Tuesday News (includes West Ham)

[Alan]

BBC

Manchester City are chasing Bayer Leverkusen's Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz, 21, with English midfielder James McAtee, 22, potentially moving the other way. (Mail), external

Sweden striker Alexander Isak may be allowed to leave Newcastle if they do not qualify for next season's Champions League, with Liverpool and Arsenal interested in the 25-year-old. (Mirror), external

Nigeria striker Ademola Lookman, 27, will leave Atalanta after falling out with manager Gian Piero Gasperini. (Sky Sports Switzerland - in French), external

Newcastle are considering a summer move for Lookman and could face competition from Manchester United. (Teamtalk), external

France midfielder Paul Pogba, 31, who is a free agent after leaving Juventus in November, could join Inter Miami when his doping suspension ends next month after he met with the MLS team's co-owner David Beckham. (Manchester Evening News), external

Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne is waiting to see if Manchester City still want him next season, with the 33-year-old having accepted he will only play a bit-part role if he agrees a new contract. (Mirror), external

Croatia midfielder Luka Modric, 39, can stay at Real Madrid for as long as he wants, according to manager Carlo Ancelotti. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Real Madrid are not negotiating a deal for 33-year-old Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk, whose contract at Liverpool expires this summer. (Marca - in Spanish), external

Manchester City are hoping to beat Arsenal to the signing of Norway Under-21 midfielder Sverre Nypan, 18, from Rosenborg. (TBR Football), external

Tottenham have opened talks with Uruguay midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur over a new deal, with the 27-year-old's current contract set to expire at the end of next season. (Mail), external

England manager Thomas Tuchel has held talks with Arsenal full-back Ben White over an international return, with the 27-year-old having not played for the Three Lions since 2022. (Sun), external

Vitor Roque's transfer from Barcelona to Palmeiras is set to fall through due to Spanish regulations concerning the 19-year-old Brazil forward's loan spell with Real Betis. (ESPN)




Sky Paper Talk

THE SUN

Ben White has held talks with Thomas Tuchel over a potential England return.

Brazil icon Adriano's 18-year-old son is making his own way in football after sealing a transfer to a European club.

  DAILY MAIL

Manchester United coaches are said to be frustrated with the performances of Rasmus Hojlund after a succession of poor showings for the club.

Tottenham Hotspur have opened talks with midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur over a new contract.

Claudio Echeverri is set to train with Manchester City for the first time later this week before their FA Cup fifth-round tie against Plymouth Argyle.

Manchester City midfielder James McAtee is Bayer Leverkusen's No 1 target this summer should they agree to sell Florian Wirtz.

Cristiano Ronaldo lays claim to be the greatest footballer of all time but Karim Benzema believes that title should go to Brazil's Ronaldo.

DAILY MIRROR

Alexander Isak's future at Newcastle United may hinge on whether they secure Champions League football next season.

Ruben Amorim has 'approved' the transfer of a player Bernardo Silva believes will replace him at international level.

Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne has accepted he will only play a bit-part role next season, it is claimed - now he needs Pep Guardiola to decide if he should be kept on at the Etihad.

THE ATHLETIC

Liverpool will receive a £2m bonus from Nike if they are crowned Premier League champions this season.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says he believes "99 per cent of people" are satisfied with this season's new Champions League format.

Vitor Roque's proposed move from Barcelona to Brazilian club Palmeiras has stalled because of Spanish transfer rules regarding returning loan players.

Brighton & Hove Albion are set to be without Joel Veltman for several weeks, due to a foot injury.

Marseille president Pablo Longoria has backtracked on his comments and admitted there is no corruption in French football.

DAILY TELEGRAPH

Newcastle United chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan was presented with both plans for a new stadium as well as a redeveloped St James' Park in a meeting with senior club figures at a Northumberland hotel on Monday.

Scotland will not lodge a complaint with the Six Nations over two controversial moments in their defeat to England.

Paul Gustard and Stuart Lancaster have emerged as two leading candidates in the race to fill the vacant Leicester Tigers head coach role next season.

THE GUARDIAN

The president of UEFA, Aleksander Ceferin, has made an outspoken intervention in European politics, claiming "freedom of speech no longer exists" and "we are all fed up of political correctness".

The future of Newcastle United is set to be shaped by a series of so-called "summit meetings" staged in the Northumberland countryside this month.

The Kenyan marathon runner Brimin Kipkorir has been suspended provisionally, after he tested positive for prohibited substances, the Athletics Integrity Unit said on Monday.

DAILY EXPRESS

Fenerbahce fans hurled missiles into the Galatasaray home end during Monday night's Istanbul derby.

A former queen of Centre Court is preparing for a return to professional tennis after 17 months away from the game. Petra Kvitova, 34, has not played since the 2023 China Open, where she was beaten in the last 32 by Liudmila Samsonova.

Max Verstappen has made it crystal clear that he will not be missing any Formula 1 races this year, even if it clashes with the birth of his first child.

THE TIMES

Dan Ashworth is taking an advisory role with Warwickshire County Cricket Club after leaving Manchester United.

Emma Raducanu will be given extra security overseen by a former US Secret Service agent should she decide to compete in next week's Indian Wells Open.

Daniel Dubois is still set to step straight into a rematch against Oleksandr Usyk this summer despite abruptly pulling out of his IBF heavyweight title fight in Saudi Arabia last week.

Steve Borthwick is understood to be deeply frustrated that England have had to sacrifice their autumn training camp after the RFU arranged a money-spinning extra Test match against Australia.

DAILY RECORD

Philippe Clement is entitled to a significantly higher pay-off from Rangers than has previously been suggested.





Sport Witness

West Ham handed hope for summer move – Graham Potter’s side have ‘already made moves’

Some days ago, it was reported that West Ham made an attempt to sign Juventus’ Samuel Mbangula in the January transfer window.

There was confidence that the Hammers would have to pay around €30m to sign the winger, who has four goals and four assists in all competitions for the Italian giants this season.

Calciomercato have reported more about the 21-year-old, stating that the price tag is unlikely to be as high as €30m.

They believe that Juventus would want €20m plus bonuses for the Belgian and they also state there remains interest from West Ham.

The Hammers, like Lens, Feyenoord and Lyon, have ‘already made moves’ for the starlet and are attracted by the possibility of signing him.

It remains to be seen if West Ham make another move for Mbangula or if they have an advantage in the chase. Juventus are not happy with the season they are having and this could lead to major sales in the summer.

As a result, Mbangula would become a ‘surprise protagonist’ for an exit.





C&H

West Ham Exclusive: Shocking Paqueta Ban Schedule Revealed

Claret & Hugh have this morning learnt the full extent and timeline of Lucas Paqueta’s imminent FA hearing for betting charges, and it isn’t good news.

We spoke to a top source at the London Stadium to clarify recent rumours that the hearing was happening in March. However, during the exchange, we got more than we bargained for as the West Ham insider laid out the full schedule, including when any ban could be imposed.

C&H were told: “The hearing starts around March 20th and lasts for two weeks. Then they’ll [The FA] make a decision. If found guilty, they may take a few weeks to decide on the punishment.”

Astonishing stuff, and what it actually means could send shockwaves through West Ham, with our prized playmaker likely to be either acquitted or banned before the end of April.

In real terms, and in a worst-case scenario, it could mean a lifetime ban for Hammers record signing Paqueta, but one would expect any such decision to be appealed.

C&H have been informed by West Ham that Paqueta has appointed his own legal team to represent him.




OS

U21s power past Reading for sixth league win in a row

Reading U21s 0-3 West Ham United U21s

West Ham United U21s extended their winning run in Premier League 2 to six games, with goals from Josh Ajala, Sean Moore and Kamarai Swyer securing a commanding 3-0 victory over Reading U21s.

Their latest victory and clean sheet not only consolidates their place within the top three, but also sees the young Hammers claim the best defensive record in the 26-team division.

A tightly-contested first half saw both sides create chances, but with neither able to find a breakthrough.

The young Hammers almost had their defence breached when Louie Holzman struck the crossbar in the 23rd minute, before Fin Herrick reacted quickly to deny Billy Bodin’s follow-up effort.

West Ham's best opportunity of the first half came on the half-an-hour mark, when Swyer latched onto Kaelan Casey’s long throw. Though his initial effort was blocked, Lewis Orford pounced on the loose ball and forced a sharp low save from Reading goalkeeper Tom Norcott.

Goalless at the break, Mark Robson’s side wasted no time imposing themselves in the second half. Just four minutes after the restart, Dan Rigge’s high press paid off, winning possession high up the pitch, feeding Ajala who sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to score his 15th goal of the season.

Reading looked for a response, with Tyler Sackey playing Shay Spencer through in the 56th minute, but the forward fired wide under pressure.

That miss proved costly as West Ham doubled their lead a few minutes later with a stunning team goal. Rigge danced past two defenders before finding Swyer, who released Josh Briggs on the right wing. The wing-back turned his marker inside out before delivering a perfect cross into the penalty area for Moore, whose diving header went in off the post.

With control of the game, West Ham managed possession expertly in the closing stages, frustrating Reading while waiting for their moment to strike again.

That chance came in stoppage time, as Swyer sealed the victory on the counter-attack, keeping his composure to slot home and wrap up yet another impressive performance.

Robson’s troops now turn their attention to a trip north to face Derby County U21s on Friday, still holding a game in hand on the teams above them.

Reading U21s: Norcott, Yiadom ©, Beacroft, Rushesha (Barough 87), Holzman, Borgnis, Akande, Spencer (Senga 87), Bodin, Sackey, Abrefa
Subs not used: Rhone (GK), Osho, Okine-Peters

Booked: Holzman, Borgnis

West Ham United U21s: Herrick, Briggs, Mayers (Brown 90), Akpata (Fearon 89), Golambeckis, Casey ©, Swyer, Orford, Ajala, Rigge (Robinson 77), Moore
Subs not used: Terry (GK), Landers

Goals: Ajala 49, Moore 64, Swyer 90+3

Booked: Briggs

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