Tuesday News (includes West Ham)

[Alan]

BBC

Liverpool and England full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, 26, has agreed terms with Real Madrid on a five-year contract and will join the Spanish giants on a free. (Sky Sports Switzerland - in French), external

Real are also keeping tabs on 22-year-old Athletic Bilbao and Spain winger Nico Williams, who has a 62m euro (£51.8m) release clause, in case Brazil star Vinicius Jr, 24, is tempted by a big-money move to Saudi Arabia. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

Manchester United are planning to let as many as 10 players - including England forward Marcus Rashford, 27, and 33-year-old Brazil midfielder Casemiro - leave the club permanently this summer. (Manchester Evening News), external

United are also looking at Fenerbahce's Yusuf Akcicek, 19, in their search for another centre-back, though Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Napoli and RB Leipzig are also interested in the Turkey international. (Mirror), external

Barcelona are eyeing a move for Newcastle and Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali, 24, as well as a potential bid for his club team-mate, Swedish striker Alexander Isak, 25. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish)

English defender Jarrad Branthwaite, 22, is considering his future at Everton amid interest from Manchester United and Liverpool. (Mirro, externalr), external

Tottenham Hotspur have made an early offer for Sunderland's highly-rated midfielder Chris Rigg before the summer transfer window, with a bid of £37m for the 17-year-old Englishman. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

Barcelona and the Netherlands midfielder Frenkie de Jong wants to stay at the club and is in talks over a new contract, with the 27-year-old's current deal ending in 2026. (NY Times - subscription required), external

The future of Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos, 20, at Chelsea is uncertain, but he hopes to reunite with international team-mate Estevao Willian at the London club after his loan spell with Strasbourg. Willian, 17, will join the Blues in July from Palmeiras. (Evening Standard), external

Former Liverpool and Rangers winger Ryan Kent is in advanced talks to join Major League Soccer side Seattle Sounders. The 28-year-old Englishman is a free agent after leaving Turkish outfit Fenerbahce last October. (Sounder at Heart, external)




Sky Paper Talk

THE SUN

Manchester United's Andre Onana looks set for Saudi Arabia leaving Ruben Amorim eyeing two of Europe's hottest young keepers with Royal Antwerp's Senne Lammens and Lille's Lucas Chevalier on Man Utd's radar.

Thomas Tuchel could be heading to Barcelona for his first away game as England manager, with the Three Lions set to play Andorra away there in a World Cup qualifier on June 7.

THE ATHLETIC

Chelsea will have to pay Manchester United £5m if they do not turn Jadon Sancho's loan into a permanent deal in summer. The winger left Old Trafford on a temporary basis in a deal with a buy obligation worth up to £25m - but Chelsea can opt out for a set fee.

Former Manchester City star Edin Dzeko looked almost unrecognisable in a photo he shared online following facial injuries during the international break.

DAILY MAIL

Everton held a successful test evacuation of their new stadium on Sunday, as it emerged that only two per cent of the £800m cost of building it came through public money.

Costa Rican outfit Alajuelense are emerging as a candidate to replace Club Leon in this summer's Club World Cup, according to a report.

Welsh top-flight outfit Barry Town have claimed they were unaware of midfielder Evan Press' conviction for dealing cocaine until 30 minutes after his sentencing.

DAILY MIRROR

Liverpool could use their sought-after winger Ben Doak as bait to land Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.

The Manchester United fan who was once the scourge of the Glazers has written to Sir Jim Ratcliffe to demand clarification on his plans for the club.

THE TIMES

Jean-Philippe Mateta is in contention to return to action against Fulham in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday when the Crystal Palace striker will wear a specially made mask to protect his left ear.

DAILY TELEGRAPH

Aston Villa centre-back Tyrone Mings is set to land a stunning role on the board of directors for Euro 2028 and will combine playing Premier League football with organising the tournament in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

A pitch-side confrontation in which a fan allegedly attempted to punch Wrexham captain James McClean will be scrutinised by the Football Association.

Formula 1 nostalgists could be celebrating the return of screaming V10s with a return to naturally aspirated engines now being actively discussed between teams and the FIA.

Red Bull are understood to be considering switching rookie Liam Lawson with Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda as early as the next race weekend in Suzuka.

Sergio Garcia has suffered his fair share of Open Championship heartache over the past three decades and on Sunday the two-time runner-up penned a new painful chapter in this torrid story of close calls.

THE GUARDIAN

English grassroots clubs have been urged to respond to the "severe failures" of leading officials by voting in favour of Bill Sweeney's removal as chief executive of the Rugby Football Union at a special general meeting (SGM) on Thursday.

DAILY RECORD

Philippe Clement is reportedly a leading candidate to become manager of Anderlecht next season.

Hibs are interested in Walsall defender Oisin McEntee.





Sport Witness

Vladimír Coufal on West Ham frustration, great Fulham offer, and Everton transfer

By Naveen Ullal

West Ham United’s Vladimír Coufal has left the door open to join Everton after being frustrated over a failed move to Fulham.

The right-back is currently with the Czech Republic, preparing for the World Cup qualifier against Gibraltar later today.

Tuesday’s edition of MF DNES has published an interview with the 32-year-old, during which he shares his frustration at West Ham.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s arrival last summer saw the Czech Republic international struggle for regular game time this season. He’s made eight starts in the Premier League and his appearances were partly limited due to an injury.

“I admit that I’m sorry. My position is not ideal, and I need to know where I am. Due to poor results, coach Lopetegui, with whom I started to talk, left. He was fired when I was playing in the starting lineup against Liverpool and Manchester City. He liked my stubborn style,” he said.

The fullback’s situation hasn’t improved since the Hammers replaced Julen Lopetegui with Graham Potter in January. In fact, the current West Ham manager has moved him from his preferred position as a right-back to the heart of the defence.

“Who [Potter] immediately changed the formation and moved me from the side of the defence to the centre-back, which is a position I’ve never played. Despite that, I think I managed those games. But then I wouldn’t have played anyway, and I got injured,” Coufal explained.

The defender explained Fulham tried to sign him on deadline day of the winter market, when he was on the pitch for 72 minutes in West Ham’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.

“I’m torn about all this because West Ham didn’t let me go to Fulham on deadline day. I guess not many people know about this,” he added.

“In the dressing room after the match [against Chelsea], I look at my phone and there are four missed calls from my agent. Plus, a message: Call me immediately.”

Coufal was then asked if his agent Karol Kisel was impatient, to which he replied: “Fulham offered great conditions. Karol asked: Would you like it? And I said: Why not, if there’s no use at West Ham.”

A move to Fulham would have seen him continue to live in London, but West Ham weren’t keen on sanctioning his exit. This had ‘annoyed’ the experienced right-back.

“I’ll be 33 and it made sense to me, although I love West Ham and could imagine finishing my career there,” Coufal said.

“As for Fulham, I would stay in the Premier League and even in London. We really like it there. My son has started playing in the West Ham academy and is doing better than I expected. My daughter will be going to school next year. How do I explain to them that we are moving to a completely different place? That is why I need to hear from West Ham so that I can consider what to do next.”

MF DNES pointed out there’s been a talk of Everton interest, where former West Ham manager David Moyes is currently in charge.

On a potential move to Everton as a free agent in the summer, he said: “When I am free, anything can happen. But my priority is England, the best league in the world. I want to prove to myself week after week that I have what it takes.”

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