Tuesday News (includes West Ham)
Posted: 11 Mar 2025, 11:16
BBC
Chelsea are preparing to step up their pursuit of Manchester United's England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, 19, as doubts grow over the long-term fitness of the Blues' Belgium midfielder Romeo Lavia, 21. (CaughtOffside), external
AC Milan are considering a summer move for Crystal Palace's England left-back Tyrick Mitchell, 25, as they prepare for the departure of France left-back Theo Hernandez, 27. (Teamtalk), external
Manchester City's former England midfielder Kalvin Phillips, 29, could return to Leeds this summer after spending this term on loan at Ipswich. (Sun), external
Manchester City are actively monitoring Real Madrid's France midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, 22. (Florian Plettenberg), external
Arsenal are plotting a potential move for Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, 27, from Newcastle. (Football Insider), external
Manchester United are considering a summer move for Porto's 20-year-old Spain forward Samu Aghehowa, who has a release clause of about £84m. (GiveMeSport), external
Ademola Lookman is expected to leave Atalanta this summer and the Nigeria forward, 27, is open to a Premier League return amid links with Chelsea and Arsenal. (Teamtalk), external
Liverpool are contemplating whether to make a move for Brighton's Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke, 24. (GiveMeSport), external
Al-Riyadh, FC Dallas and Wolves are among the clubs showing an interest in 32-year-old England centre-back Michael Keane, whose Everton contract expires this summer. (Mail)
Everton, Marseille and Sevilla are interested in Rangers' Moroccan striker Hamza Igamane, 22. (Ekrem Konur), external
AC Milan's Fikayo Tomori remains on the market after almost joining Juventus and Tottenham in January, and the England centre-back is available for about 20m euros (£16.8m). (Calciomercato - in Italian), external
Theo Hernandez could leave AC Milan this summer for a fee of about 30m euros (£25m). The France defender is out of contract in 2026 and could be available after a run of poor form. (Calciomercato - in Italian, external)
Brighton's Sweden midfielder Yasin Ayari, 21, is attracting interest from Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan. (Football Insider), external
Everton will seek to reduce Mali midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure's wages in a renewed contract after declining to activate the 32-year-old's one-year extension clause. (Football Insider), external
Paul Pogba's ban ends this week but despite receiving several offers, the former France midfielder, 31, is yet to decide where to resume his career after leaving Juventus. (L'Equipe - in French), external
Scottish striker Robbie Ure, 21, will be traveling to Sweden in order to complete a move from Anderlecht to IK Sirius. (Fabrizio Romano)
Sky Paper Talk
TALKSPORT
Manchester United will announce plans to build a new 100,000-seater stadium on Tuesday. The project is expected to cost £2bn and, if built, would become the UK's biggest stadium.
THE SUN
Newcastle's plans for a new stadium could see them having the second-biggest ground in the Premier League - behind another proposed ground.
Martin Keown is desperate for Ethan Nwaneri not to get an England call-up this month over fears of fatigue.
Peter Schmeichel was spotted consoling struggling striker Rasmus Hojlund outside Old Trafford.
Eddie Hearn leapt to Jake Paul's defence amid the collapse of his Canelo Alvarez fight - and even compared himself to the YouTube star.
Ruben Amorim has a new attacking threat at his disposal following a successful "tweak" to his Manchester United side against Arsenal.
Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has claimed that Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee is not good enough to play for the national team.
Kalvin Phillips could be set for a fairytale return to Leeds as the club plan for life in the Premier League.
Louis Buffon, the son of Italy legend Gianluigi Buffon, made his professional debut for Serie B side Pisa - with the 17-year-old handed his first senior minutes by Gianluigi's former team-mate and Pisa boss Filippo Inzaghi.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
England's top sides are being put off expanding their multi-club plans in Europe amid the threat of more chaos surrounding Champions League and Europa League qualification.
DAILY STAR
Former England boss Fabio Capello has unleashed a tirade against Pep Guardiola - claiming the Manchester City manager has inflicted "tremendous damage to football".
THE TIMES
Lord's is set to generate nearly £4m less in revenue for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship final after India's failure to qualify.
THE ATHLETIC
Just days after Formula 1 and the FIA approved General Motors and TWG Motorsports' application for Cadillac to join the 2026 grid, team principal Graeme Lowdon said the team is now "able to have meaningful conversations" with potential drivers.
DAILY MAIL
Everton defender Michael Keane has several clubs around the world keeping tabs on his situation with him likely to leave the club this summer.
DAILY RECORD
Celtic ran the rule over Dundee United's Owen Stirton last weekend.
Lewis Ferguson and Nathan Patterson are set to make their Scotland returns for the Nations League play-off with Greece.
Rangers have issued 26.7 million new shares which should bank the club around £5.3m.
Shanghai Port boss Kevin Muscat has played down talk over his future amid fresh speculation over a move to Rangers.
SCOTTISH SUN
Ipswich striker George Hirst is being made to sweat over his first Scotland call-up.
Guardian
Newcastle close in on top four after Guimarães pounces to see off West Ham
Jacob Steinberg at the London Stadium
This was Newcastle United dealing with a routine chore with maximum efficiency. The exciting stuff, they hope, comes when they return to London with hopes of ending their long wait for silverware this weekend. The Carabao Cup final approaches and, for all that this performance will not have sent a shiver down Liverpool’s spine, Eddie Howe was entitled to dwell on the positives after his side boosted their hopes of Champions League qualification with a professional victory over West Ham.
It was vital that spirits were lifted after last week’s exit from the FA Cup was compounded by a handful of key players being ruled out against Liverpool. That made the avoidance of further injuries highly welcome, while a first clean sheet in over a month was satisfying before Newcastle plot how to keep Mohamed Salah quiet. Howe, though, will not get carried away. Liverpool will pose far more questions than a limited, cautious West Ham attack managed here. Newcastle, who were clearly holding back at times, did not have to do much beyond wait for Bruno Guimarães to score the goal that lifted them two points off fourth place.
“A massive win,” Howe said. “One of our best games of the season. I thought we dug in, we were disciplined. We defended our goal magnificently. We’ve had a challenging week. It’s a brilliant response. It’s exactly what we needed. We needed the players to empty the tank.”
Howe went on to praise Guimarães, who has come under fire in recent weeks. “Bruno’s been brilliant for us,” he said. “He stands up in the big moments.” Guimarães then produced some big talk, saying the final is “like the World Cup” for Newcastle. “We want to make history for this club,” Newcastle’s captain said.
A night that began with the home fans paying tribute to Michail Antonio, who made an emotional appearance three months after breaking a leg in a horrific car crash, saw West Ham in a deceptively dangerous mood early on. Newcastle, their defence shorn of key personnel, had a scare when Mohammed Kudus exposed Fabian Schär inside the first minute. The Ghanaian’s wicked delivery exposed holes left by Sven Botman’s absence with a knee injury but Tino Livramento atoned for a dozy attempt at a clearance by forcing Tomas Soucek to shoot over.
Livramento was in at left-back for Lewis Hall, sidelined for the rest of the campaign, and West Ham sought opportunities down his flank. Another attack followed, Jarrod Bowen the instigator this time, Dan Burn almost turning the forward’s cross into his own net.
Yet West Ham’s aggression subsided. Newcastle asserted themselves, even if thoughts often drifted to Wembley. Harvey Barnes, desperate to prove he can provide solutions on the left with Anthony Gordon suspended, tested Alphonse Areola when he flicked Kieran Trippier’s shot goalwards.
The mood was tepid. Newcastle probed patiently, Guimarães and Sandro Tonali clever in midfield, and advanced into decent crossing positions. West Ham responded with flashes from Kudus and Bowen, who shot at Nick Pope after a slip from Livramento. Areola pushed away a header from Barnes.
Newcastle, who fretted at Tonali needing treatment after being caught by James Ward-Prowse, laboured. West Ham squeezed the space with a compact back five but they too lacked conviction in attack. Kudus was timid and tackled by Trippier when clean through. “It’s not quite happening for him,” Graham Potter said of a forward who has gone 12 games without a goal.
An issue for West Ham has been adapting to Potter’s shift to a more considered style of play. It is a necessary departure from the disorder of Julen Lopetegui’s reign, a way to protect a team woefully short of speed, but it has come at the expense of attacking ingenuity. With a midfield of Edson Álvarez, Ward-Prowse and Soucek providing zero dynamism or invention, Kudus and Bowen are doing a lot of heavy lifting. For Potter, the challenge for the rest of the season is working out how to strengthen in the summer.
West Ham, who are in little danger of going down, meandered. Newcastle stirred, forcing Areola into acrobatics to prevent Max Kilman scoring an own goal. Alexander Isak turned the rebound over but the visitors were playing with more belief. They pushed again and Barnes dinked an inviting cross to the far post for Guimarães, who escaped Ollie Scarles and poked past Areola from close range. Isak, with a little shove on Kilman, had cleared the path for his teammate. “It’s clear,” Potter said. “It’s two hands on the back.”
Potter’s complaints fell on deaf ears. He responded by throwing on Lucas Paquetá, Carlos Soler and Evan Ferguson. Paquetá tried to release Bowen, who appealed for a penalty after tangling with Guimarães. West Ham, beaten in three of five home games under Potter, were shut out. They did nothing; Newcastle did enough.
The Athletic
Graham Potter wants to rebuild West Ham’s midfield – Monday night’s game showed why
By Roshane Thomas
Graham Potter wants to strengthen West Ham United’s midfield this summer — defeat to Newcastle United on Monday night gave him plenty of reasons to make it a priority.
The midfield trio of Tomas Soucek, Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse were ineffective in the 1-0 loss. Soucek squandered a great chance in the opening minute and Alvarez was substituted after the hour mark following a frustrating night. He occasionally found himself in good attacking areas, but his offensive limitations were highlighted as he struggled to carve out opportunities for captain Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus.
Ward-Prowse has slotted in well since returning from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest. Potter values the ex-Southampton captain, but seldom did he use his passing ability to good effect against Newcastle (highlighted by his lack of connections to West Ham’s attacking players in their passing network below).
Potter brought on Carlos Soler, who is on a season-long loan from Paris Saint-Germain, but his performances are akin to a rosebud that has never properly flowered. It is why West Ham have no intention of converting his loan into a permanent deal this summer. After all, the midfielder has a paltry return of one goal and one assist in 23 league appearances.
Newcastle’s midfield three, however, comprised the indefatigable Joelinton, the combative Sandro Tonali, and match-winner Bruno Guimaraes. They were equipped to unlock an extra gear in Newcastle’s attack, often spearheaded by Guimaraes — while West Ham would be remiss at not identifying a midfielder who could produce an authoritative performance like Tonali.
Their list of summer targets includes Lille midfielder Angel Gomes. Now 24 and an England international, Gomes left Manchester United as an inexperienced youngster in August 2020. His contract is set to expire at the end of the season and he is keen for a return to the Premier League. He made his England debut in September against the Republic of Ireland and has earned four caps.
Gomes plays in a deep-lying playmaker role for Lille. He has registered two goals and one assist across 20 appearances this season. In the 2023-24 campaign, he showcased his creativity by amassing eight assists across 31 Ligue 1 appearances. In an interview with The Athletic in 2023, he outlined how he can play in various midfield positions, but during a recent interview with L’Equipe, he explained why he enjoys providing for his team-mates.
“Don’t get me wrong, I like to score goals,” he said. “It’s a great feeling, but I prefer an assist because behind an assist, there is a lot of thinking. It is very precise. Sometimes it seems simple, but when you’re on the pitch, you understand the difficulty in finding the right angle, the right timing. I like this kind of work, the calculation behind it. That’s the story of my game.”
From a West Ham perspective, the only real highlight from the match was Michail Antonio’s visit to the London Stadium. He received a warm reception from fans as he was presented on the pitch three months after his car crash. But after fans applauded a club legend, their mood shifted to frustration due to the ponderous display. Potter named an unchanged XI for the third consecutive game, but there was no understanding in the centre of the field.
West Ham’s midfield options are Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Alvarez, Soler, Andy Irving, Lucas Paqueta, Lewis Orford and Guido Rodriguez. Irving was not in the matchday squad against Newcastle, Paqueta returned to the bench having missed victories against Arsenal and Leicester City with an ankle injury, Orford, who made his first-team debut against Crystal Palace in January, has mainly featured for the under-21s, while Rodriguez has been an unused substitute in West Ham’s last seven games.
Aside from identifying Gomes as a potential No 6, Potter needs a midfielder capable of scoring five or more goals a season. Soucek has achieved this in four of his five seasons at West Ham. Paqueta scored five goals in his debut season in 2022-23, eight the following campaign and has five this term. Ward-Prowse’s set-piece threat is well known, but he has not scored a direct free kick for two years.
Previously, West Ham could call on goalscoring midfielders Kevin Nolan, now the Northampton Town manager, Mark Noble, the club legend and sporting director, and, to a lesser degree, Declan Rice. Nolan brimmed with confidence at driving forward, Noble’s composure on penalties was key, and Rice showed signs of developing into a box-to-box midfielder.
The Arsenal and Leicester wins masked the need for midfield reinforcements. A summer rebuild is required, even after an expenditure of over £120million ($155m) last year.
“I apologise if things aren’t happening quicker than we want them to be, but when you see the players give everything, that (commitment) is there,” Potter told West Ham’s website after the game. “James Ward-Prowse was fantastic, covering such an amount of ground, Tomas and Edson are working hard and Ollie Scarles was (out) on his feet at the end.
“Players are giving everything, so that’s a real strong starting point, a strong foundation. We need that. Today’s a sore one because we wanted to get something from the game, but that’s life sometimes.”
Chelsea are preparing to step up their pursuit of Manchester United's England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, 19, as doubts grow over the long-term fitness of the Blues' Belgium midfielder Romeo Lavia, 21. (CaughtOffside), external
AC Milan are considering a summer move for Crystal Palace's England left-back Tyrick Mitchell, 25, as they prepare for the departure of France left-back Theo Hernandez, 27. (Teamtalk), external
Manchester City's former England midfielder Kalvin Phillips, 29, could return to Leeds this summer after spending this term on loan at Ipswich. (Sun), external
Manchester City are actively monitoring Real Madrid's France midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, 22. (Florian Plettenberg), external
Arsenal are plotting a potential move for Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, 27, from Newcastle. (Football Insider), external
Manchester United are considering a summer move for Porto's 20-year-old Spain forward Samu Aghehowa, who has a release clause of about £84m. (GiveMeSport), external
Ademola Lookman is expected to leave Atalanta this summer and the Nigeria forward, 27, is open to a Premier League return amid links with Chelsea and Arsenal. (Teamtalk), external
Liverpool are contemplating whether to make a move for Brighton's Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke, 24. (GiveMeSport), external
Al-Riyadh, FC Dallas and Wolves are among the clubs showing an interest in 32-year-old England centre-back Michael Keane, whose Everton contract expires this summer. (Mail)
Everton, Marseille and Sevilla are interested in Rangers' Moroccan striker Hamza Igamane, 22. (Ekrem Konur), external
AC Milan's Fikayo Tomori remains on the market after almost joining Juventus and Tottenham in January, and the England centre-back is available for about 20m euros (£16.8m). (Calciomercato - in Italian), external
Theo Hernandez could leave AC Milan this summer for a fee of about 30m euros (£25m). The France defender is out of contract in 2026 and could be available after a run of poor form. (Calciomercato - in Italian, external)
Brighton's Sweden midfielder Yasin Ayari, 21, is attracting interest from Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan. (Football Insider), external
Everton will seek to reduce Mali midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure's wages in a renewed contract after declining to activate the 32-year-old's one-year extension clause. (Football Insider), external
Paul Pogba's ban ends this week but despite receiving several offers, the former France midfielder, 31, is yet to decide where to resume his career after leaving Juventus. (L'Equipe - in French), external
Scottish striker Robbie Ure, 21, will be traveling to Sweden in order to complete a move from Anderlecht to IK Sirius. (Fabrizio Romano)
Sky Paper Talk
TALKSPORT
Manchester United will announce plans to build a new 100,000-seater stadium on Tuesday. The project is expected to cost £2bn and, if built, would become the UK's biggest stadium.
THE SUN
Newcastle's plans for a new stadium could see them having the second-biggest ground in the Premier League - behind another proposed ground.
Martin Keown is desperate for Ethan Nwaneri not to get an England call-up this month over fears of fatigue.
Peter Schmeichel was spotted consoling struggling striker Rasmus Hojlund outside Old Trafford.
Eddie Hearn leapt to Jake Paul's defence amid the collapse of his Canelo Alvarez fight - and even compared himself to the YouTube star.
Ruben Amorim has a new attacking threat at his disposal following a successful "tweak" to his Manchester United side against Arsenal.
Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has claimed that Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee is not good enough to play for the national team.
Kalvin Phillips could be set for a fairytale return to Leeds as the club plan for life in the Premier League.
Louis Buffon, the son of Italy legend Gianluigi Buffon, made his professional debut for Serie B side Pisa - with the 17-year-old handed his first senior minutes by Gianluigi's former team-mate and Pisa boss Filippo Inzaghi.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
England's top sides are being put off expanding their multi-club plans in Europe amid the threat of more chaos surrounding Champions League and Europa League qualification.
DAILY STAR
Former England boss Fabio Capello has unleashed a tirade against Pep Guardiola - claiming the Manchester City manager has inflicted "tremendous damage to football".
THE TIMES
Lord's is set to generate nearly £4m less in revenue for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship final after India's failure to qualify.
THE ATHLETIC
Just days after Formula 1 and the FIA approved General Motors and TWG Motorsports' application for Cadillac to join the 2026 grid, team principal Graeme Lowdon said the team is now "able to have meaningful conversations" with potential drivers.
DAILY MAIL
Everton defender Michael Keane has several clubs around the world keeping tabs on his situation with him likely to leave the club this summer.
DAILY RECORD
Celtic ran the rule over Dundee United's Owen Stirton last weekend.
Lewis Ferguson and Nathan Patterson are set to make their Scotland returns for the Nations League play-off with Greece.
Rangers have issued 26.7 million new shares which should bank the club around £5.3m.
Shanghai Port boss Kevin Muscat has played down talk over his future amid fresh speculation over a move to Rangers.
SCOTTISH SUN
Ipswich striker George Hirst is being made to sweat over his first Scotland call-up.
Guardian
Newcastle close in on top four after Guimarães pounces to see off West Ham
Jacob Steinberg at the London Stadium
This was Newcastle United dealing with a routine chore with maximum efficiency. The exciting stuff, they hope, comes when they return to London with hopes of ending their long wait for silverware this weekend. The Carabao Cup final approaches and, for all that this performance will not have sent a shiver down Liverpool’s spine, Eddie Howe was entitled to dwell on the positives after his side boosted their hopes of Champions League qualification with a professional victory over West Ham.
It was vital that spirits were lifted after last week’s exit from the FA Cup was compounded by a handful of key players being ruled out against Liverpool. That made the avoidance of further injuries highly welcome, while a first clean sheet in over a month was satisfying before Newcastle plot how to keep Mohamed Salah quiet. Howe, though, will not get carried away. Liverpool will pose far more questions than a limited, cautious West Ham attack managed here. Newcastle, who were clearly holding back at times, did not have to do much beyond wait for Bruno Guimarães to score the goal that lifted them two points off fourth place.
“A massive win,” Howe said. “One of our best games of the season. I thought we dug in, we were disciplined. We defended our goal magnificently. We’ve had a challenging week. It’s a brilliant response. It’s exactly what we needed. We needed the players to empty the tank.”
Howe went on to praise Guimarães, who has come under fire in recent weeks. “Bruno’s been brilliant for us,” he said. “He stands up in the big moments.” Guimarães then produced some big talk, saying the final is “like the World Cup” for Newcastle. “We want to make history for this club,” Newcastle’s captain said.
A night that began with the home fans paying tribute to Michail Antonio, who made an emotional appearance three months after breaking a leg in a horrific car crash, saw West Ham in a deceptively dangerous mood early on. Newcastle, their defence shorn of key personnel, had a scare when Mohammed Kudus exposed Fabian Schär inside the first minute. The Ghanaian’s wicked delivery exposed holes left by Sven Botman’s absence with a knee injury but Tino Livramento atoned for a dozy attempt at a clearance by forcing Tomas Soucek to shoot over.
Livramento was in at left-back for Lewis Hall, sidelined for the rest of the campaign, and West Ham sought opportunities down his flank. Another attack followed, Jarrod Bowen the instigator this time, Dan Burn almost turning the forward’s cross into his own net.
Yet West Ham’s aggression subsided. Newcastle asserted themselves, even if thoughts often drifted to Wembley. Harvey Barnes, desperate to prove he can provide solutions on the left with Anthony Gordon suspended, tested Alphonse Areola when he flicked Kieran Trippier’s shot goalwards.
The mood was tepid. Newcastle probed patiently, Guimarães and Sandro Tonali clever in midfield, and advanced into decent crossing positions. West Ham responded with flashes from Kudus and Bowen, who shot at Nick Pope after a slip from Livramento. Areola pushed away a header from Barnes.
Newcastle, who fretted at Tonali needing treatment after being caught by James Ward-Prowse, laboured. West Ham squeezed the space with a compact back five but they too lacked conviction in attack. Kudus was timid and tackled by Trippier when clean through. “It’s not quite happening for him,” Graham Potter said of a forward who has gone 12 games without a goal.
An issue for West Ham has been adapting to Potter’s shift to a more considered style of play. It is a necessary departure from the disorder of Julen Lopetegui’s reign, a way to protect a team woefully short of speed, but it has come at the expense of attacking ingenuity. With a midfield of Edson Álvarez, Ward-Prowse and Soucek providing zero dynamism or invention, Kudus and Bowen are doing a lot of heavy lifting. For Potter, the challenge for the rest of the season is working out how to strengthen in the summer.
West Ham, who are in little danger of going down, meandered. Newcastle stirred, forcing Areola into acrobatics to prevent Max Kilman scoring an own goal. Alexander Isak turned the rebound over but the visitors were playing with more belief. They pushed again and Barnes dinked an inviting cross to the far post for Guimarães, who escaped Ollie Scarles and poked past Areola from close range. Isak, with a little shove on Kilman, had cleared the path for his teammate. “It’s clear,” Potter said. “It’s two hands on the back.”
Potter’s complaints fell on deaf ears. He responded by throwing on Lucas Paquetá, Carlos Soler and Evan Ferguson. Paquetá tried to release Bowen, who appealed for a penalty after tangling with Guimarães. West Ham, beaten in three of five home games under Potter, were shut out. They did nothing; Newcastle did enough.
The Athletic
Graham Potter wants to rebuild West Ham’s midfield – Monday night’s game showed why
By Roshane Thomas
Graham Potter wants to strengthen West Ham United’s midfield this summer — defeat to Newcastle United on Monday night gave him plenty of reasons to make it a priority.
The midfield trio of Tomas Soucek, Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse were ineffective in the 1-0 loss. Soucek squandered a great chance in the opening minute and Alvarez was substituted after the hour mark following a frustrating night. He occasionally found himself in good attacking areas, but his offensive limitations were highlighted as he struggled to carve out opportunities for captain Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus.
Ward-Prowse has slotted in well since returning from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest. Potter values the ex-Southampton captain, but seldom did he use his passing ability to good effect against Newcastle (highlighted by his lack of connections to West Ham’s attacking players in their passing network below).
Potter brought on Carlos Soler, who is on a season-long loan from Paris Saint-Germain, but his performances are akin to a rosebud that has never properly flowered. It is why West Ham have no intention of converting his loan into a permanent deal this summer. After all, the midfielder has a paltry return of one goal and one assist in 23 league appearances.
Newcastle’s midfield three, however, comprised the indefatigable Joelinton, the combative Sandro Tonali, and match-winner Bruno Guimaraes. They were equipped to unlock an extra gear in Newcastle’s attack, often spearheaded by Guimaraes — while West Ham would be remiss at not identifying a midfielder who could produce an authoritative performance like Tonali.
Their list of summer targets includes Lille midfielder Angel Gomes. Now 24 and an England international, Gomes left Manchester United as an inexperienced youngster in August 2020. His contract is set to expire at the end of the season and he is keen for a return to the Premier League. He made his England debut in September against the Republic of Ireland and has earned four caps.
Gomes plays in a deep-lying playmaker role for Lille. He has registered two goals and one assist across 20 appearances this season. In the 2023-24 campaign, he showcased his creativity by amassing eight assists across 31 Ligue 1 appearances. In an interview with The Athletic in 2023, he outlined how he can play in various midfield positions, but during a recent interview with L’Equipe, he explained why he enjoys providing for his team-mates.
“Don’t get me wrong, I like to score goals,” he said. “It’s a great feeling, but I prefer an assist because behind an assist, there is a lot of thinking. It is very precise. Sometimes it seems simple, but when you’re on the pitch, you understand the difficulty in finding the right angle, the right timing. I like this kind of work, the calculation behind it. That’s the story of my game.”
From a West Ham perspective, the only real highlight from the match was Michail Antonio’s visit to the London Stadium. He received a warm reception from fans as he was presented on the pitch three months after his car crash. But after fans applauded a club legend, their mood shifted to frustration due to the ponderous display. Potter named an unchanged XI for the third consecutive game, but there was no understanding in the centre of the field.
West Ham’s midfield options are Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Alvarez, Soler, Andy Irving, Lucas Paqueta, Lewis Orford and Guido Rodriguez. Irving was not in the matchday squad against Newcastle, Paqueta returned to the bench having missed victories against Arsenal and Leicester City with an ankle injury, Orford, who made his first-team debut against Crystal Palace in January, has mainly featured for the under-21s, while Rodriguez has been an unused substitute in West Ham’s last seven games.
Aside from identifying Gomes as a potential No 6, Potter needs a midfielder capable of scoring five or more goals a season. Soucek has achieved this in four of his five seasons at West Ham. Paqueta scored five goals in his debut season in 2022-23, eight the following campaign and has five this term. Ward-Prowse’s set-piece threat is well known, but he has not scored a direct free kick for two years.
Previously, West Ham could call on goalscoring midfielders Kevin Nolan, now the Northampton Town manager, Mark Noble, the club legend and sporting director, and, to a lesser degree, Declan Rice. Nolan brimmed with confidence at driving forward, Noble’s composure on penalties was key, and Rice showed signs of developing into a box-to-box midfielder.
The Arsenal and Leicester wins masked the need for midfield reinforcements. A summer rebuild is required, even after an expenditure of over £120million ($155m) last year.
“I apologise if things aren’t happening quicker than we want them to be, but when you see the players give everything, that (commitment) is there,” Potter told West Ham’s website after the game. “James Ward-Prowse was fantastic, covering such an amount of ground, Tomas and Edson are working hard and Ollie Scarles was (out) on his feet at the end.
“Players are giving everything, so that’s a real strong starting point, a strong foundation. We need that. Today’s a sore one because we wanted to get something from the game, but that’s life sometimes.”