Friday News (includes West Ham)
Posted: 28 Feb 2025, 09:28
BBC
Manchester United and England forward Marcus Rashford, 27, is prepared to turn his January loan move to Aston Villa into a permanent deal. (Sun - subscription required), external
Barcelona and Bayern Munich are also keeping tabs on Rashford. (Football Insider), external
Liverpool have a growing interest in Newcastle and Sweden forward Alexander Isak, while Arsenal also remain keen on a move for the 25-year-old. (Times - subscription required), external
Arsenal might have to sell Belgium forward Leandro Trossard, 30, or their 23-year-old Brazil winger Gabriel Martinelli to fund a summer rebuild, with both players targets for Saudi Pro League clubs. (Mirror), external
Victor Osimhen is keen on a transfer to Manchester United, although they will need to overcome several major clubs to sign the 26-year-old Nigeria striker, who is on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli. (Teamtalk), external
Manchester United are prepared to offload Denmark forward Rasmus Hojlund, 22, in order to gain Osimhen's signature. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external
Chelsea remain keen on the possibility of signing Borussia Dortmund and Germany winger Karim Adeyemi, who is valued at 45m euros (£37.1m). (CaughtOffside)
Manchester City are keen to sign a goalkeeper to replace Brazilian Ederson, 31, this summer and the club are in talks with Porto over a move for 25-year-old Portugal international Diogo Costa. (CaughtOffside), external
Bayern Munich have withdrawn their offer of a new contract to Germany midfielder Joshua Kimmich after becoming frustrated with the 30-year-old's hesitation to extend his deal. (Bild - in German), external
Barcelona have expressed an interest in AC Milan's Portugal winger Rafael Leao, 25. (Nicolo Schira), external
Newcastle United are pursuing a deal to sign Burnley's English goalkeeper James Trafford, 22. (Football Insider), external
The Premier League could be forced to have two separate transfer windows this summer because of disruption caused by the Club World Cup. (Guardian)
Sky Paper Talk
DAILY MAIL
Former Manchester United chief Ed Woodward has been informally approached over the prospect of joining the board of Eagle Football Holdings, the group which owns stakes in clubs including Crystal Palace and Lyon.
Bayern Munich have reportedly withdrawn their contractual offer to Joshua Kimmich following extensive negotiations since the beginning of the season.
Manchester United majority owners the Glazers have been slammed by their Tampa Bay Buccaneers players in a new report.
Marc Guehi is set to hand England head coach Thomas Tuchel a major fitness boost with the defender expected to make a swift recovery from a knee injury suffered in the win over Aston Villa.
Newcastle are not planning a post-Wembley victory parade and will instead celebrate or drown their Carabao Cup sorrows amid the sunshine of Dubai.
Manchester City have cancelled hundreds of tickets purchased by Plymouth Argyle fans planning to infiltrate the home ends ahead of Saturday's FA Cup clash.
The injuries suffered by Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Jesus have halted potential plans to sell the Arsenal pair this summer.
West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka is yet to commit his international future to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Newcastle are working on ambitious plans to spend pre-season in Hong Kong, including games at the brand new Kai Tak Stadium, a magnificent 50,000-seat arena in Kowloon.
Ollie Scarles has impressed FA scouts since his senior breakthrough earlier this season.
Crystal Palace will fly out to Marbella for a winter training camp following the March 8 Premier League clash with Ipswich.
The completion of Sportsbank's protracted Crystal Palace investment is now on course to be completed in the middle of March.
Newcastle's corporate supporters will boycott Sunday's visit of Brighton after heated exchanges with club staff over cup-final ticket allocation.
Tottenham Hotspur are finalising plans for a pre-season tour of Asia.
Premier League figures are covertly listening to X broadcasts of rival clubs in the hope of garnering inside information.
Aston Villa have joined the growing list of clubs interested in Southampton youngster Tyler Dibling.
Newcastle sporting director Paul Mitchell led a scouting summit at Gateshead's Hilton Hotel last weekend as the club's transfer strategy ahead of the summer was outlined.
THE SUN
Manchester United stars are frustrated with manager Ruben Amorim after he blamed their poor performance for hundreds of club employees being made redundant.
The Guardian
Soucek extends West Ham’s revival and Van Nistelrooy’s Leicester woe
John Brewin at the London Stadium
It has been a midweek of Premier League certainties being secured at both top and bottom. Place Leicester in the certainty category. Defeat at West Ham extended their doomed, zombified lurch towards relegation to 11 league defeats in 12, 12 of 16 in all since Ruud van Nistelrooy replaced Steve Cooper in November.
If Cooper was the wrong man at the wrong club then so, most probably, is the Dutchman. Perhaps nobody had a chance with the squad Leicester assembled to attempt survival. Their performance at the London Stadium was submissive. “That’s the situation we’re in,” said Van Nistelrooy. “The confidence in the run of form is low and then you end up in a mindset of trying not to lose.”
Graham Potter, once linked with Leicester, is restoring order to West Ham. A revived Jarrod Bowen made things happen for both first-half goals, the first from Tomas Soucek, the second an own goal from Jannik Vestergaard the Hammers captain’s zest had enforced.
West Ham were unchanged from a famous weekend win at Arsenal that had handed legitimacy to Potter’s regime. “We played well against Arsenal and got the result but it counted for nothing if we didn’t show up tonight,” said Bowen.
Much of Potter’s coaching reputation lies in improving players, though gradually. His has been a new-manager curve rather than bounce but the signs grow more positive. “There is a lot of potential, for sure,” he said. “Talent is one thing. The foundations have to be good.”
A night that began with a tribute to the late Ronnie Boyce, 1964 FA Cup final hero, took time to catch alight. Leicester’s approach, that worked at Tottenham a month ago but nowhere else, was to defend in numbers and hope Jamie Vardy could win territory. The 2016 title survivor, 38, completed the full 90 with a grim expression of frustrated ennui.
If Soucek’s 22nd-minute goal was created by anything it was Leicester’s complete and utter failure to clear their lines after Bowen began an attack. Goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, left unprotected, made a point-blank save from Mohammed Kudus. Soucek, played onside by Vestergaard, slotted in. “We showed, good spirit, good team effort,” said the birthday boy.
Jarrod Bowen’s shot is turned into the net by Jannik Vestergaard. Photograph: Dalton Bowden/Shutterstock
If that might be expected to stimulate survival instincts within Leicester there were scant signs of a dogfight. The quiet night air at the London Stadium was filled with away fans singing of past glories when returning to the Premier League has been to their desperate disappointment.
The Hammers continued to dominate first-half possession. Over to Leicester for another helping hand: Bowen seized on a low James Ward-Prowse corner and his shot bounced off the hapless Vestergaard. “No defender wants an own goal,” said Bowen, claiming it.
The first half ended with boos trailing Van Nistelrooy down the tunnel. Could he inspire his team to play for their lives, their futures, their bank balances? A lack of genuine speed, Vardy’s greyhound days long gone, allowed West Ham almost as much comfort in the second 45 as the first. “The damage was done,” said Van Nistelrooy. “The first half we created absolutely nothing.”
Ironic cheers greeted a Leicester corner and when Van Nistelrooy made his first changes, sending on Harry Winks and Stephy Mavididi. Leicester, briefly, pushed onwards. Potter’s subsequent trio of changes to bolster defence and midfield disappointed Hammers fans hoping to see Evan Ferguson.
Potter wanted to lock down any glimmer of Leicester revival. Another facet of his reputation is that of steadying hand, though he need not have worried. “It wasn’t a champagne type of night,” he said. “Overall it was a professional performance. Not fantastic, but we are delighted with two wins, two clean sheets and six points.”
Ferguson eventually arrived in the 73rd minute. Bowen broke away, the Irishman getting a chance, but deliberating too long. It may not be long until Leicester and probably Van Nistelrooy are called time on. “I keep working. I keep going,” said the beaten manager.
The Athletic
Graham Potter’s West Ham template is set – summer transfers will dictate his success
By Roshane Thomas
West Ham United play ‘Sweet Caroline’ after victories at the London Stadium and as one supporter headed towards the exit from the upper tier of the west stand following the 2-0 victory over Leicester City, he could be heard saying: “I can’t wait to sing this song again when we’re back in Europe.”
Although it may seem too premature, those wishes are not as fanciful as they were a couple of months ago. After all, it is a long-term objective for head coach Graham Potter. In midweek, he avoided answering whether he could have been Steve Cooper’s successor at Leicester. Instead he chose to outline why West Ham was the right fit. Part of the appeal was returning the club to happier times and the European adventures that brought such joy under David Moyes.
Victories over Arsenal — 1-0 at the Emirates — and Leicester add credence to Potter being the right fit. He has set the template for future success, which is attributed to his trusted 5-3-2 formation. Tomas Soucek and an own goal from Jannik Vestergaard sealed Potter’s third win in his first seven league games since replacing Julen Lopetegui.
The victory over Arsenal appears to have been a turning point with the players, backroom staff and fans were all united. As the squad savoured the moment in front of the away end at the Emirates, nothing much mattered apart from the fact that everyone associated with West Ham looked happy.
Victory over Leicester was about building on and sticking to good habits. Arsenal seldom threatened West Ham’s defence and that was the case for Leicester. Potter later admitted the performance was not “champagne football” but it was another step in the right direction. West Ham have now kept consecutive clean sheets for the first time since November (when they won away to Newcastle United and drew 0-0 at home with Everton), and their first back-to-back league wins since March.
“We’re delighted with two wins, two clean sheets and six points,” Potter told TNT Sports. “It is (a long time since back-to-back league wins). We were aware of it so we’re delighted for the players because they’ve been working really hard. Back-to-back league wins isn’t easy in the Premier League, especially when you factor our recent record.
“There’s a lot of potential here. Talent is one thing but you have to be a team and the foundations have to be good, which is what we’ve been working on a lot. Hopefully they are getting the rewards for that. Talent isn’t enough in this league. You have to keep clean sheets, defend well and do the ugly side of the game as well and the players have done. They will have a couple of days off over the weekend. They are pressuring me for more but I’m standing firm!”
Potter has lifted morale and intensity in training sessions. He is building the team in his image and will be backed by the board this summer. Jonathan David, the Lille forward and long-time transfer target, is among the many options West Ham have lined up. Signing a striker is still a priority, despite Evan Ferguson’s arrival on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion. The forward, whose deal does not include an obligation to buy, squandered a great opportunity from close range against Leicester to score his first goal for the club.
Anderlecht attacking midfielder Mario Stroeykens is on West Ham’s radar. So too is Brighton & Hove Albion central defender Adam Webster, who previously worked under Potter.
But uncertainty remains over the futures of Lukasz Fabianski, Vladimir Coufal, Aaron Cresswell, Michail Antonio and Danny Ings, all of whom are out of contract this summer. Fabianski recently lost the No 1 jersey to Alphonse Areola, Fulham made multiple offers for Coufal on deadline day, Cresswell has featured heavily under Potter, Antonio is rehabbing from a broken leg and Ings remains a peripheral figure.
Towards the end of the January transfer window, Potter stated repeatedly that whoever joins needs to be a good fit.
Until then, his focus will be on improving captain Jarrod Bowen, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jean-Clair Todibo, Soucek and the returning Lucas Paqueta. The quartet will be key in helping them climb the table further.
Bowen continues to showcase why he is one of the best players outside the ‘big six’, Wan-Bissaka’s form merits senior England recognition, Todibo’s composure on the ball has been key to the marked defensive improvement, while Soucek remains the heart and soul of the midfield. The Czech, who registered his sixth league goal of the season on his 30th birthday, outlined his ambition.
“We’ve shown team spirit in the last two games,” he told TNT Sports. “The first half was a very good performance but we made a few mistakes in the second half. But we won, it’s a great result and it will help our manager believe what we are doing, so we are grateful for it. It’s been a tough season but we want to finish as high as possible. Big teams like Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are around us. We want to do better than Tottenham, given our rivalry.”
Potter allowed himself a faint smile when talking about West Ham’s improvement. This team has potential and with the right additions this summer, the supporters’ wishes for Europe may come true once more.
Manchester United and England forward Marcus Rashford, 27, is prepared to turn his January loan move to Aston Villa into a permanent deal. (Sun - subscription required), external
Barcelona and Bayern Munich are also keeping tabs on Rashford. (Football Insider), external
Liverpool have a growing interest in Newcastle and Sweden forward Alexander Isak, while Arsenal also remain keen on a move for the 25-year-old. (Times - subscription required), external
Arsenal might have to sell Belgium forward Leandro Trossard, 30, or their 23-year-old Brazil winger Gabriel Martinelli to fund a summer rebuild, with both players targets for Saudi Pro League clubs. (Mirror), external
Victor Osimhen is keen on a transfer to Manchester United, although they will need to overcome several major clubs to sign the 26-year-old Nigeria striker, who is on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli. (Teamtalk), external
Manchester United are prepared to offload Denmark forward Rasmus Hojlund, 22, in order to gain Osimhen's signature. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external
Chelsea remain keen on the possibility of signing Borussia Dortmund and Germany winger Karim Adeyemi, who is valued at 45m euros (£37.1m). (CaughtOffside)
Manchester City are keen to sign a goalkeeper to replace Brazilian Ederson, 31, this summer and the club are in talks with Porto over a move for 25-year-old Portugal international Diogo Costa. (CaughtOffside), external
Bayern Munich have withdrawn their offer of a new contract to Germany midfielder Joshua Kimmich after becoming frustrated with the 30-year-old's hesitation to extend his deal. (Bild - in German), external
Barcelona have expressed an interest in AC Milan's Portugal winger Rafael Leao, 25. (Nicolo Schira), external
Newcastle United are pursuing a deal to sign Burnley's English goalkeeper James Trafford, 22. (Football Insider), external
The Premier League could be forced to have two separate transfer windows this summer because of disruption caused by the Club World Cup. (Guardian)
Sky Paper Talk
DAILY MAIL
Former Manchester United chief Ed Woodward has been informally approached over the prospect of joining the board of Eagle Football Holdings, the group which owns stakes in clubs including Crystal Palace and Lyon.
Bayern Munich have reportedly withdrawn their contractual offer to Joshua Kimmich following extensive negotiations since the beginning of the season.
Manchester United majority owners the Glazers have been slammed by their Tampa Bay Buccaneers players in a new report.
Marc Guehi is set to hand England head coach Thomas Tuchel a major fitness boost with the defender expected to make a swift recovery from a knee injury suffered in the win over Aston Villa.
Newcastle are not planning a post-Wembley victory parade and will instead celebrate or drown their Carabao Cup sorrows amid the sunshine of Dubai.
Manchester City have cancelled hundreds of tickets purchased by Plymouth Argyle fans planning to infiltrate the home ends ahead of Saturday's FA Cup clash.
The injuries suffered by Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Jesus have halted potential plans to sell the Arsenal pair this summer.
West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka is yet to commit his international future to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Newcastle are working on ambitious plans to spend pre-season in Hong Kong, including games at the brand new Kai Tak Stadium, a magnificent 50,000-seat arena in Kowloon.
Ollie Scarles has impressed FA scouts since his senior breakthrough earlier this season.
Crystal Palace will fly out to Marbella for a winter training camp following the March 8 Premier League clash with Ipswich.
The completion of Sportsbank's protracted Crystal Palace investment is now on course to be completed in the middle of March.
Newcastle's corporate supporters will boycott Sunday's visit of Brighton after heated exchanges with club staff over cup-final ticket allocation.
Tottenham Hotspur are finalising plans for a pre-season tour of Asia.
Premier League figures are covertly listening to X broadcasts of rival clubs in the hope of garnering inside information.
Aston Villa have joined the growing list of clubs interested in Southampton youngster Tyler Dibling.
Newcastle sporting director Paul Mitchell led a scouting summit at Gateshead's Hilton Hotel last weekend as the club's transfer strategy ahead of the summer was outlined.
THE SUN
Manchester United stars are frustrated with manager Ruben Amorim after he blamed their poor performance for hundreds of club employees being made redundant.
The Guardian
Soucek extends West Ham’s revival and Van Nistelrooy’s Leicester woe
John Brewin at the London Stadium
It has been a midweek of Premier League certainties being secured at both top and bottom. Place Leicester in the certainty category. Defeat at West Ham extended their doomed, zombified lurch towards relegation to 11 league defeats in 12, 12 of 16 in all since Ruud van Nistelrooy replaced Steve Cooper in November.
If Cooper was the wrong man at the wrong club then so, most probably, is the Dutchman. Perhaps nobody had a chance with the squad Leicester assembled to attempt survival. Their performance at the London Stadium was submissive. “That’s the situation we’re in,” said Van Nistelrooy. “The confidence in the run of form is low and then you end up in a mindset of trying not to lose.”
Graham Potter, once linked with Leicester, is restoring order to West Ham. A revived Jarrod Bowen made things happen for both first-half goals, the first from Tomas Soucek, the second an own goal from Jannik Vestergaard the Hammers captain’s zest had enforced.
West Ham were unchanged from a famous weekend win at Arsenal that had handed legitimacy to Potter’s regime. “We played well against Arsenal and got the result but it counted for nothing if we didn’t show up tonight,” said Bowen.
Much of Potter’s coaching reputation lies in improving players, though gradually. His has been a new-manager curve rather than bounce but the signs grow more positive. “There is a lot of potential, for sure,” he said. “Talent is one thing. The foundations have to be good.”
A night that began with a tribute to the late Ronnie Boyce, 1964 FA Cup final hero, took time to catch alight. Leicester’s approach, that worked at Tottenham a month ago but nowhere else, was to defend in numbers and hope Jamie Vardy could win territory. The 2016 title survivor, 38, completed the full 90 with a grim expression of frustrated ennui.
If Soucek’s 22nd-minute goal was created by anything it was Leicester’s complete and utter failure to clear their lines after Bowen began an attack. Goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, left unprotected, made a point-blank save from Mohammed Kudus. Soucek, played onside by Vestergaard, slotted in. “We showed, good spirit, good team effort,” said the birthday boy.
Jarrod Bowen’s shot is turned into the net by Jannik Vestergaard. Photograph: Dalton Bowden/Shutterstock
If that might be expected to stimulate survival instincts within Leicester there were scant signs of a dogfight. The quiet night air at the London Stadium was filled with away fans singing of past glories when returning to the Premier League has been to their desperate disappointment.
The Hammers continued to dominate first-half possession. Over to Leicester for another helping hand: Bowen seized on a low James Ward-Prowse corner and his shot bounced off the hapless Vestergaard. “No defender wants an own goal,” said Bowen, claiming it.
The first half ended with boos trailing Van Nistelrooy down the tunnel. Could he inspire his team to play for their lives, their futures, their bank balances? A lack of genuine speed, Vardy’s greyhound days long gone, allowed West Ham almost as much comfort in the second 45 as the first. “The damage was done,” said Van Nistelrooy. “The first half we created absolutely nothing.”
Ironic cheers greeted a Leicester corner and when Van Nistelrooy made his first changes, sending on Harry Winks and Stephy Mavididi. Leicester, briefly, pushed onwards. Potter’s subsequent trio of changes to bolster defence and midfield disappointed Hammers fans hoping to see Evan Ferguson.
Potter wanted to lock down any glimmer of Leicester revival. Another facet of his reputation is that of steadying hand, though he need not have worried. “It wasn’t a champagne type of night,” he said. “Overall it was a professional performance. Not fantastic, but we are delighted with two wins, two clean sheets and six points.”
Ferguson eventually arrived in the 73rd minute. Bowen broke away, the Irishman getting a chance, but deliberating too long. It may not be long until Leicester and probably Van Nistelrooy are called time on. “I keep working. I keep going,” said the beaten manager.
The Athletic
Graham Potter’s West Ham template is set – summer transfers will dictate his success
By Roshane Thomas
West Ham United play ‘Sweet Caroline’ after victories at the London Stadium and as one supporter headed towards the exit from the upper tier of the west stand following the 2-0 victory over Leicester City, he could be heard saying: “I can’t wait to sing this song again when we’re back in Europe.”
Although it may seem too premature, those wishes are not as fanciful as they were a couple of months ago. After all, it is a long-term objective for head coach Graham Potter. In midweek, he avoided answering whether he could have been Steve Cooper’s successor at Leicester. Instead he chose to outline why West Ham was the right fit. Part of the appeal was returning the club to happier times and the European adventures that brought such joy under David Moyes.
Victories over Arsenal — 1-0 at the Emirates — and Leicester add credence to Potter being the right fit. He has set the template for future success, which is attributed to his trusted 5-3-2 formation. Tomas Soucek and an own goal from Jannik Vestergaard sealed Potter’s third win in his first seven league games since replacing Julen Lopetegui.
The victory over Arsenal appears to have been a turning point with the players, backroom staff and fans were all united. As the squad savoured the moment in front of the away end at the Emirates, nothing much mattered apart from the fact that everyone associated with West Ham looked happy.
Victory over Leicester was about building on and sticking to good habits. Arsenal seldom threatened West Ham’s defence and that was the case for Leicester. Potter later admitted the performance was not “champagne football” but it was another step in the right direction. West Ham have now kept consecutive clean sheets for the first time since November (when they won away to Newcastle United and drew 0-0 at home with Everton), and their first back-to-back league wins since March.
“We’re delighted with two wins, two clean sheets and six points,” Potter told TNT Sports. “It is (a long time since back-to-back league wins). We were aware of it so we’re delighted for the players because they’ve been working really hard. Back-to-back league wins isn’t easy in the Premier League, especially when you factor our recent record.
“There’s a lot of potential here. Talent is one thing but you have to be a team and the foundations have to be good, which is what we’ve been working on a lot. Hopefully they are getting the rewards for that. Talent isn’t enough in this league. You have to keep clean sheets, defend well and do the ugly side of the game as well and the players have done. They will have a couple of days off over the weekend. They are pressuring me for more but I’m standing firm!”
Potter has lifted morale and intensity in training sessions. He is building the team in his image and will be backed by the board this summer. Jonathan David, the Lille forward and long-time transfer target, is among the many options West Ham have lined up. Signing a striker is still a priority, despite Evan Ferguson’s arrival on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion. The forward, whose deal does not include an obligation to buy, squandered a great opportunity from close range against Leicester to score his first goal for the club.
Anderlecht attacking midfielder Mario Stroeykens is on West Ham’s radar. So too is Brighton & Hove Albion central defender Adam Webster, who previously worked under Potter.
But uncertainty remains over the futures of Lukasz Fabianski, Vladimir Coufal, Aaron Cresswell, Michail Antonio and Danny Ings, all of whom are out of contract this summer. Fabianski recently lost the No 1 jersey to Alphonse Areola, Fulham made multiple offers for Coufal on deadline day, Cresswell has featured heavily under Potter, Antonio is rehabbing from a broken leg and Ings remains a peripheral figure.
Towards the end of the January transfer window, Potter stated repeatedly that whoever joins needs to be a good fit.
Until then, his focus will be on improving captain Jarrod Bowen, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jean-Clair Todibo, Soucek and the returning Lucas Paqueta. The quartet will be key in helping them climb the table further.
Bowen continues to showcase why he is one of the best players outside the ‘big six’, Wan-Bissaka’s form merits senior England recognition, Todibo’s composure on the ball has been key to the marked defensive improvement, while Soucek remains the heart and soul of the midfield. The Czech, who registered his sixth league goal of the season on his 30th birthday, outlined his ambition.
“We’ve shown team spirit in the last two games,” he told TNT Sports. “The first half was a very good performance but we made a few mistakes in the second half. But we won, it’s a great result and it will help our manager believe what we are doing, so we are grateful for it. It’s been a tough season but we want to finish as high as possible. Big teams like Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are around us. We want to do better than Tottenham, given our rivalry.”
Potter allowed himself a faint smile when talking about West Ham’s improvement. This team has potential and with the right additions this summer, the supporters’ wishes for Europe may come true once more.