Wednesday news (includes West ham)
Posted: 12 Mar 2025, 09:22
BBC
Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are interested in a summer move for Manchester United and Portugal defender Diogo Dalot, 25. (Teamtalk), external
Liverpool are considering a move for Borussia Dortmund's 25-year-old Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck, who they see as a potential long-term replacement for Virgil van Dijk. (Bild - in German), external
Liverpool, Manchester City or Arsenal would be Viktor Gyokeres' preferred destination if the 26-year-old Sweden striker leaves Sporting this summer. (A Bola - in Portuguese), external
Arsenal are in pole position ahead of Barcelona to sign Espanyol's 23-year-old Spanish goalkeeper Joan Garcia. (Cadena Ser - in Spanish), external
Manchester United might make a move for Dusan Vlahovic as Juventus are willing to lower their £35m asking price for the 25-year-old Serbia striker. (Givemesport)
Tottenham have opened talks with Angel Gomes over a free transfer move when the 24-year-old England midfielder's Lille contract expires this summer. (Football Transfers), external
Manchester United are leading the race for Rosario's 18-year-old Argentina Under-20s defender Juan Gimenez. (Football Insider), external
Liverpool have started to explore a deal for Bournemouth's 21-year-old Hungary full-back Milos Kerkez. (Teamtalk), external
Leeds have a verbal agreement to re-sign 29-year-old England midfielder Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City, subject to the Whites earning promotion to the Premier League. (Teamtalk), external
Newcastle are plotting a move for Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap, 22, as the Englishman wants to stay in the Premier League amid his current club's struggles. (Football Insider), external
Turkish teenager Arda Guler wants to leave Real Madrid as he continues to struggle for game time, with Inter Milan and AC Milan reportedly interested in the 20-year-old midfielder. (Sport - in Spanish)
Sky Paper Talk
DAILY MAIL
Liverpool are reportedly 'very interested' in signing Borussia Dortmund centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck as a potential successor to Virgil van Dijk.
Sporting Lisbon's in-demand striker Viktor Gyokeres is reportedly interested in joining three Premier League clubs this summer.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was spotted deep in conversation with two PSG chiefs after the Reds were knocked out of the Champions League by the French outfit.
Jean-Philippe Mateta has returned to first-team training for the first time since being on the end of a horror tackle that left him hospitalised and requiring 26 stitches.
There is still a possibility that Jadon Sancho could end up back at Old Trafford this summer if Chelsea decide not to go through with their obligation to buy deal - although it would cost what insiders say is 'a significant penalty' to pull out under the terms of their loan agreement with Manchester United.
Chelsea are believed to be looking at a number of wingers this summer, including exciting Real Betis talent Jesus Rodriguez.
Manchester United are likely to take a big hit this summer as they look to refresh a squad full of expensive stars on big salaries.
Manchester United could bank as little as £20m from selling Marcus Rashford this summer.
THE SUN
Alexis Mac Allister was pelted with missiles from the away end while taking a corner in their Champions League penalty defeat against Paris Saint-Germain.
Feuding boxers Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn have clashed again ahead of their Best of British showdown.
THE TIMES
The UK's hopes of hosting the 2035 Women's World Cup have received a significant boost after it emerged that it is set to be the only European bid.
THE ATHLETIC
City Football Group (CFG), the holding company that oversees the multi-club ownership group spearheaded by Manchester City, recorded a £122.2m pre-tax loss in the 2023-24 season, taking CFG's combined losses since its 2013 founding to £972.8m.
Nottingham Forest have confirmed there is a possibility that work could begin on their ambitious stadium redevelopment plans next season.
William Saliba says he wants to stay and win trophies at Arsenal, as leaving before then would see the fans "forget" about him.
Sunderland posted a pre-tax loss of £8.6m in their annual accounts for the year ending July 31 2024, a figure that would have almost doubled had the club not sold striker Ross Stewart to Southampton.
DAILY MIRROR
Manchester United are set for a major squad overhaul next summer, with eight first-team players reportedly set to leave.
THE GUARDIAN
FIFA has been accused of reneging on a commitment to ensure workers' safety on World Cup projects by refusing inspectors access to observe conditions inside Mexico's Azteca Stadium.
The Philadelphia Eagles have confirmed they will visit the White House to celebrate their victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in this year's Super Bowl.
DAILY RECORD
Alex Rae has told of the heartbreaking conversation he had with Rangers chief Patrick Stewart - in which he was told he was being sacked by his beloved club.
Brian Laudrup will return to Ibrox on Thursday night to publicly support Barry Ferguson's bid to become the next Rangers boss.
Stefan Gartenmann left Aberdeen in the summer but has still remained an important player for them in the transfer market - playing a major part in Jimmy Thelin landing a couple of his top January targets.
SCOTTISH SUN
Rangers have secured a loan against future transfer fees, it has emerged.
Former Rangers kitman Jim McAlister has landed a plum new role with Steve Clarke's national team.
Mail
West Ham have the fourth worst home record in the Premier League this season - here's why they've been so poor at the London Stadium, writes JAMES SHARPE
It told you everything about the apathy that runs through the London Stadium these days that the biggest ovation of the night came before the match had even started.
Michail Antonio returned just three months after his horror car crash to be introduced to the supporters before kick-off and rightly received a hero’s welcome. They sung his name, they unfurled a huge banner in his honour, the stadium announcer hailed Antonio’s ‘strength, resilience and character’ to fight back from his hospital bed to here.
How those supporters wish they could assign similar labels to the performance from Antonio’s team-mates that followed. From the first whistle, West Ham gave them nothing to cheer about. Little strength, little resilience, little character.
Too meek, too passive. Newcastle were there for the taking. Things might have been different had Tomas Soucek finished his early chance and West Ham felt aggrieved that Bruno Guimaraes’ eventual winner was not ruled out for a push on Max Kilman but, in truth, the game was of such poor quality that even a 0-0 would have flattered both sides.
The problem for West Ham, though, is that this is no rare dip. Only the four teams below the Hammers in the Premier League table have earned fewer points at home this season, only Ipswich and Southampton have conceded more goals.
This is a team capable of winning at Arsenal under Graham Potter and at Newcastle under Julen Lopetegui. They earned a commendable draw at Villa Park under the new boss and when Potter returned to Chelsea came away defeated but with a performance that deserved more.
When was the last time fans shuffled out of the London Stadium chattering excitedly among themselves about the scintillating football they had just watched?
Certainly not when they shipped five in the first half against Arsenal. Or when they conceded another five against Liverpool. Or when Jean-Phillipe Mateta single-handedly dismantled West Ham’s defence for Crystal Palace. Or when Potter’s side produced one of the worst opening 45 minutes of the season against Brentford and somehow only lost 1-0.
West Ham have won five home games this term, more than Everton and Crystal Palace and the same as Tottenham and Fulham yet even their recent home victory against Leicester was more a story of the Foxes throwing in the relegation towel than of the Hammers dismantling a dismal side.
The only occasion this term that West Ham have dispatched an opponent on home turf was a 4-1 win over Ipswich in October.
But why are they so poor at home? So often when this question is asked, the easy answer is to point at the atmosphere at the London Stadium compared to that at Upton Park.
When you speak to Hammers fans, they tell you how often they felt they could influence results at the old place. You were close to it all, on top of the opposition, you could intimidate as well as drive your team forward.
At the London Stadium, you often feel like an audience member at an arena gig than part of the action.
In their final season at Upton Park, the Hammers won about half of their league games and only lost three. This season, they have won a third and lost more than half.
All this plays a part, from the atmosphere to the feel of the walk to the ground and the distant, forgotten smells of the burgers and onions and the sense of community.
But it’s too easy to blame it all on that, much too simple, too much of an excuse and a crutch on which to shift the spotlight from the underlying problems within the team and the club.
Because this place can rock. Anyone who was there for those European nights in recent years can attest to that. Put on a show and you’ll get a response.
It doesn’t help that the season is all-but over by March. Out of both cups and blessed to be far enough above Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton that relegation shouldn’t bother them unless something ridiculous happens.
We are now, basically, in an extended pre-season for Potter to figure out what he needs, who he wants and who he doesn’t. There’s more than a few that will sit in that final list.
For all the focus during the January transfer window of West Ham’s need for a striker, the real problems to their laboured home performances lie much further back.
This is a team with Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta and, when fit, Crysencio Summerville. There’s plenty of attacking flair, if perhaps, Bowen aside, not always the most consistent.
West Ham ship too many goals but Potter has, at least, shored them up a bit there. Before he arrived, they conceded three goals or more in nine different matches. It hasn’t happened since.
They need more from set pieces, too. West Ham have scored five goals from corners this season. Last season, under David Moyes, they scored 12 – only Arsenal managed more.
‘I apologise if things aren’t happening quicker than we want them to be,’ said Potter after the Newcastle defeat. ‘But when you see the players give everything, that commitment is there.’
The pressing issue is in midfield. They don’t have anyone in the centre of the park who can grab hold of a game and make it theirs. A great midfielder sets the tone and the tempo.
They don’t have Declan Rice any more, they don’t have Kevin Nolan or Mark Noble anymore.
Against Newcastle, Potter started with a midfield trio of Soucek, James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez. Potter praised Ward-Prowse for how much ground he covered but if West Ham are to dominate the centre of the park they need more. There’s heart and industry but there’s not the dynamism, creativity or goal threat they need.
Cole Palmer, for example, has created 71 chances for Chelsea this season and Bruno Fernandes has created 60. West Ham’s chief creator from midfield has been Paqueta with 26.
Palmer has combined for 20 goals and assists. Soucek leads the Hammers midfielders with seven. Paqueta has four.
They need someone who can split defences. Guimaraes, the match winner on Monday night, leads the way for passes completed between the lines the season – when a pass splits the opponent’s defensive structure – with 93. Paqueta leads the way for the Hammers on 53.
Potter knows this. He is desperate to strengthen his midfield options in the summer and has been linked with England midfielder Angel Gomes.
Potter has made an impression behind the scenes since he took over. Those around the club say he’s lifted the mood and made everyone feel more united and communicates clearly what he wants to see.
He’s seen flashes of it but, if he is to succeed next season, he must see more, especially at home. For that to happen, he needs to land the right man in the middle.
Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are interested in a summer move for Manchester United and Portugal defender Diogo Dalot, 25. (Teamtalk), external
Liverpool are considering a move for Borussia Dortmund's 25-year-old Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck, who they see as a potential long-term replacement for Virgil van Dijk. (Bild - in German), external
Liverpool, Manchester City or Arsenal would be Viktor Gyokeres' preferred destination if the 26-year-old Sweden striker leaves Sporting this summer. (A Bola - in Portuguese), external
Arsenal are in pole position ahead of Barcelona to sign Espanyol's 23-year-old Spanish goalkeeper Joan Garcia. (Cadena Ser - in Spanish), external
Manchester United might make a move for Dusan Vlahovic as Juventus are willing to lower their £35m asking price for the 25-year-old Serbia striker. (Givemesport)
Tottenham have opened talks with Angel Gomes over a free transfer move when the 24-year-old England midfielder's Lille contract expires this summer. (Football Transfers), external
Manchester United are leading the race for Rosario's 18-year-old Argentina Under-20s defender Juan Gimenez. (Football Insider), external
Liverpool have started to explore a deal for Bournemouth's 21-year-old Hungary full-back Milos Kerkez. (Teamtalk), external
Leeds have a verbal agreement to re-sign 29-year-old England midfielder Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City, subject to the Whites earning promotion to the Premier League. (Teamtalk), external
Newcastle are plotting a move for Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap, 22, as the Englishman wants to stay in the Premier League amid his current club's struggles. (Football Insider), external
Turkish teenager Arda Guler wants to leave Real Madrid as he continues to struggle for game time, with Inter Milan and AC Milan reportedly interested in the 20-year-old midfielder. (Sport - in Spanish)
Sky Paper Talk
DAILY MAIL
Liverpool are reportedly 'very interested' in signing Borussia Dortmund centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck as a potential successor to Virgil van Dijk.
Sporting Lisbon's in-demand striker Viktor Gyokeres is reportedly interested in joining three Premier League clubs this summer.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was spotted deep in conversation with two PSG chiefs after the Reds were knocked out of the Champions League by the French outfit.
Jean-Philippe Mateta has returned to first-team training for the first time since being on the end of a horror tackle that left him hospitalised and requiring 26 stitches.
There is still a possibility that Jadon Sancho could end up back at Old Trafford this summer if Chelsea decide not to go through with their obligation to buy deal - although it would cost what insiders say is 'a significant penalty' to pull out under the terms of their loan agreement with Manchester United.
Chelsea are believed to be looking at a number of wingers this summer, including exciting Real Betis talent Jesus Rodriguez.
Manchester United are likely to take a big hit this summer as they look to refresh a squad full of expensive stars on big salaries.
Manchester United could bank as little as £20m from selling Marcus Rashford this summer.
THE SUN
Alexis Mac Allister was pelted with missiles from the away end while taking a corner in their Champions League penalty defeat against Paris Saint-Germain.
Feuding boxers Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn have clashed again ahead of their Best of British showdown.
THE TIMES
The UK's hopes of hosting the 2035 Women's World Cup have received a significant boost after it emerged that it is set to be the only European bid.
THE ATHLETIC
City Football Group (CFG), the holding company that oversees the multi-club ownership group spearheaded by Manchester City, recorded a £122.2m pre-tax loss in the 2023-24 season, taking CFG's combined losses since its 2013 founding to £972.8m.
Nottingham Forest have confirmed there is a possibility that work could begin on their ambitious stadium redevelopment plans next season.
William Saliba says he wants to stay and win trophies at Arsenal, as leaving before then would see the fans "forget" about him.
Sunderland posted a pre-tax loss of £8.6m in their annual accounts for the year ending July 31 2024, a figure that would have almost doubled had the club not sold striker Ross Stewart to Southampton.
DAILY MIRROR
Manchester United are set for a major squad overhaul next summer, with eight first-team players reportedly set to leave.
THE GUARDIAN
FIFA has been accused of reneging on a commitment to ensure workers' safety on World Cup projects by refusing inspectors access to observe conditions inside Mexico's Azteca Stadium.
The Philadelphia Eagles have confirmed they will visit the White House to celebrate their victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in this year's Super Bowl.
DAILY RECORD
Alex Rae has told of the heartbreaking conversation he had with Rangers chief Patrick Stewart - in which he was told he was being sacked by his beloved club.
Brian Laudrup will return to Ibrox on Thursday night to publicly support Barry Ferguson's bid to become the next Rangers boss.
Stefan Gartenmann left Aberdeen in the summer but has still remained an important player for them in the transfer market - playing a major part in Jimmy Thelin landing a couple of his top January targets.
SCOTTISH SUN
Rangers have secured a loan against future transfer fees, it has emerged.
Former Rangers kitman Jim McAlister has landed a plum new role with Steve Clarke's national team.
West Ham have the fourth worst home record in the Premier League this season - here's why they've been so poor at the London Stadium, writes JAMES SHARPE
It told you everything about the apathy that runs through the London Stadium these days that the biggest ovation of the night came before the match had even started.
Michail Antonio returned just three months after his horror car crash to be introduced to the supporters before kick-off and rightly received a hero’s welcome. They sung his name, they unfurled a huge banner in his honour, the stadium announcer hailed Antonio’s ‘strength, resilience and character’ to fight back from his hospital bed to here.
How those supporters wish they could assign similar labels to the performance from Antonio’s team-mates that followed. From the first whistle, West Ham gave them nothing to cheer about. Little strength, little resilience, little character.
Too meek, too passive. Newcastle were there for the taking. Things might have been different had Tomas Soucek finished his early chance and West Ham felt aggrieved that Bruno Guimaraes’ eventual winner was not ruled out for a push on Max Kilman but, in truth, the game was of such poor quality that even a 0-0 would have flattered both sides.
The problem for West Ham, though, is that this is no rare dip. Only the four teams below the Hammers in the Premier League table have earned fewer points at home this season, only Ipswich and Southampton have conceded more goals.
This is a team capable of winning at Arsenal under Graham Potter and at Newcastle under Julen Lopetegui. They earned a commendable draw at Villa Park under the new boss and when Potter returned to Chelsea came away defeated but with a performance that deserved more.
When was the last time fans shuffled out of the London Stadium chattering excitedly among themselves about the scintillating football they had just watched?
Certainly not when they shipped five in the first half against Arsenal. Or when they conceded another five against Liverpool. Or when Jean-Phillipe Mateta single-handedly dismantled West Ham’s defence for Crystal Palace. Or when Potter’s side produced one of the worst opening 45 minutes of the season against Brentford and somehow only lost 1-0.
West Ham have won five home games this term, more than Everton and Crystal Palace and the same as Tottenham and Fulham yet even their recent home victory against Leicester was more a story of the Foxes throwing in the relegation towel than of the Hammers dismantling a dismal side.
The only occasion this term that West Ham have dispatched an opponent on home turf was a 4-1 win over Ipswich in October.
But why are they so poor at home? So often when this question is asked, the easy answer is to point at the atmosphere at the London Stadium compared to that at Upton Park.
When you speak to Hammers fans, they tell you how often they felt they could influence results at the old place. You were close to it all, on top of the opposition, you could intimidate as well as drive your team forward.
At the London Stadium, you often feel like an audience member at an arena gig than part of the action.
In their final season at Upton Park, the Hammers won about half of their league games and only lost three. This season, they have won a third and lost more than half.
All this plays a part, from the atmosphere to the feel of the walk to the ground and the distant, forgotten smells of the burgers and onions and the sense of community.
But it’s too easy to blame it all on that, much too simple, too much of an excuse and a crutch on which to shift the spotlight from the underlying problems within the team and the club.
Because this place can rock. Anyone who was there for those European nights in recent years can attest to that. Put on a show and you’ll get a response.
It doesn’t help that the season is all-but over by March. Out of both cups and blessed to be far enough above Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton that relegation shouldn’t bother them unless something ridiculous happens.
We are now, basically, in an extended pre-season for Potter to figure out what he needs, who he wants and who he doesn’t. There’s more than a few that will sit in that final list.
For all the focus during the January transfer window of West Ham’s need for a striker, the real problems to their laboured home performances lie much further back.
This is a team with Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta and, when fit, Crysencio Summerville. There’s plenty of attacking flair, if perhaps, Bowen aside, not always the most consistent.
West Ham ship too many goals but Potter has, at least, shored them up a bit there. Before he arrived, they conceded three goals or more in nine different matches. It hasn’t happened since.
They need more from set pieces, too. West Ham have scored five goals from corners this season. Last season, under David Moyes, they scored 12 – only Arsenal managed more.
‘I apologise if things aren’t happening quicker than we want them to be,’ said Potter after the Newcastle defeat. ‘But when you see the players give everything, that commitment is there.’
The pressing issue is in midfield. They don’t have anyone in the centre of the park who can grab hold of a game and make it theirs. A great midfielder sets the tone and the tempo.
They don’t have Declan Rice any more, they don’t have Kevin Nolan or Mark Noble anymore.
Against Newcastle, Potter started with a midfield trio of Soucek, James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez. Potter praised Ward-Prowse for how much ground he covered but if West Ham are to dominate the centre of the park they need more. There’s heart and industry but there’s not the dynamism, creativity or goal threat they need.
Cole Palmer, for example, has created 71 chances for Chelsea this season and Bruno Fernandes has created 60. West Ham’s chief creator from midfield has been Paqueta with 26.
Palmer has combined for 20 goals and assists. Soucek leads the Hammers midfielders with seven. Paqueta has four.
They need someone who can split defences. Guimaraes, the match winner on Monday night, leads the way for passes completed between the lines the season – when a pass splits the opponent’s defensive structure – with 93. Paqueta leads the way for the Hammers on 53.
Potter knows this. He is desperate to strengthen his midfield options in the summer and has been linked with England midfielder Angel Gomes.
Potter has made an impression behind the scenes since he took over. Those around the club say he’s lifted the mood and made everyone feel more united and communicates clearly what he wants to see.
He’s seen flashes of it but, if he is to succeed next season, he must see more, especially at home. For that to happen, he needs to land the right man in the middle.