Wednesday news (includes West ham)
Posted: 12 Feb 2025, 09:52
BBC
Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are interested in Bournemouth's 19-year-old Spain Under-21 defender Dean Huijsen, who has a £55m release clause in his contract. (TBR Football), external
Liverpool are interested in signing France-born England Under-21 winger Mohamed-Ali Cho, 21, from Nice. (Teamtalk), external
Chelsea are preparing a £58.3m (70m euros) summer bid for Atletico Madrid's 21-year-old Spain defender Pablo Barrios. (Fichajes), external
Barcelona are interested in Sporting's Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres, 26, but the Spanish club are also monitoring Newcastle United's Alexander Isak, 25, as a potential alternative. (Sport - in Spanish), external
Bayern Munich are relaxed about the prospect of England striker Harry Kane, 31, returning to the Premier League. (Football Insider), external
Saudi Pro-League club Al-Nassr came very close to reaching an agreement for Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez from Liverpool in January before the Reds rejected a deal for the 25-year-old. (Givemesport), external
Liverpool would prefer to sell Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez, 25, over Portugal forward Diogo Jota, 28, this summer. (Football Insider)
Aston Villa and Arsenal have expressed interest in signing Olympiakos' 17-year-old Greece Under-21 forward Charalampos Kostoulas and Greece midfielder Christos Mouzakitis, 18. (Birmingham World), external
Real Madrid have joined Arsenal in the race to sign Real Sociedad's Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi, 26. (TeamTalk), external
Crystal Palace, Rangers and Norwich are interested in Birmingham's 18-year-old English winger Zaid Betteka. (Football Insider), external
Arsenal's Germany forward Kai Havertz, 25, has suffered a worrying injury scare on the club's training trip to Dubai. (Mail), external
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola still wants to sign Bayer Leverkusen's 21-year-old Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz. (Christian Falk, Bild via X), external
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is planning to cut more jobs to help free up cash for new signings. (Star), external
Aston Villa and Paris St-Germain did not include a buy option into the loan deal for Spain midfielder Marco Asensio, 29, but both clubs are open to a potential permanent move in the summer. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag could be in line for a managerial return with Feyenoord. (AD - in Dutch. Subscription required), external
Roma want to do a permanent deal with AC Milan for Belgium midfielder Alexis Saelemaekers, 25, but a swap deal involving English striker Tammy Abraham, 27, is not on the table. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external
Manchester United's players believe a change in the style of play to the one currently used by boss Ruben Amorim may be the best way forward. (Mail - subscription required), external
Champions League games, including the final, could be held in United States from the year 2033 onwards as Uefa look to enter a new global commercial rights deal. (Independent)
Sky Paper Talk
THE SUN
Erik ten Hag is set to be thrown a career lifeline by Dutch giants Feyenoord, according to reports.
Manchester United are set to axe up to 200 more staff in Sir Jim Ratcliffe's latest brutal cost-cutting move.
Benjamin Mendy has joined FC Zurich in a shock free transfer.
Lucas Paqueta's uncle is facing up to six years in prison in Brazil if found guilty of alleged match-fixing.
Pierluigi Collina, arguably the world's greatest-ever referee, has proposed a major rule change to penalty kicks, insisting that the attackers should not be allowed to take advantage of a rebound if the initial shot is saved.
THE ATHLETIC
Arsenal forward Kai Havertz will be assessed after suffering a muscular injury during the team's Dubai training camp.
The prospect of Europe's top clubs playing competitive fixtures in the US has taken a step forward following news of a huge potential change in how UEFA sells the commercial and media rights to its club competitions.
Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo says forward Taiwo Awoniyi suffered a broken nose and concussion in an incident during the FA Cup victory over Exeter.
DAILY EXPRESS
Liverpool star Darwin Nunez was reportedly in very advanced talks with Al Nassr last month as the striker closed in on a transfer to the Saudi Pro League.
Ronnie O'Sullivan pulled out of the Welsh Open hours before his first-round tie with Jamie Clarke, leaving hoards of fans in Llandudno bitterly disappointed.
Warren Gatland has spoken out after leaving his job as Wales head coach midway through the Six Nations. The 61-year-old has overseen a dismal run of form, with Wales losing their last 14 matches.
The WTA has confirmed that Stefano Vukov, the former coach of Elena Rybakina, will remain banned from the Tour after an investigation into his behaviour towards the world No 5.
DAILY MAIL
Michail Antonio is reportedly flying to Dubai to begin the next stage of his car accident recovery.
An investigation into how 1,600 Rangers fans infiltrated home sections of Old Trafford for last month's Europa League clash has determined that only a handful of Manchester United supporters can take some blame for the chaos.
Arsenal star Takehiro Tomiyasu's long-term fitness is of growing concern with the prospect of a second knee operation explored by the club.
Lisandro Martinez is set to have surgery this week to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
DAILY MIRROR
Some Manchester United players are said to have discussed whether or not Ruben Amorim would be best served by tweaking his tactical approach.
Vitalii Mykolenko still wakes up every day and has to make a nervous phone call to his parents.
The FA and the match referee have detailed the extent of the tunnel bust-up involving Newcastle and Aston Villa on Boxing Day.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
English rugby union bosses are considering a "rookie league" that could be introduced at U20 level as soon as next season, with new data reinforcing the belief that the best youngsters in the country are still not playing enough.
Warren Gatland waived a potential six-figure settlement to leave his role as Wales head coach after deciding he was no longer the right person to lead the national team
THE TIMES
Manchester United staff have been left stunned by the "brutal" dismissal of the club's long-serving head of team operations as part of the restructuring by Ineos at Old Trafford.
Wimbledon insists there are no plans to change the mixed doubles format at this year's championships after the US Open announced a transformation of its event into a two-day warm-up for singles players with a top prize of $1m (£806,000).
The government must tell the ICC "either obey your own rules on gender equality and let Afghan women play, or you obey the Taliban", the chair of the parliamentary committee for culture, media and sport has said.
London Irish have moved a significant step towards a return to professional rugby after the club was bought out of administration by a consortium led by Eddie Jordan, the Formula 1 entrepreneur.
THE GUARDIAN
Clubs should think twice before doing transfer deals with those in the Saudi Pro League, according to the Welsh side The New Saints, who claim they are yet to receive a penny after selling their star striker Brad Young to the Saudi club Al Orobah last summer.
EVENING STANDARD
A Tottenham supporters' group has organised a protest against the club's ownership before and after Sunday's home game against Manchester United.
Chelsea have signed 16-year-old wonderkid Dastan Satpaev, with the Kazakhstani forward to join the Blues when he turns 18.
DAILY RECORD
Manuel Neuer says it is an honour to share the Celtic Park stage with Kasper Schmeichel.
The Athletic
How Andy Irving rose from obscurity to gain cult status at West Ham
By Roshane Thomas
When Andy Irving arrives at West Ham United’s training ground, it soon becomes apparent why the midfielder is not your quintessential Premier League footballer.
Mercedes-G63 AMG, Bentley Bentayga, Range Rover Sport and Porsche 911 Gt3 RS are among the luxury vehicles in the first-team car park. Irving has the financial means to afford similar cars, but prefers to drive a modest white Nissan Juke. The 24-year-old does not yearn for expensive accessories. Irving is shrewd with his money and invests in real estate. He wants to live comfortably with his family long after his playing days are over.
His mindset has made him a popular figure within the squad. Irving has formed a close bond with captain Jarrod Bowen, Aaron Cresswell and Danny Ings. But, more importantly, his dedication has left a lasting impression on Graham Potter. The newly appointed head coach handed Irving his first Premier League start in the 2-1 loss at Chelsea.
The midfielder impressed and was serenaded by those in the visiting enclosure.
When Chelsea attacker Cole Palmer’s strike from distance went over the bar, they chorused, “You’re just a s*** Andy Irving”. They also urged the midfielder to give them a wave, but Irving was more preoccupied with matters on the pitch. He provided a cross for Mohammed Kudus’ header that struck the post. Irving later had a chance of his own, his efforts prompting applause from Potter. He showcased his technical ability and how he differs to the other midfield options at West Ham. His girlfriend, Zoe, was among those in the away end and has remained supportive during his unconventional journey to the London Stadium.
There was no official announcement from West Ham when Irving joined from Austria Klagenfurt for £1.6million ($2.1m) in 2023.
He had previously enjoyed spells in his native Scotland with Hearts, Berwick Rangers and Falkirk, and then in Germany at Turkgucu Munchen. Former technical director Tim Steidten considered Irving to be a risk-free move given the relatively small fee and obvious potential. After signing a three-year deal, Irving returned to Austria Klagenfurt on a season-long loan. He ended the campaign with 10 goals and five assists across 30 league appearances.
The midfielder was due to return to London in June but was generating interest from elsewhere. Espanyol, Atalanta, Celtic, St. Pauli and Sturm Graz were among his suitors. But Zoe had already applied for, and successfully secured, a teaching job in east London. She had confidence Irving would be part of then-manager Julen Lopetegui’s plans. After impressing in pre-season, Irving duly convinced the coaching staff that he warranted a place in the first-team squad.
“At the end of May, there was a job available at a school in Tower Hamlets and my partner opted to go for the interview, which I was all for,” Irving told West Ham’s website. “She had massive belief that I would be staying for this season, but the pressure was on throughout pre-season. She’s amazing. I’m super proud of her, the way she’s taken to life in London and her job!”
Irving was substituted in the latter stages against Chelsea last week. After applauding the away end, he headed down the tunnel with an ice pack around his right calf after sustaining a knock. Before that match, Irving had only played 88 minutes in the league in previous appearances against Chelsea, Brentford, Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Fulham and Aston Villa.
He has faced competition for a starting berth from Carlos Soler, Tomas Soucek, Edson Alvarez and Guido Rodriguez this season. Competition stepped up further after James Ward-Prowse’s return from a loan spell at Nottingham Forest. But in the build-up to the fixture at Stamford Bridge, Irving’s efforts to impress Potter did not go in vain.
“His spirit, application and training performances merited that start,” Potter told West Ham’s website. “We lost Alvarez quite late (to injury) so we had to adjust. I think the decision was clear for Andy because he’s trained really well and I think it’s important for the group to know that. I’m pleased with him.”
Bowen concurred.
“Andy’s worked incredibly hard and been incredibly patient,” he said. “I get on really well with Andy. I’ve had a lot of chats with him and always told him that I know his time will come because I’ve seen it in training. He looked comfortable. He looked at home with it and I know there will be many more (appearances) for Andy.”
The midfielder is often one of the last players to leave after training. Given his lack of minutes, he prioritised doing extra sessions with fitness coach Callum Foster to the extent that there are rarely autograph hunters still milling around outside Rush Green when Irving departs. He has also hired an athletic trainer to help him adapt to the intensity of the Premier League. The midfielder is aware he is a late developer and wants to make up for lost time.
In October, he received his first senior Scotland call-up for the Nations League games against Croatia and Portugal. Irving had amassed four caps for the junior teams from under-17 to under-21 level but ended up as an unused substitute in both senior games. He is hopeful of making his debut under manager Steve Clarke soon, potentially even against Greece in March. It was ex-Scotland manager Craig Levein who had urged Clarke to keep Irving on his radar.
In the January transfer window, Irving had interest from an unnamed Serie A side, but neither he nor West Ham had any interest in entertaining any offers.
His patience paid off with that breakthrough moment against Chelsea. There was initial surprise from supporters when he was named in the starting XI, but he justified that inclusion. Now he will seek to continue impressing Potter and his backroom staff over the second half of the season.
Despite scoring in the pre-season friendly against Dagenham & Redbridge in July, few people asked for Irving’s autograph. Seven months on, he has gone from obscurity to cult hero status.
The next time autograph hunters patiently wait outside Rush Green for the first team players, many will be on the lookout for his white Nissan Juke.
Sullivan's gaff is up for sale if you're interested:-
A modest pad
Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are interested in Bournemouth's 19-year-old Spain Under-21 defender Dean Huijsen, who has a £55m release clause in his contract. (TBR Football), external
Liverpool are interested in signing France-born England Under-21 winger Mohamed-Ali Cho, 21, from Nice. (Teamtalk), external
Chelsea are preparing a £58.3m (70m euros) summer bid for Atletico Madrid's 21-year-old Spain defender Pablo Barrios. (Fichajes), external
Barcelona are interested in Sporting's Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres, 26, but the Spanish club are also monitoring Newcastle United's Alexander Isak, 25, as a potential alternative. (Sport - in Spanish), external
Bayern Munich are relaxed about the prospect of England striker Harry Kane, 31, returning to the Premier League. (Football Insider), external
Saudi Pro-League club Al-Nassr came very close to reaching an agreement for Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez from Liverpool in January before the Reds rejected a deal for the 25-year-old. (Givemesport), external
Liverpool would prefer to sell Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez, 25, over Portugal forward Diogo Jota, 28, this summer. (Football Insider)
Aston Villa and Arsenal have expressed interest in signing Olympiakos' 17-year-old Greece Under-21 forward Charalampos Kostoulas and Greece midfielder Christos Mouzakitis, 18. (Birmingham World), external
Real Madrid have joined Arsenal in the race to sign Real Sociedad's Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi, 26. (TeamTalk), external
Crystal Palace, Rangers and Norwich are interested in Birmingham's 18-year-old English winger Zaid Betteka. (Football Insider), external
Arsenal's Germany forward Kai Havertz, 25, has suffered a worrying injury scare on the club's training trip to Dubai. (Mail), external
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola still wants to sign Bayer Leverkusen's 21-year-old Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz. (Christian Falk, Bild via X), external
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is planning to cut more jobs to help free up cash for new signings. (Star), external
Aston Villa and Paris St-Germain did not include a buy option into the loan deal for Spain midfielder Marco Asensio, 29, but both clubs are open to a potential permanent move in the summer. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag could be in line for a managerial return with Feyenoord. (AD - in Dutch. Subscription required), external
Roma want to do a permanent deal with AC Milan for Belgium midfielder Alexis Saelemaekers, 25, but a swap deal involving English striker Tammy Abraham, 27, is not on the table. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external
Manchester United's players believe a change in the style of play to the one currently used by boss Ruben Amorim may be the best way forward. (Mail - subscription required), external
Champions League games, including the final, could be held in United States from the year 2033 onwards as Uefa look to enter a new global commercial rights deal. (Independent)
Sky Paper Talk
THE SUN
Erik ten Hag is set to be thrown a career lifeline by Dutch giants Feyenoord, according to reports.
Manchester United are set to axe up to 200 more staff in Sir Jim Ratcliffe's latest brutal cost-cutting move.
Benjamin Mendy has joined FC Zurich in a shock free transfer.
Lucas Paqueta's uncle is facing up to six years in prison in Brazil if found guilty of alleged match-fixing.
Pierluigi Collina, arguably the world's greatest-ever referee, has proposed a major rule change to penalty kicks, insisting that the attackers should not be allowed to take advantage of a rebound if the initial shot is saved.
THE ATHLETIC
Arsenal forward Kai Havertz will be assessed after suffering a muscular injury during the team's Dubai training camp.
The prospect of Europe's top clubs playing competitive fixtures in the US has taken a step forward following news of a huge potential change in how UEFA sells the commercial and media rights to its club competitions.
Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo says forward Taiwo Awoniyi suffered a broken nose and concussion in an incident during the FA Cup victory over Exeter.
DAILY EXPRESS
Liverpool star Darwin Nunez was reportedly in very advanced talks with Al Nassr last month as the striker closed in on a transfer to the Saudi Pro League.
Ronnie O'Sullivan pulled out of the Welsh Open hours before his first-round tie with Jamie Clarke, leaving hoards of fans in Llandudno bitterly disappointed.
Warren Gatland has spoken out after leaving his job as Wales head coach midway through the Six Nations. The 61-year-old has overseen a dismal run of form, with Wales losing their last 14 matches.
The WTA has confirmed that Stefano Vukov, the former coach of Elena Rybakina, will remain banned from the Tour after an investigation into his behaviour towards the world No 5.
DAILY MAIL
Michail Antonio is reportedly flying to Dubai to begin the next stage of his car accident recovery.
An investigation into how 1,600 Rangers fans infiltrated home sections of Old Trafford for last month's Europa League clash has determined that only a handful of Manchester United supporters can take some blame for the chaos.
Arsenal star Takehiro Tomiyasu's long-term fitness is of growing concern with the prospect of a second knee operation explored by the club.
Lisandro Martinez is set to have surgery this week to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
DAILY MIRROR
Some Manchester United players are said to have discussed whether or not Ruben Amorim would be best served by tweaking his tactical approach.
Vitalii Mykolenko still wakes up every day and has to make a nervous phone call to his parents.
The FA and the match referee have detailed the extent of the tunnel bust-up involving Newcastle and Aston Villa on Boxing Day.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
English rugby union bosses are considering a "rookie league" that could be introduced at U20 level as soon as next season, with new data reinforcing the belief that the best youngsters in the country are still not playing enough.
Warren Gatland waived a potential six-figure settlement to leave his role as Wales head coach after deciding he was no longer the right person to lead the national team
THE TIMES
Manchester United staff have been left stunned by the "brutal" dismissal of the club's long-serving head of team operations as part of the restructuring by Ineos at Old Trafford.
Wimbledon insists there are no plans to change the mixed doubles format at this year's championships after the US Open announced a transformation of its event into a two-day warm-up for singles players with a top prize of $1m (£806,000).
The government must tell the ICC "either obey your own rules on gender equality and let Afghan women play, or you obey the Taliban", the chair of the parliamentary committee for culture, media and sport has said.
London Irish have moved a significant step towards a return to professional rugby after the club was bought out of administration by a consortium led by Eddie Jordan, the Formula 1 entrepreneur.
THE GUARDIAN
Clubs should think twice before doing transfer deals with those in the Saudi Pro League, according to the Welsh side The New Saints, who claim they are yet to receive a penny after selling their star striker Brad Young to the Saudi club Al Orobah last summer.
EVENING STANDARD
A Tottenham supporters' group has organised a protest against the club's ownership before and after Sunday's home game against Manchester United.
Chelsea have signed 16-year-old wonderkid Dastan Satpaev, with the Kazakhstani forward to join the Blues when he turns 18.
DAILY RECORD
Manuel Neuer says it is an honour to share the Celtic Park stage with Kasper Schmeichel.
The Athletic
How Andy Irving rose from obscurity to gain cult status at West Ham
By Roshane Thomas
When Andy Irving arrives at West Ham United’s training ground, it soon becomes apparent why the midfielder is not your quintessential Premier League footballer.
Mercedes-G63 AMG, Bentley Bentayga, Range Rover Sport and Porsche 911 Gt3 RS are among the luxury vehicles in the first-team car park. Irving has the financial means to afford similar cars, but prefers to drive a modest white Nissan Juke. The 24-year-old does not yearn for expensive accessories. Irving is shrewd with his money and invests in real estate. He wants to live comfortably with his family long after his playing days are over.
His mindset has made him a popular figure within the squad. Irving has formed a close bond with captain Jarrod Bowen, Aaron Cresswell and Danny Ings. But, more importantly, his dedication has left a lasting impression on Graham Potter. The newly appointed head coach handed Irving his first Premier League start in the 2-1 loss at Chelsea.
The midfielder impressed and was serenaded by those in the visiting enclosure.
When Chelsea attacker Cole Palmer’s strike from distance went over the bar, they chorused, “You’re just a s*** Andy Irving”. They also urged the midfielder to give them a wave, but Irving was more preoccupied with matters on the pitch. He provided a cross for Mohammed Kudus’ header that struck the post. Irving later had a chance of his own, his efforts prompting applause from Potter. He showcased his technical ability and how he differs to the other midfield options at West Ham. His girlfriend, Zoe, was among those in the away end and has remained supportive during his unconventional journey to the London Stadium.
There was no official announcement from West Ham when Irving joined from Austria Klagenfurt for £1.6million ($2.1m) in 2023.
He had previously enjoyed spells in his native Scotland with Hearts, Berwick Rangers and Falkirk, and then in Germany at Turkgucu Munchen. Former technical director Tim Steidten considered Irving to be a risk-free move given the relatively small fee and obvious potential. After signing a three-year deal, Irving returned to Austria Klagenfurt on a season-long loan. He ended the campaign with 10 goals and five assists across 30 league appearances.
The midfielder was due to return to London in June but was generating interest from elsewhere. Espanyol, Atalanta, Celtic, St. Pauli and Sturm Graz were among his suitors. But Zoe had already applied for, and successfully secured, a teaching job in east London. She had confidence Irving would be part of then-manager Julen Lopetegui’s plans. After impressing in pre-season, Irving duly convinced the coaching staff that he warranted a place in the first-team squad.
“At the end of May, there was a job available at a school in Tower Hamlets and my partner opted to go for the interview, which I was all for,” Irving told West Ham’s website. “She had massive belief that I would be staying for this season, but the pressure was on throughout pre-season. She’s amazing. I’m super proud of her, the way she’s taken to life in London and her job!”
Irving was substituted in the latter stages against Chelsea last week. After applauding the away end, he headed down the tunnel with an ice pack around his right calf after sustaining a knock. Before that match, Irving had only played 88 minutes in the league in previous appearances against Chelsea, Brentford, Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Fulham and Aston Villa.
He has faced competition for a starting berth from Carlos Soler, Tomas Soucek, Edson Alvarez and Guido Rodriguez this season. Competition stepped up further after James Ward-Prowse’s return from a loan spell at Nottingham Forest. But in the build-up to the fixture at Stamford Bridge, Irving’s efforts to impress Potter did not go in vain.
“His spirit, application and training performances merited that start,” Potter told West Ham’s website. “We lost Alvarez quite late (to injury) so we had to adjust. I think the decision was clear for Andy because he’s trained really well and I think it’s important for the group to know that. I’m pleased with him.”
Bowen concurred.
“Andy’s worked incredibly hard and been incredibly patient,” he said. “I get on really well with Andy. I’ve had a lot of chats with him and always told him that I know his time will come because I’ve seen it in training. He looked comfortable. He looked at home with it and I know there will be many more (appearances) for Andy.”
The midfielder is often one of the last players to leave after training. Given his lack of minutes, he prioritised doing extra sessions with fitness coach Callum Foster to the extent that there are rarely autograph hunters still milling around outside Rush Green when Irving departs. He has also hired an athletic trainer to help him adapt to the intensity of the Premier League. The midfielder is aware he is a late developer and wants to make up for lost time.
In October, he received his first senior Scotland call-up for the Nations League games against Croatia and Portugal. Irving had amassed four caps for the junior teams from under-17 to under-21 level but ended up as an unused substitute in both senior games. He is hopeful of making his debut under manager Steve Clarke soon, potentially even against Greece in March. It was ex-Scotland manager Craig Levein who had urged Clarke to keep Irving on his radar.
In the January transfer window, Irving had interest from an unnamed Serie A side, but neither he nor West Ham had any interest in entertaining any offers.
His patience paid off with that breakthrough moment against Chelsea. There was initial surprise from supporters when he was named in the starting XI, but he justified that inclusion. Now he will seek to continue impressing Potter and his backroom staff over the second half of the season.
Despite scoring in the pre-season friendly against Dagenham & Redbridge in July, few people asked for Irving’s autograph. Seven months on, he has gone from obscurity to cult hero status.
The next time autograph hunters patiently wait outside Rush Green for the first team players, many will be on the lookout for his white Nissan Juke.
Sullivan's gaff is up for sale if you're interested:-
A modest pad