Monday News (includes West Ham)
Posted: 03 Feb 2025, 09:14
BBC
France forward Mathys Tel, 19, wants to join Manchester United but negotiations with Bayern Munich have collapsed at present, with the Bundesliga club keen for the inclusion of an obligation to buy or a permanent transfer. (Sky Germany), external
Manchester United have targeted Tel, but Chelsea and France striker Christopher Nkunku, 27, is another option on deadline day. (ESPN), external
Arsenal are waiting in the background after United had two bids for Tel rejected on Sunday. (Mail), external
Tottenham have agreed a loan deal with Chelsea for defender Axel Disasi, 26, but the France international wants to go to Aston Villa. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Chelsea and England left-back Ben Chilwell, 28, is due to have a medical at Crystal Palace, prior to making a loan move to the club on deadline day. (Telegraph - subscription required), external
Chelsea could make a late move for Manchester United's 20-year-old Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho. (Football.London), external
Southampton have agreed a fee with Royal Antwerp for 20-year-old Nigerian forward Victor Udoh. (Daily Echo), external
Newcastle will allow English defender Lloyd Kelly, 26, to leave for Juventus in a deal that will be made permanent for £20m in the summer. (Mail), external
Joao Felix is expecting to leave Chelsea on deadline day with AC Milan and Aston Villa both interested in the 25-year-old Portugal forward. (Sky Germany), external
Manchester United have entered the race to sign Ipswich and England Under-21 striker Liam Delap, 21, who has also been linked with a move to Tottenham. (Express), external
Ajax will not allow England midfielder Jordan Henderson, 34, to move to Monaco during the current transfer window. (Mail), external
Brighton have had an £8m bid for teenage winger Tommy Watson, 18, turned down by Sunderland, who are expecting more offers for their England youth international. (Guardian), external
Everton are working on a deal to sign Rennes and France left-back Adrien Truffert, 23. (Mail), external
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner wants to sign AC Milan and Serbia centre-half Strahinja Pavlovic, 23, in a £25m deal. (Sun), external
Arsenal and Italy midfielder Jorginho, 33, is close to reaching an agreement with Brazilian club Flamengo to join them in the summer. (Sky Italy, via Sky Sports), external
Napoli's move for Al-Ahli's 27-year-old French winger Allan Saint-Maximin - currently on loan at Fenerbahce - is in danger of falling through. (Corriere dello Sport in Italian), external
Spurs are weighing up a move for Lorient's French striker Eli Junior Kroupi, 18, who is also being tracked by Chelsea and West Ham. (Football Insider), external
Brighton are closing in on a deal for PAOK's Greek forward Stefanos Tzimas, 19, who is currently on loan at Nurnberg. (Sky Sports)
Sky Paper Talk
DAILY MIRROR
Marco Asensio is joining Marcus Rashford as Aston Villa's second marquee loan signing. The 29-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward will arrive at Villa Park after the two clubs thrashed out a deal over the weekend.
Thomas Tuchel is open to having Marcus Rashford back in the England squad despite his Manchester United exile.
Trabzonspor are still working on a deal for Southampton star Paul Onuachu. The Nigerian international impressed on loan at the Turkish side last season and they are keen to bring him back.
Liverpool are sticking to their guns over Saudi interest in Mo Salah. The Saudi deadline is closed but the Kingdom are continuing their push to sign the Egyptian star on a free transfer in the summer.
Baran Yildiz is on the verge of signing for Newcastle United, according to his current club. The 18-year-old has been linked with a move to the Magpies after impressing for Gençlerbirligi's youth teams.
Leeds hope Southampton re-sign Danny Ings from West Ham to free up Cameron Archer.
Burnley are boosting their attack by landing Marcus Edwards on loan from Sporting Lisbon.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Ben Chilwell will have a medical at Crystal Palace on transfer deadline day ahead of a six-month loan from Chelsea.
Ruben Amorim insists he has no regrets about allowing Marcus Rashford to join Aston Villa on loan despite admitting there was an "urgency" to strengthen Manchester United's toothless attack before the transfer window closes.
THE GUARDIAN
Spain's former football chief Luis Rubiales will go on trial in Madrid on Monday over the unsolicited kiss he planted on the World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso, a gesture that stunned millions of TV viewers and unleashed a backlash against sexism in sport.
THE ATHLETIC
English talent Samuel Amo-Ameyaw is set to sign for Strasbourg from Southampton after an agreement was reached between the clubs and with the 18-year-old over personal terms.
THE SUN
Galatasaray have reportedly made Kieran Trippier a transfer target.
Everton boss David Moyes wants Rennes' Adrien Truffert to solve his left-back problem.
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner wants to sign AC Milan centre-half Strahinja Pavlovic in a £25m deadline deal.
Chelsea are confident of striking a deal for Man City youngster Nico O'Reilly.
DAILY MAIL
Manchester United's bid to sign Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich is at a standstill after they had two offers rejected on Sunday.
Newcastle will allow Lloyd Kelly to join Juventus in a £20m deal - but they are very unlikely to make any new signings before Monday's deadline.
Ajax captain Jordan Henderson clashed with a Dutch journalist in a remarkable exchange at a press conference after Sunday's 2-1 win over Feyenoord.
DAILY RECORD
Brendan Rodgers admits Celtic are set for a transfer deadline day dash for a loan star striker.
Aberdeen are trying to sign Palestinian international Oday Dabbagh before the deadline.
Frustrated St Mirren chiefs are to lead the call for a total revamp of VAR in the Premiership and want to see it taken out of the hands of the Scottish Football Association and run by an independent body.
The Athletic
Carlos Soler interview: ‘I saw the manager had confidence in me… that’s very important’
Roshane Thomas
It was a routine commute to the London Stadium for most West Ham United supporters but, unbeknown to them, a summer signing was in their midst.
“I was suspended for the game against Brighton (on December 21) and I travelled to Stratford via train,” midfielder Carlos Soler tells The Athletic. “I went with a lot of West Ham fans but they didn’t recognise me. I was with them like a fan and I enjoyed it.”
Soler joined in August on a season-long loan from Paris Saint-Germain. His arrival was pushed by then-head coach Julen Lopetegui, who was replaced by Graham Potter this month. The 28-year-old lives near Tower Bridge and has settled in London with his girlfriend, Marta, and enjoys being inconspicuous in the capital.
“I prefer not to be recognised,” he says. “For me, it’s not a problem to take photos. I was like them (the fans) when I was young. I played in the academy of Valencia and I saw the first-team players and I wanted photos with them. I know that it’s my job too. I’m good with that but in that moment (on my journey to the ground against Brighton) I prefer no one recognises me so I can go with them like matchday fans to watch the match.
“I went to the Royal Albert Hall with my girlfriend last week to see Cirque du Soleil. I’ve never been to the Royal Albert Hall before and it was very beautiful. People don’t know me so much so it’s good. It’s nice that I can go by train like a normal person and enjoy London. Have a walk, have a coffee. I like it.”
Although Soler enjoys the many attractions of the capital, he has not yet immersed himself in an east London tradition.
“Pie and what?!” he says when asked if he has tried pie and mash. “I haven’t tried this dish but I went to Borough Market and I have to say, sorry about the paella here. I haven’t tried it but just watching it… a lot of people were eating it. They love this so if they come to Valencia, they’re going to love it.”
Soler sought the opinion of former West Ham midfielder Pablo Fornals before joining. Soler also had interest from Real Sociedad following Mikel Merino’s €32.5million (£27m; $34m) move to Arsenal but the Spanish side did not follow up with a concrete offer. Lopetegui slowly eased the 14-cap Spain international into the starting XI at West Ham and he did not make his first league start until the home win over Manchester United in late October.
But Soler has played all four games under Potter and his versatility means he has adapted to the 3-4-2-1 and 4-2-3-1 formations. This season, he has registered one goal and one assist in 18 league appearances. He can play as a central midfielder, a No 10 and on the flanks. He opened his account for the season in the 3-2 victory against Fulham. Lucas Paqueta and others have benefited from Potter’s man-management and Soler is no different.
“He (Potter) likes to speak with players,” says Soler. “I’ve spoken to him two or three times (on that level). In football sometimes you don’t have confidence to talk but I like it when the manager tells me where I have to improve. In Spain we say, ‘When you talk you understand each other’. That relationship with a coach, or with his staff is good.
“I’ve played in all the games under the new gaffer. I saw that he had confidence in me. He likes the style of football that I play. That’s very important for a player. You need to have that confidence that the coach has in you because you know that you are valuable to playing in this style, in this team. It gives you a lot of confidence.”
In a recent press conference, Potter admitted the players and staff had an honest conversation about the season and what needed to improve.
“We need this but also when things aren’t going well too,” says Soler. “You have to be honest always because that’s the way to improve. When you’re not good on the pitch, you have to tell the truth because it’s not going to work. It’s always difficult to have a manager and the next day have another manager. You are all day with them, with the staff, with a lot of people that you think everything is going to be good, it’s going to be alright but that’s football. The new coach has good ideas. I like the football he wants. I see it as an opportunity to grow.”
It was with Valencia that the midfielder first made an impression, becoming a sought-after talent and having a €150m buyout clause placed in a contract he signed in 2019. His breakout season was in 2020-21, scoring 12 goals and registering nine assists in all competitions. His talents attracted the attention of PSG and in September 2022, he signed for €18m — but he was not a first-team regular across his two seasons at the French club. He needed a fresh start.
Leaving PSG, he felt he had a point to prove.
“I arrived on the last day of the transfer window,” says Soler. “It was not easy because you have to change a lot of things, not just in football but in life. I had to change my apartment, I lived for a month in a hotel. I brought so many things from Paris, a lot of things in life that people don’t know. It’s normal because fans just know about the matches but there are so many things more than football.”
But as Soler’s involvement continues to grow, so will his popularity. He is unsure what the future holds but, crucially, has rediscovered his happiness at West Ham.
“I don’t know about that (what comes next) because I’m just on loan,” he says. “I could tell you one thing now but maybe in two months, it will be different. I don’t know. I like London, I like playing for West Ham and I like the fans and people here. I’m very happy and that’s all I can say now.”
(Top photo: Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images)
The Observer
Potter goes back to Chelsea with point to prove in calmer West Ham waters
A win against Fulham and draw at Villa are early signs of a better fit at West Ham on manager’s return to his old club
Jacob Steinberg
Graham Potter’s return to Chelsea coming on deadline day feels symbolic. West Ham’s head coach does not look back fondly at the extravaganza of player trading when he was in charge at Stamford Bridge in January 2023. It was a time of chaos and unreasonable pressure. The new owners were spending like there was no tomorrow and by the time the window closed it was left to Potter to make sense of a squad so bloated there was not enough space for everyone in the first-team dressing room.
Good luck with that. Chelsea had crowed after beating Arsenal to Mykhaylo Mudryk. Negotiations with Benfica led to a British transfer record for Enzo Fernández. Noni Madueke, David Datro Fofana and Benoît Badiashile joined. A deal for Malo Gusto was confirmed for the summer. João Félix arrived on loan. Jorginho took his experience and nous to Arsenal. Hakim Ziyech’s loan to Paris Saint-Germain collapsed because of technical issues. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had to be cut from the squad for the Champions League knockout stages. Potter, who takes West Ham to Stamford Bridge on Monday night, watched it all unfold and knew that expectations were about to go through the roof.
This is not to absolve him for how his time at Chelsea unravelled. Potter made odd decisions at times, used questionable tactics and never looked comfortable after leaving Brighton. There was the occasional high point – doing the double over Milan, reaching the last eight of the Champions League after a thrilling comeback against Borussia Dortmund – but overall the appointment did not work. Hopes that Potter would turn out to be Chelsea’s Mikel Arteta had evaporated by the time he was sacked after fewer than seven months.
It is worth pointing out that the evidence of half a season interrupted by a winter World Cup is not the clearest guide of a manager’s worth. There were mitigating factors. Potter was not picking the signings or agreeing the exorbitant fees. Unlike his successor, Maurico Pochettino, he did not have a pre-season. Potter joined a month into the 2022-23 season. He left Brighton in fourth place, was lauded for his inventive tactics and was regarded as a future England manager. It turned out badly but it was at the very least an interesting, bold appointment by Chelsea.
In the end it was a case of the wrong fit for both parties. Potter accepts that he could have done better. Equally his task was not made easier by Chelsea’s manoeuvres. That January intake is a mixed bag. Fernández has not justified his £106.7m fee and Badiashile has struggled with injuries. Gusto has been up and down this season and Fofana made four appearances before being loaned out last summer.
There is a churn at Chelsea. Madueke’s output is good and his potential obvious but his attitude has been questioned by Enzo Maresca. Mudryk has raw talent but was not producing it consistently before being provisionally suspended by the Football Association after a positive drug test. Félix went back to Atlético Madrid, had a year at Barcelona, returned to Stamford Bridge on a permanent deal last summer and is now being targeted by Aston Villa.
Bewildered? Imagine being the manager trying to piece it all together. Imagine doing it after replacing the charismatic fan hero and European champion Thomas Tuchel. It is not a surprise that Potter took time out before his next job. He needed to decompress. He did not want to make the wrong move. Talks with Ajax and Leicester fizzled out.
There were 21 months between Chelsea ditching Potter and West Ham turning to him. The 49-year-old has arrived at the London Stadium at a difficult time. West Ham erred in appointing Julen Lopetegui last summer and an announcement is due on parting company with their overhyped technical director, Tim Steidten, who played a sorry part in creating a squad lacking in depth and pace.
With Niclas Füllkrug and Michail Antonio unavailable the recruitment team have been looking hard for a new striker. Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville have also been out, depriving Potter of attacking options, but West Ham are yet to make a signing. Potter, who is eyeing Brighton’s Evan Ferguson, has had to be tactically creative.
It suits him. Potter has revived Lucas Paquetá by deploying him as a false nine. He dug out a win against Fulham and earned a creditable draw at Villa last weekend. West Ham played with more coherence. Emerson Palmieri and Aaron Wan-Bissaka did well as wing-backs, Edson Álvarez had one of his better games, Tomas Soucek remains reliable and Potter has earned credit by using academy players such as the left-back Ollie Scarles and the midfielder Lewis Orford.
This is calm management. Potter is not the type to push a club for signings, arguing that it leads to panic-driven decisions. He does not want West Ham to buy for the sake of it. “Signing a player is easy,” he says. “But the right one for the right price who fits how you want to play and fits into the group? That’s the difficult thing.”
It is a reminder of Potter’s emotional intelligence. At the same time there is inner steel. Potter is not the type to think about revenge but he goes back to Chelsea with a point to prove.
The Celtic way
Celtic reject West Ham transfer bid for Daniel Cummings
Celtic have reportedly rejected a transfer bid for Daniel Cummings.
Parkhead chiefs have thrown out a bid in the region of £500k for the academy prospect with West Ham keen to finalise a deal.
According to Sky Sports reported Anthony Joseph, talks over a possible improved fee are ongoing after the initial transfer approach.
Cummings, 18, is wanted by West Ham as he enters the final six months of his current contract.
It's understood Celtic planned to hand the forward a new deal but there are now offers on the table from elsewhere.
Sky Sports previously reported that Cummings has signed a pre-contract with West Ham meaning he will move to the Premier League club in the summer for a development fee.
However, the player could leave Celtic before tonight's deadline should a deal be struck between the two clubs.
Cummings was not involved in the Celtic matchday squad for the win over Motherwell on Sunday having sat out of a B team match through illness earlier in the weekend.
Asked about Cummings in his post-match press conference, Rodgers said: “He was with the second team yesterday and he was ill in the warm-up, so he didn't play.
“I believe there's interest from another club for him, but that's been the case with a lot of our young players.
“You get to a certain age where they have their contract running out, and then they have a decision to make.
“Do they stay and follow the example of a Callum McGregor, for example, trust the club, be patient and knowing that you might not be right ready at 17, 18, but you have to be a special talent to be.
“Can you just be patient and wait a little bit longer? Or do you do what a lot of players have done and take the opportunity at 18 to look elsewhere?
“So, I think that's the situation that young Daniel is with his agents. We will just wait and see what happens.”
France forward Mathys Tel, 19, wants to join Manchester United but negotiations with Bayern Munich have collapsed at present, with the Bundesliga club keen for the inclusion of an obligation to buy or a permanent transfer. (Sky Germany), external
Manchester United have targeted Tel, but Chelsea and France striker Christopher Nkunku, 27, is another option on deadline day. (ESPN), external
Arsenal are waiting in the background after United had two bids for Tel rejected on Sunday. (Mail), external
Tottenham have agreed a loan deal with Chelsea for defender Axel Disasi, 26, but the France international wants to go to Aston Villa. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Chelsea and England left-back Ben Chilwell, 28, is due to have a medical at Crystal Palace, prior to making a loan move to the club on deadline day. (Telegraph - subscription required), external
Chelsea could make a late move for Manchester United's 20-year-old Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho. (Football.London), external
Southampton have agreed a fee with Royal Antwerp for 20-year-old Nigerian forward Victor Udoh. (Daily Echo), external
Newcastle will allow English defender Lloyd Kelly, 26, to leave for Juventus in a deal that will be made permanent for £20m in the summer. (Mail), external
Joao Felix is expecting to leave Chelsea on deadline day with AC Milan and Aston Villa both interested in the 25-year-old Portugal forward. (Sky Germany), external
Manchester United have entered the race to sign Ipswich and England Under-21 striker Liam Delap, 21, who has also been linked with a move to Tottenham. (Express), external
Ajax will not allow England midfielder Jordan Henderson, 34, to move to Monaco during the current transfer window. (Mail), external
Brighton have had an £8m bid for teenage winger Tommy Watson, 18, turned down by Sunderland, who are expecting more offers for their England youth international. (Guardian), external
Everton are working on a deal to sign Rennes and France left-back Adrien Truffert, 23. (Mail), external
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner wants to sign AC Milan and Serbia centre-half Strahinja Pavlovic, 23, in a £25m deal. (Sun), external
Arsenal and Italy midfielder Jorginho, 33, is close to reaching an agreement with Brazilian club Flamengo to join them in the summer. (Sky Italy, via Sky Sports), external
Napoli's move for Al-Ahli's 27-year-old French winger Allan Saint-Maximin - currently on loan at Fenerbahce - is in danger of falling through. (Corriere dello Sport in Italian), external
Spurs are weighing up a move for Lorient's French striker Eli Junior Kroupi, 18, who is also being tracked by Chelsea and West Ham. (Football Insider), external
Brighton are closing in on a deal for PAOK's Greek forward Stefanos Tzimas, 19, who is currently on loan at Nurnberg. (Sky Sports)
Sky Paper Talk
DAILY MIRROR
Marco Asensio is joining Marcus Rashford as Aston Villa's second marquee loan signing. The 29-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward will arrive at Villa Park after the two clubs thrashed out a deal over the weekend.
Thomas Tuchel is open to having Marcus Rashford back in the England squad despite his Manchester United exile.
Trabzonspor are still working on a deal for Southampton star Paul Onuachu. The Nigerian international impressed on loan at the Turkish side last season and they are keen to bring him back.
Liverpool are sticking to their guns over Saudi interest in Mo Salah. The Saudi deadline is closed but the Kingdom are continuing their push to sign the Egyptian star on a free transfer in the summer.
Baran Yildiz is on the verge of signing for Newcastle United, according to his current club. The 18-year-old has been linked with a move to the Magpies after impressing for Gençlerbirligi's youth teams.
Leeds hope Southampton re-sign Danny Ings from West Ham to free up Cameron Archer.
Burnley are boosting their attack by landing Marcus Edwards on loan from Sporting Lisbon.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Ben Chilwell will have a medical at Crystal Palace on transfer deadline day ahead of a six-month loan from Chelsea.
Ruben Amorim insists he has no regrets about allowing Marcus Rashford to join Aston Villa on loan despite admitting there was an "urgency" to strengthen Manchester United's toothless attack before the transfer window closes.
THE GUARDIAN
Spain's former football chief Luis Rubiales will go on trial in Madrid on Monday over the unsolicited kiss he planted on the World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso, a gesture that stunned millions of TV viewers and unleashed a backlash against sexism in sport.
THE ATHLETIC
English talent Samuel Amo-Ameyaw is set to sign for Strasbourg from Southampton after an agreement was reached between the clubs and with the 18-year-old over personal terms.
THE SUN
Galatasaray have reportedly made Kieran Trippier a transfer target.
Everton boss David Moyes wants Rennes' Adrien Truffert to solve his left-back problem.
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner wants to sign AC Milan centre-half Strahinja Pavlovic in a £25m deadline deal.
Chelsea are confident of striking a deal for Man City youngster Nico O'Reilly.
DAILY MAIL
Manchester United's bid to sign Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich is at a standstill after they had two offers rejected on Sunday.
Newcastle will allow Lloyd Kelly to join Juventus in a £20m deal - but they are very unlikely to make any new signings before Monday's deadline.
Ajax captain Jordan Henderson clashed with a Dutch journalist in a remarkable exchange at a press conference after Sunday's 2-1 win over Feyenoord.
DAILY RECORD
Brendan Rodgers admits Celtic are set for a transfer deadline day dash for a loan star striker.
Aberdeen are trying to sign Palestinian international Oday Dabbagh before the deadline.
Frustrated St Mirren chiefs are to lead the call for a total revamp of VAR in the Premiership and want to see it taken out of the hands of the Scottish Football Association and run by an independent body.
The Athletic
Carlos Soler interview: ‘I saw the manager had confidence in me… that’s very important’
Roshane Thomas
It was a routine commute to the London Stadium for most West Ham United supporters but, unbeknown to them, a summer signing was in their midst.
“I was suspended for the game against Brighton (on December 21) and I travelled to Stratford via train,” midfielder Carlos Soler tells The Athletic. “I went with a lot of West Ham fans but they didn’t recognise me. I was with them like a fan and I enjoyed it.”
Soler joined in August on a season-long loan from Paris Saint-Germain. His arrival was pushed by then-head coach Julen Lopetegui, who was replaced by Graham Potter this month. The 28-year-old lives near Tower Bridge and has settled in London with his girlfriend, Marta, and enjoys being inconspicuous in the capital.
“I prefer not to be recognised,” he says. “For me, it’s not a problem to take photos. I was like them (the fans) when I was young. I played in the academy of Valencia and I saw the first-team players and I wanted photos with them. I know that it’s my job too. I’m good with that but in that moment (on my journey to the ground against Brighton) I prefer no one recognises me so I can go with them like matchday fans to watch the match.
“I went to the Royal Albert Hall with my girlfriend last week to see Cirque du Soleil. I’ve never been to the Royal Albert Hall before and it was very beautiful. People don’t know me so much so it’s good. It’s nice that I can go by train like a normal person and enjoy London. Have a walk, have a coffee. I like it.”
Although Soler enjoys the many attractions of the capital, he has not yet immersed himself in an east London tradition.
“Pie and what?!” he says when asked if he has tried pie and mash. “I haven’t tried this dish but I went to Borough Market and I have to say, sorry about the paella here. I haven’t tried it but just watching it… a lot of people were eating it. They love this so if they come to Valencia, they’re going to love it.”
Soler sought the opinion of former West Ham midfielder Pablo Fornals before joining. Soler also had interest from Real Sociedad following Mikel Merino’s €32.5million (£27m; $34m) move to Arsenal but the Spanish side did not follow up with a concrete offer. Lopetegui slowly eased the 14-cap Spain international into the starting XI at West Ham and he did not make his first league start until the home win over Manchester United in late October.
But Soler has played all four games under Potter and his versatility means he has adapted to the 3-4-2-1 and 4-2-3-1 formations. This season, he has registered one goal and one assist in 18 league appearances. He can play as a central midfielder, a No 10 and on the flanks. He opened his account for the season in the 3-2 victory against Fulham. Lucas Paqueta and others have benefited from Potter’s man-management and Soler is no different.
“He (Potter) likes to speak with players,” says Soler. “I’ve spoken to him two or three times (on that level). In football sometimes you don’t have confidence to talk but I like it when the manager tells me where I have to improve. In Spain we say, ‘When you talk you understand each other’. That relationship with a coach, or with his staff is good.
“I’ve played in all the games under the new gaffer. I saw that he had confidence in me. He likes the style of football that I play. That’s very important for a player. You need to have that confidence that the coach has in you because you know that you are valuable to playing in this style, in this team. It gives you a lot of confidence.”
In a recent press conference, Potter admitted the players and staff had an honest conversation about the season and what needed to improve.
“We need this but also when things aren’t going well too,” says Soler. “You have to be honest always because that’s the way to improve. When you’re not good on the pitch, you have to tell the truth because it’s not going to work. It’s always difficult to have a manager and the next day have another manager. You are all day with them, with the staff, with a lot of people that you think everything is going to be good, it’s going to be alright but that’s football. The new coach has good ideas. I like the football he wants. I see it as an opportunity to grow.”
It was with Valencia that the midfielder first made an impression, becoming a sought-after talent and having a €150m buyout clause placed in a contract he signed in 2019. His breakout season was in 2020-21, scoring 12 goals and registering nine assists in all competitions. His talents attracted the attention of PSG and in September 2022, he signed for €18m — but he was not a first-team regular across his two seasons at the French club. He needed a fresh start.
Leaving PSG, he felt he had a point to prove.
“I arrived on the last day of the transfer window,” says Soler. “It was not easy because you have to change a lot of things, not just in football but in life. I had to change my apartment, I lived for a month in a hotel. I brought so many things from Paris, a lot of things in life that people don’t know. It’s normal because fans just know about the matches but there are so many things more than football.”
But as Soler’s involvement continues to grow, so will his popularity. He is unsure what the future holds but, crucially, has rediscovered his happiness at West Ham.
“I don’t know about that (what comes next) because I’m just on loan,” he says. “I could tell you one thing now but maybe in two months, it will be different. I don’t know. I like London, I like playing for West Ham and I like the fans and people here. I’m very happy and that’s all I can say now.”
(Top photo: Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images)
The Observer
Potter goes back to Chelsea with point to prove in calmer West Ham waters
A win against Fulham and draw at Villa are early signs of a better fit at West Ham on manager’s return to his old club
Jacob Steinberg
Graham Potter’s return to Chelsea coming on deadline day feels symbolic. West Ham’s head coach does not look back fondly at the extravaganza of player trading when he was in charge at Stamford Bridge in January 2023. It was a time of chaos and unreasonable pressure. The new owners were spending like there was no tomorrow and by the time the window closed it was left to Potter to make sense of a squad so bloated there was not enough space for everyone in the first-team dressing room.
Good luck with that. Chelsea had crowed after beating Arsenal to Mykhaylo Mudryk. Negotiations with Benfica led to a British transfer record for Enzo Fernández. Noni Madueke, David Datro Fofana and Benoît Badiashile joined. A deal for Malo Gusto was confirmed for the summer. João Félix arrived on loan. Jorginho took his experience and nous to Arsenal. Hakim Ziyech’s loan to Paris Saint-Germain collapsed because of technical issues. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had to be cut from the squad for the Champions League knockout stages. Potter, who takes West Ham to Stamford Bridge on Monday night, watched it all unfold and knew that expectations were about to go through the roof.
This is not to absolve him for how his time at Chelsea unravelled. Potter made odd decisions at times, used questionable tactics and never looked comfortable after leaving Brighton. There was the occasional high point – doing the double over Milan, reaching the last eight of the Champions League after a thrilling comeback against Borussia Dortmund – but overall the appointment did not work. Hopes that Potter would turn out to be Chelsea’s Mikel Arteta had evaporated by the time he was sacked after fewer than seven months.
It is worth pointing out that the evidence of half a season interrupted by a winter World Cup is not the clearest guide of a manager’s worth. There were mitigating factors. Potter was not picking the signings or agreeing the exorbitant fees. Unlike his successor, Maurico Pochettino, he did not have a pre-season. Potter joined a month into the 2022-23 season. He left Brighton in fourth place, was lauded for his inventive tactics and was regarded as a future England manager. It turned out badly but it was at the very least an interesting, bold appointment by Chelsea.
In the end it was a case of the wrong fit for both parties. Potter accepts that he could have done better. Equally his task was not made easier by Chelsea’s manoeuvres. That January intake is a mixed bag. Fernández has not justified his £106.7m fee and Badiashile has struggled with injuries. Gusto has been up and down this season and Fofana made four appearances before being loaned out last summer.
There is a churn at Chelsea. Madueke’s output is good and his potential obvious but his attitude has been questioned by Enzo Maresca. Mudryk has raw talent but was not producing it consistently before being provisionally suspended by the Football Association after a positive drug test. Félix went back to Atlético Madrid, had a year at Barcelona, returned to Stamford Bridge on a permanent deal last summer and is now being targeted by Aston Villa.
Bewildered? Imagine being the manager trying to piece it all together. Imagine doing it after replacing the charismatic fan hero and European champion Thomas Tuchel. It is not a surprise that Potter took time out before his next job. He needed to decompress. He did not want to make the wrong move. Talks with Ajax and Leicester fizzled out.
There were 21 months between Chelsea ditching Potter and West Ham turning to him. The 49-year-old has arrived at the London Stadium at a difficult time. West Ham erred in appointing Julen Lopetegui last summer and an announcement is due on parting company with their overhyped technical director, Tim Steidten, who played a sorry part in creating a squad lacking in depth and pace.
With Niclas Füllkrug and Michail Antonio unavailable the recruitment team have been looking hard for a new striker. Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville have also been out, depriving Potter of attacking options, but West Ham are yet to make a signing. Potter, who is eyeing Brighton’s Evan Ferguson, has had to be tactically creative.
It suits him. Potter has revived Lucas Paquetá by deploying him as a false nine. He dug out a win against Fulham and earned a creditable draw at Villa last weekend. West Ham played with more coherence. Emerson Palmieri and Aaron Wan-Bissaka did well as wing-backs, Edson Álvarez had one of his better games, Tomas Soucek remains reliable and Potter has earned credit by using academy players such as the left-back Ollie Scarles and the midfielder Lewis Orford.
This is calm management. Potter is not the type to push a club for signings, arguing that it leads to panic-driven decisions. He does not want West Ham to buy for the sake of it. “Signing a player is easy,” he says. “But the right one for the right price who fits how you want to play and fits into the group? That’s the difficult thing.”
It is a reminder of Potter’s emotional intelligence. At the same time there is inner steel. Potter is not the type to think about revenge but he goes back to Chelsea with a point to prove.
The Celtic way
Celtic reject West Ham transfer bid for Daniel Cummings
Celtic have reportedly rejected a transfer bid for Daniel Cummings.
Parkhead chiefs have thrown out a bid in the region of £500k for the academy prospect with West Ham keen to finalise a deal.
According to Sky Sports reported Anthony Joseph, talks over a possible improved fee are ongoing after the initial transfer approach.
Cummings, 18, is wanted by West Ham as he enters the final six months of his current contract.
It's understood Celtic planned to hand the forward a new deal but there are now offers on the table from elsewhere.
Sky Sports previously reported that Cummings has signed a pre-contract with West Ham meaning he will move to the Premier League club in the summer for a development fee.
However, the player could leave Celtic before tonight's deadline should a deal be struck between the two clubs.
Cummings was not involved in the Celtic matchday squad for the win over Motherwell on Sunday having sat out of a B team match through illness earlier in the weekend.
Asked about Cummings in his post-match press conference, Rodgers said: “He was with the second team yesterday and he was ill in the warm-up, so he didn't play.
“I believe there's interest from another club for him, but that's been the case with a lot of our young players.
“You get to a certain age where they have their contract running out, and then they have a decision to make.
“Do they stay and follow the example of a Callum McGregor, for example, trust the club, be patient and knowing that you might not be right ready at 17, 18, but you have to be a special talent to be.
“Can you just be patient and wait a little bit longer? Or do you do what a lot of players have done and take the opportunity at 18 to look elsewhere?
“So, I think that's the situation that young Daniel is with his agents. We will just wait and see what happens.”