Mohammed Kudus, who chested the ball down before striking it on the rise out wide to Summerville. He crossed, low and square, for Paquetá to sidefoot home. Only four minutes later however Füllkrug pulled up with a hamstring injury, to be replaced by Danny Ings, while Summerville did not come out for the second half after an unspecified problem.
On a night when these claret and blue teams changed their kits, perhaps both ended up showing their true current identities; Villa through their ultimately classy resilience and West Ham in having their bubble burst.
Villa commemorated their anniversary by walking out in the black shirts that their predecessors played in but it was West Ham who came flying out, in their white kit, unrecognisable from the team that had led Lopetegui down a rabbit role.
This was Villa’s 29th game of the season, and their second of a packed January of seven matches across three competitions. But they played as if they did not want to be out there in the freezing cold in the first half.
Villa upped the ante as the game approached the final quarter, Youri Tielemans shooting wide from the edge of the area before Ian Maatsen finally forced Fabianski into his first save of the night in the 69th minute.
West Ham could complain that Villa should not have been awarded a corner in the first place. But from Leon Bailey’s delivery, Tyrone Mings flicked on, Ezri Konsa played the ball back and Maatsen’s shot was deflected out of Fabianski’s control by Tomas Soucek, inviting Onana to stab home the rebound.
With the Villa crowd now resurgent, Tielemans played one of his trademark through passes from deep to invite Emiliano Buendía to feed Ollie Watkins running down the inside-left channel. The England striker crossed perfectly for Rogers to sidefoot home from close range.
“Today we were trying to play for this anniversary and with the supporters trying to share this moment,” Unai Emery, the Villa manager, said. “This club won this competition seven times, and it’s important for our supporters, so we need to be proud of our past but be protagonists in the present and the future.”
Get French Football News
West Ham enquire about Nice’s Gaëtan Laborde
It seems as though West Ham United want to take a second look at Gaëtan Laborde (30) and have made inquiries about his services once again, according to a report from Foot Mercato.
The Hammers have desperately needed a striker since losing Michail Antonio (34) to a serious injury in December. Last month, the Jamaican international was in a car accident. Laborde was previously on the radar of the East London club during the winter of 2021.
In his third season with OGC Nice, Laborde has four goals in 10 Ligue 1 fixtures to this stage of the campaign. He’s earning over €300k per month for Franck Haise’s side, and Le Gym may be receptive to making a deal happen.
West Ham recently appointed Graham Potter as their new manager. The Hammers, who won the 2022-23 UEFA Europa Conference League, have 24 goals in 20 domestic encounters this season with captain Jarrod Bowen (28) leading the way with five.
Laborde has scored 81 goals in Ligue 1 while netting in the double-digits four times in the competition. Nice are currently sixth in the table, two points below fourth-placed Lille OSC.
Sport Witness
West Ham make contact over signing attacker – ‘Positive response’ for Hammers on the cards
By Naveen Ullal
On Friday, we covered claims from France which stated West Ham United are in talks for Marseille’s Elye Wahi.
Wahi isn’t the only one on West Ham’s agenda as they have their eyes set on OGC Nice’s Gaëtan Laborde.
That’s according to Foot Mercato, who state the Hammers are considering signing the 30-year-old to improve their attack in the winter market.
That’s because of Michail Antonio’s long-term absence and the Premier League side have a few names, including Laborde, on their list.
The London club tried to sign the Frenchman in the winter 2021 market, when he was at Montpellier, and offered €12m plus €3m in bonuses. This time, they have made contact to obtain information about signing the forward, who can play across the front line.
Foot Mercato state Laborde’s versatility and qualities make him a ‘sure value in Ligue 1’ and this would have also pleased West Ham.
Laborde currently earns over €300,000 per month and isn’t in favour of leaving his club in January.
On the other hand, Nice could provide a ‘positive response’ as his exit will help them save on his salary. They are ‘inclined’ to lower their wage bill and could sanction a move for Laborde, if West Ham were to make a concrete approach.
Aston Villa have increased their bid for Borussia Dortmund forward Donyell Malen to 25m euros (£21m), but the German side are still demanding 30m euros (£25.1m) for the Netherlands international, 25. (Florian Plettenberg)
Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are interested in Wolves' 23-year-old Brazil midfielder Joao Gomes. (Sun)
Monaco are the latest club to express an interest in Manchester United's 27-year-old England forward Marcus Rashford. (Telegraph)
Barcelona are also interested in Rashford. (Fabrizio Romano)
Paris St-Germain are interested in Aston Villa's 21-year-old Colombia striker Jhon Duran. (RMC Sport - in French)
Manchester United are doing all they can to beat Tottenham to the signing of Paris St-Germain's 26-year-old France forward Randal Kolo Muani. (Teamtalk)
Borussia Dortmund have identified Brentford's 23-year-old Germany forward Kevin Schade as a potential target. (Sky Sports)
New West Ham boss Graham Potter is interested in signing 26-year-old English midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and England full-back Ben Chilwell, 28, from former club Chelsea. (Teamtalk)
Brighton and Borussia Dortmund are interested in Liverpool's 21-year-old England Under-21 winger Harvey Elliott. (Sun)
Ipswich are exploring a deal to sign 36-year-old former Serbia midfielder Nemanja Matic from Lyon. (Florian Plettenberg)
Bournemouth's 28-year-old Denmark midfielder Philip Billing has flown to Italy to complete a loan move to Napoli. (Fabrizio Romano)
Everton are considering a bid for Lyon's 21-year-old Ghana winger Ernest Nuamah. (RMC Sport - in French)
Leicester have agreed a deal to sign 25-year-old French full-back Woyo Coulibaly from Parma. (Gianluca di Marzio)
Fenerbahce have held talks with Aston Villa over a £10m deal for their 31-year-old Brazilian centre-back Diego Carlos. (Sky Sports)
Manchester United and Netherlands defender Tyrell Malacia, 25, is a target for Como. (Mail)
Sky Paper Talk
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Monaco have put Marcus Rashford on their shortlist of targets for the January transfer window and are willing to offer a realistic package to land the Manchester United forward.
DAILY MAIL
Barcelona have held meetings with Marcus Rashford's entourage as the Manchester United striker evaluates his next move.
Arsenal midfielder Jorginho could leave the club this month, according to reports.
DAILY MIRROR
Aston Villa have emerged as a potential destination for Manchester United target Randal Kolo Muani.
Dan Ashworth's hopes of becoming Arsenal's new sporting director appear to have been dashed after it emerged that Jason Ayto is the frontrunner for the role.
Liverpool target Milos Kerkez will not be allowed to leave Bournemouth this month.
THE SUN
Arsenal have made contact with Manchester United over a shock move for Marcus Rashford, it has stunningly been claimed.
Francis Ngannou is set for a boxing return in 2025, with a Tyson Fury rematch and a Deontay Wilder fight targeted.
Ryan Giggs has indicated he is ready to return to the managerial dugout.
THE TIMES
Antony, the Manchester United winger, has taken Ajax to court after claiming they unlawfully fined him hundreds of thousands of pounds in the days before he completed his £85m transfer to Old Trafford.
Sam Underhill is in danger of missing the whole of England's Six Nations campaign after undergoing a second ankle operation in the space of seven months.
EVENING STANDARD
Arsenal are set to bank a seven-figure sum by Mika Biereth joining Monaco from Sturm Graz.
Coventry City manager Frank Lampard is looking to raid former club Chelsea with a loan move for Sam Rak-Sakyi.
DAILY RECORD
Rangers are considering an out-of-contract move for Dundee's Lyall Cameron.
Watford boss Tom Cleverley has played down speculation that Ryan Porteous is "unhappy" at the club amid speculation over a move to Rangers.
THE SCOTTISH SUN
Rangers loan star Neraysho Kasanwirjo is set to be recalled by Feyenoord despite being out for the season, so they can loan another one of their players out.
Guardian
Potter’s spell starts with FA Cup exit as Aston Villa battle back to beat West Ham
Peter Lansley at Villa Park
Graham Potter’s first game back in the dugout for 20 months ended not only in an FA Cup exit, after the brightest of starts, but with the loss of two more strikers as West Ham’s hopes of resuscitating their season received further damage.
After his appointment the day before this FA Cup third-round tie, the new West Ham manager saw his team carry out his brief but clear pre-match requests stylishly, as they led through Lucas Paquetá’s early goal. But after injuries to Niclas Füllkrug, with what appears a serious hamstring problem, and Crysencio Summerville, Potter will not be contemplating any honeymoon period.
Aston Villa prevailed through Amadou Onana’s equaliser, following a corner that should not have been given, and Morgan Rogers’ late goal as the club continued their 150th anniversary celebrations by winning only their second FA Cup game in nine years.
Potter enthused, in his understated manner, over the “excitement” of being back on the touchline but also said that “you still can’t replicate that feeling when the opposition score and [you feel it] into your stomach”.
“I think the first half we started really well,” he said, “had a good defensive organisation, carried a threat [and] scored a really good goal. Everything we spoke about, you could see the players were trying to do. There was a lot to be pleased about. Losing Niclas was a blow for us.”
With Michail Antonio out for the season with a broken leg and talisman Jarrod Bowen out with a foot injury until March, West Ham’s attacking resources are extremely stretched as they prepare for critical home games against Fulham and Crystal Palace next week in the bid to climb away from the relegation zone.
West Ham’s playing style under Julen Lopetegui, who was dismissed after only nine months in charge, is something Potter can clearly improve, as the players displayed in the first 20 minutes, but what can be done in the transfer market may prove to be as significant. “We have to see the extent of the injuries and see how long it will take for guys to come back,” the former Brighton and Chelsea manager said. “We don’t know the extent. If those are out it [the transfer market] is something we have to look at.”
Füllkrug played a key role in West Ham’s goal. Max Kilman, receiving Lukasz Fabianski’s ball out, played a deliberate pass up for the Germany striker to head back for Mohammed Kudus, who chested the ball down before striking it on the rise out wide to Summerville. He crossed, low and square, for Paquetá to sidefoot home. Only four minutes later however Füllkrug pulled up with a hamstring injury, to be replaced by Danny Ings, while Summerville did not come out for the second half after an unspecified problem.
On a night when these claret and blue teams changed their kits, perhaps both ended up showing their true current identities; Villa through their ultimately classy resilience and West Ham in having their bubble burst.
Villa commemorated their anniversary by walking out in the black shirts that their predecessors played in but it was West Ham who came flying out, in their white kit, unrecognisable from the team that had led Lopetegui down a rabbit role.
This was Villa’s 29th game of the season, and their second of a packed January of seven matches across three competitions. But they played as if they did not want to be out there in the freezing cold in the first half.
Villa upped the ante as the game approached the final quarter, Youri Tielemans shooting wide from the edge of the area before Ian Maatsen finally forced Fabianski into his first save of the night in the 69th minute.
West Ham could complain that Villa should not have been awarded a corner in the first place. But from Leon Bailey’s delivery, Tyrone Mings flicked on, Ezri Konsa played the ball back and Maatsen’s shot was deflected out of Fabianski’s control by Tomas Soucek, inviting Onana to stab home the rebound.
With the Villa crowd now resurgent, Tielemans played one of his trademark through passes from deep to invite Emiliano Buendía to feed Ollie Watkins running down the inside-left channel. The England striker crossed perfectly for Rogers to sidefoot home from close range.
“Today we were trying to play for this anniversary and with the supporters trying to share this moment,” Unai Emery, the Villa manager, said. “This club won this competition seven times, and it’s important for our supporters, so we need to be proud of our past but be protagonists in the present and the future.”
Get French Football News
West Ham enquire about Nice’s Gaëtan Laborde
It seems as though West Ham United want to take a second look at Gaëtan Laborde (30) and have made inquiries about his services once again, according to a report from Foot Mercato.
The Hammers have desperately needed a striker since losing Michail Antonio (34) to a serious injury in December. Last month, the Jamaican international was in a car accident. Laborde was previously on the radar of the East London club during the winter of 2021.
In his third season with OGC Nice, Laborde has four goals in 10 Ligue 1 fixtures to this stage of the campaign. He’s earning over €300k per month for Franck Haise’s side, and Le Gym may be receptive to making a deal happen.
West Ham recently appointed Graham Potter as their new manager. The Hammers, who won the 2022-23 UEFA Europa Conference League, have 24 goals in 20 domestic encounters this season with captain Jarrod Bowen (28) leading the way with five.
Laborde has scored 81 goals in Ligue 1 while netting in the double-digits four times in the competition. Nice are currently sixth in the table, two points below fourth-placed Lille OSC.
Sport Witness
West Ham make contact over signing attacker – ‘Positive response’ for Hammers on the cards
By Naveen Ullal
On Friday, we covered claims from France which stated West Ham United are in talks for Marseille’s Elye Wahi.
Wahi isn’t the only one on West Ham’s agenda as they have their eyes set on OGC Nice’s Gaëtan Laborde.
That’s according to Foot Mercato, who state the Hammers are considering signing the 30-year-old to improve their attack in the winter market.
That’s because of Michail Antonio’s long-term absence and the Premier League side have a few names, including Laborde, on their list.
The London club tried to sign the Frenchman in the winter 2021 market, when he was at Montpellier, and offered €12m plus €3m in bonuses. This time, they have made contact to obtain information about signing the forward, who can play across the front line.
Foot Mercato state Laborde’s versatility and qualities make him a ‘sure value in Ligue 1’ and this would have also pleased West Ham.
Laborde currently earns over €300,000 per month and isn’t in favour of leaving his club in January.
On the other hand, Nice could provide a ‘positive response’ as his exit will help them save on his salary. They are ‘inclined’ to lower their wage bill and could sanction a move for Laborde, if West Ham were to make a concrete approach.