Thursday News (includes West Ham)

[Alan]

BBC

Arsenal's new sporting director Andrea Berta met with Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams' agent in recent days to discuss a summer move for the 22-year-old Spain international. (Guardian), external

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and former Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi, who is currently with Marseille, are being considered as candidates by AC Milan. (Corriere della Sera - in Italian), external

Liverpool and Chelsea want to sign 19-year-old Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen this summer, but will face competition from Real Madrid for the £50m-rated Spain international. (Independent), external

Egypt forward Mohamed Salah, 32, is set to extend his contract with Liverpool after months of speculation. (Foot Mercato - in French), external

Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle are showing interest in Como's 19-year-old Senegal winger Assane Diao. (Caught Offside), external

Liverpool's 19-year-old Scotland forward Ben Doak, who is on loan at Middlesbrough, could move to Everton this summer in a £30m deal. (Football Insider), external

Arsenal, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest are interested in Algeria striker Mohamed Amoura, 24, who is currently on loan at Wolfsburg from Union St-Gilloise. (L'Equipe - in French), external

Juventus want to bring Newcastle's Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali to the club, with the Serie A side valuing the 24-year-old at about £70m. (Gazzetta - in Italian), external

Newcastle will renew their interest in Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi, 24, in the summer. (GiveMeSport), external

Liverpool have been in contact with representatives of Japan winger Takefusa Kubo, 23, and could make a move in the summer if Real Sociedad fail to qualify for Europe. (Teamtalk), external

Aston Villa are hoping to tie France midfielder Boubacar Kamara, 25, to a "historic" new contract to fend off interest in the summer. (Foot Mercato - in French)




Sky Paper Talk

THE INDEPENDENT

Chelsea and Liverpool are both aiming to secure the signing of Dean Huijsen this summer, although Real Madrid are monitoring the Spanish centre-half.

THE GUARDIAN

Arsenal are exploring a summer move for Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams, with Andrea Berta holding talks with the Spain forward's representatives in one of his first acts as the club's sporting director.

Reading have had a potentially significant setback in their attempt to save the club by agreeing a sale this week, with Rob Couhig rejecting a proposal from the owner, Dai Yongge, to lift his security over the Select Car Leasing Stadium and training ground.

The sports minister, Stephanie Peacock, has asked the government body responsible for elite funding, UK Sport, to investigate allegations of unlawful tender made against the British Basketball Federation.

THE SUN

Gabriel Magalhaes' wife Gabrielle Figueiredo has given a concerning update on the Arsenal star's injury.

Chelsea starlet Donnell McNeilly is yet to sign a new contract amid worries over his lack of first-team opportunities.

Manchester United icon Paul Scholes has been honoured with a mural in his hometown - backed by rival City fans.

DAILY MAIL

Arsenal have stepped up their efforts to sign goalkeeper Joan Garcia from Espanyol after further talks last week.

Chelsea are privately pushing UEFA to help them receive an increased allocation for their Conference League quarter-final first leg at Legia Warsaw next Thursday after they were handed only 742 tickets for the match.

Liverpool have warned supporters they will reroute the team bus en route to Anfield if the roads are too busy - as has happened before several big games this season.

Clubs are being offered special covers to protect players from potentially dangerous goalposts after a goalkeeper suffered a horrific injury which put him out of action for more than five months.

Chelsea's ownership of Jose Mourinho's name will effectively cease on Friday, the 20-year anniversary of that trademark and also its renewal date.

Bayern Munich are unwilling to offer Thomas Muller a new deal due to his wages but there is plenty of interest in the forward from the USA, and Bayern could look to send him to their partner club in MLS, LAFC.

Numerous clubs in the UK and abroad are keeping a check on Rangers midfielder Tom Lawrence, including high-flying Wrexham, who are prepared to make an ambitious attempt to lure the local-born player to the club.

DAILY MIRROR

The seven clubs that Viktor Gyokeres would be open to joining have emerged - and Manchester United are not on his list.

Former Manchester United defender Brandon Williams has revealed that it "hurts" to watch football after being released by the club amid his off-the-pitch struggles.

THE ATHLETIC

Ghana, Nigeria, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago will compete in a men's football tournament in London later this year.

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has said that four of its internationals who play in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) will not travel to China for upcoming matches.

DAILY TELEGRAPH

The United Kingdom's chances of hosting the 2035 Women's World Cup have been given a significant boost amid confusion at FIFA over a rival bid.

Bill Sweeney has broken his silence after surviving a vote of no confidence as Rugby Football Union chief executive, saying it has "not been an easy time for me personally" in a letter sent to member clubs.

DAILY EXPRESS

Liverpool are closing in on a new contract for Mohamed Salah after making a breakthrough in negotiations, according to reports.

THE TIMES

The Premier League has yet to approve the sale by Chelsea of their women's team to the club's parent company as being of fair market value.

The British and Irish Lions could face a host of recent All Blacks, including Richie Mo'unga, Brodie Retallick and Aaron Smith, in their tour match against an Australia-New Zealand invitational side this summer.

DAILY RECORD

Plans to push for a return to a 10-team top flight might already be dead in the water after it emerged the clubs behind new reconstruction proposals want the Premiership to be made bigger.

Dinamo Zagreb have pulled out all the stops and remain confident of landing Greg Taylor at the end of his Celtic contract.

Hearts chief Andrew McKinlay insists everything is "absolutely fine" in terms of Tony Bloom investing in the club - and that they are charging on regardless of summer transfer plans.

Alex Neil has confirmed in-form Aberdeen star Kevin Nisbet will return to Millwall and the first-team door will be open for him.

Queen's Park chiefs fear major backer Lord Willie Haughey is set to walk away from the club.

SCOTTISH SUN

Celtic were thwarted after making a last-gasp bid at the weekend to sign Georgian international midfielder Giorgi Kochorashvili for next season.




Sport Witness

“You’re not normal” – West Ham player on rejecting club because it was too easy

By Naveen Ullal

West Ham United’s Edson Álvarez first arrived in Europe when Ajax signed him from Club América in 2019.

The Mexico international spent four years with the Eredivisie side before joining West Ham in August 2023.

Álvarez was the latest guest on podcast, We Are Brave, and La Opinión have relayed his comments.

During the lengthy discussion, the 27-year-old opened up about the opportunity he had to join Cruz Azul earlier in his career.

The midfielder had started his youth career at CF Pachuca’s academy and moved to Club América in 2014. He wanted to join Cruz Azul, because of his father, and they also wanted him.

Álvarez underwent a trail at Cruz Azul and clearly impressed the club, who were eager to take him. In fact, the Mexican club’s then representatives praising him had changed his ‘perspective’.

“After playing in the third division, they told me ‘You’re ready to take the next step’, they put Pumas, Cruz Azul and América on the table, I said ‘I want Cruz Azul because my dad has played for Cruz Azul all his life’, I made the decision to go there because of my dad,” he said.

“My dad took me to La Noria by metro… that day I arrived at 11 in the morning, they had me sitting for three hours and then at the trials, I played very well and the perspective changed, they told me ‘you’re not a normal kid’, where you come from and they asked me to bring my papers so they could register me.”

The West Ham player has explained that he snubbed Cruz Azul because the entire process was too easy for him. He was expecting it to be more challenging.

“I remember on the way home I was thinking how easy it was, it can’t be so easy, it has to cost me more because I come from a place [Pachuca] where they told me I wasn’t good enough and that’s when I made the decision not to go to Cruz Azul anymore,” Álvarez explained.

“I said ‘I want something more difficult’. I was 15 years old, and my dad told me ‘You’re crazy, bring your birth certificate’ and I told my dad how I felt and told him that I wanted another challenge.”

The Mexican has been in Europe for over five years and is a regular for the national team. It looks like his decision to snub Cruz Azul has worked out quite well.



Mail

West Ham United co-owner David Gold left staggering amount of money in his will as devastating twist is revealed by documents released following his death

By TOM COTTERILL

Former West Ham co-chairman David Gold has left his staggering £130million fortune to his family, it can today be revealed.

The tycoon, who owed much of his wealth to soft porn and lingerie before becoming a famous face in football, died after a short illness in January 2023, aged 86.

At the time, it was thought he had died 'intestate', meaning no 'valid will' was created before his death, with no instructions on how his vast estate should be split.

But fresh documents have now revealed a will was made in August 2021 - and uncovered a tragic twist in the story of the former Hammers chief.

His inheritance file named David's daughters Vanessa Young and Ann Summers boss, Jacqueline Gold as the executors of his will.

But in a devastating turn for the family, Jacqueline lost her fight against breast cancer and died just two months after her father, aged 46.

Trailblazer Jacqueline made her millions by selling raunchy clothing and introducing home parties that turned sex toys such as the Rampant Rabbit into household names.

She had been battling against stage 4 cancer for seven years before she succumbed to the illness, having briefly, and tragically, been given the all clear in 2020 - a year before her father's final will was drafted.

In his will, Mr Gold - believing both his daughters would survive him - wrote: 'I appoint my daughters JACQUELINE GOLD (Jacqueline) VANESSA JULIA YOUNG (Vanessa) to be the executors and trustees of this Will.

'I give my trustees all my personal possessions with a request to distribute them according to the latest wishes I have expressed in any note left with my papers at my death.'

Probate has now been granted to his surviving daughter, Vanessa, to administer the estate of the former Hammers' joint owner - which totalled more than £137million.

The will includes details of how to deal with his family's trust fund - and the right to sell his stake in West Ham United.

It gave a gross value of his estate in the UK as £137,241,336 - with a net value of £127,529,095.

The will also stated those in charge of his estate could 'sell all or any' of its assets they deem 'appropriate' - including his 25.1 per cent stake in West Ham, with Vanessa now acting as sole executor and trustee.

In a document published last week, the grant of probate outlined: 'The last will and testament of David Gold is proved and registered before the High Court of Justice.

'The Administration of David Gold's estate is granted by this court to the following Executor - Vanessa Julia Young.'

Businessman David was not married at the time of his death but had been engaged to long-time partner Lesley for 15 years.

While David's great passion in life had been football - and he had been close to becoming a professional despite suffering badly from TB as a child - his route out of the East End slums proved to be top shelf magazines, sex shops and lingerie.

He bought Ann Summers when it had just four stores before handing it over to Jacqueline to run in 1981. She grew the firm into a true titan of the British high street, with 80 stores nationwide and annual sales of £113.8million.

David's wealth rivalled the late Queen's in the 1970s, after setting aside his rivalry with fellow porn baron David Sullivan to become business partners, a relationship that would lead both men into the world of football.

The business tycoon went on to buy Birmingham City football club and West Ham.

Following his death, Baroness Karren Brady, who worked with David at both  Birmingham and West Ham, called him a 'great man, a great friend for over 30 years and a complete gentleman'.

David had one of Britain's ultimate rag-to-riches stories.

He and his brother Ralph, two years his junior, fought to escape the appalling poverty and anti-Semitism into which they were born in the East End of London in the thirties.

They grew up across the road from West Ham's Boleyn ground, and as a talented footballer himself, he had hoped that he become a star there.

David's market trader father, Godfrey, was in and out of prison for theft, receiving stolen goods and driving a getaway car.

He also had brushes with the Krays and the Richardsons, two gangster families who dominated east and south-east London in the 1950s and 1960s.

David and Ralph's mother, Rose, a waitress, sold buttons and bric a brac from a stall in front of the house. Mr Gold described the trauma of seeing his mother spitting blood in bed as she had all her teeth pulled out aged just 30.

When Mrs Gold added a few pinup magazines to the table, the boys spotted an opportunity.

They set up their own stall in the sixties, selling sci-fi books and magazines near Charing Cross Station and discovered what customers really wanted was the soft porn magazines of the day.

David recalled: 'Customers came in asking for Spick And Span and Health And Efficiency. It wasn't my fault that was what they wanted. If they had bought thousands of sci-fi books I would probably be a sci-fi publisher now.'

The Gold soft porn empire flourished and the brothers bought their own shops in Soho, making their first big money in 1967 from the sale of two of the stores - bought for £20,000 each - for £3million.

In 1972 the brothers bought Ann Summers and their four stores, which later transformed into a high street juggernaut. In December 2007 David bought out Ralph.

In Gold's will, beneficiaries of the trust included his two daughters, his two son-in-laws, a granddaughter and his partner.

David also left a series of legacies free of inheritance tax including £100,000 to his sister Marie Mould, £50,000 each to two named individuals, and £25,000 each to two others.

Some of the awards were conditional on the benefactors remaining as employees at the time of his death.

Mr Gold also outlined in his will that his trustees must hold his estate on trust.

He added: 'They may sell all or any of the assets in my estate as they consider appropriate.'

Before the will was discovered, a letter of administration was granted by the High Court of Justice to Vanessa.

Her later sister, Jacqueline, left her sex shop fortune to her husband David Cunningham.

The acclaimed businesswoman left a gross estate of £19million, but this was reduced to £17.6 million after her debts were paid.

She left her diamond heart-drop pendant and matching earrings to her sister, Vanessa, and the rest of her jewellery to her daughter, Scarlett.

[Heavi995]

Cheers Alan

[Texas Iron]

Cheers…

[With Kind Regards]

Thanks Alan.