Thursday News (includes West Ham)
Posted: 01 May 2025, 11:02
BBC
Brazil forward Rodrygo, 24, is considering leaving Real Madrid in the summer transfer window as he has fallen down the pecking order at the Bernabeu. (Radio Marca - in Spanish), external
Manchester United and Juventus are competing to try to sign 25-year-old Brazil midfielder Ederson from Atalanta. (Tuttosport - in Italian), external
England striker Harry Kane has been linked with a return to the Premier League but the 31-year-old is planning to stay at Bayern Munich for one more year. (Talksport), external
Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, 32 and Jamaica winger Leon Bailey, 27, are being targeted by clubs in Saudi Arabia. (Telegraph - subscription required), external
Bayern Munich believe they are in a good position to sign Germany attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, who would try to sell the 21-year-old to another club if he agitates for a move. (Sky Sports Germany) , external
Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is on Bayer Leverkusen's list of possible candidates to replace Xabi Alonso, who has been linked with taking over from Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid. (Sky Sports Germany), external
English attacking midfielder Harvey Elliott, 22, has struggled for first-team football at Liverpool this season but wants to stay and fight for his place at the club. (Liverpool Echo), external
Everton are among the clubs interested in 22-year-old Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, with the English forward believed to have a £30m release clause, while the prospect of England forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin, 28, signing a new deal beyond this summer at the club is not out of the question. (The i Paper), external
South Korea defender Kim Min-jae says he hopes he can remain at Bayern Munich, despite the German club appearing to be open to selling the 28-year-old if the right offer arrives. (Sport Bild - in German) , external
French forward Enzo Kana-Biyik, 18, is set to finalise a move to Manchester United on a free transfer from Le Havre. (Manchester Evening News, external)
Former Wolves and West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui has signed a deal to become the Qatar coach, with the Spaniard's deal running until June 2027. (Fabrizio Romano)
Sky Paper Talk
THE SUN
Chelsea are leading a trio of Premier League clubs in the race to sign Lorient midfielder Arthur Avom this summer.
Manchester United scouts are on the trail of a talented Serbian teenager who is being compared to Paul Pogba and Jude Bellingham - Partizan Belgrade midfielder Ognjen Ugresic.
Joelinton is set to miss the remainder of Newcastle's Champions League push.
DAILY MAIL
Chelsea sources insist Enzo Fernandez is going nowhere, even if Real Madrid escalate their interest in the 24-year-old Argentinian this summer.
The chairman of Chelsea's Europa Conference League semi-final opponents Djurgardens has resigned amid allegations of racist comments.
Julen Lopetegui is being lined up to take over the Qatar national team less than three months after being sacked by West Ham.
Birmingham are prepared to offer their top transfer targets huge salaries to move to St Andrew's - well above what most Championship clubs can afford.
Harvey Elliott has admitted he 'needs to think about what is best for his future' following Liverpool's title-winning campaign.
DAILY MIRROR
Enzo Maresca fears Djurgardens' synthetic pitch could damage Chelsea's bid to rejoin the Champions League mainstream - and admits he fears for his players' well-being.
Aaron Ramsey has dropped the biggest hint yet that he will not be in contention to take the Cardiff City job permanently after expressing doubts over the prospect of holding a joint player-manager role.
THE ATHLETIC
Manchester City are set to participate in the inaugural World Sevens Football (W7F) tournament.
West Ham United forward Crysencio Summerville has undergone successful hamstring surgery and is aiming to return for the 2025-26 campaign.
Li Tie, the former head coach of the Chinese men's national football team who played for Everton in the Premier League, has lost an appeal against his 20-year prison sentence for offering and accepting bribes.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Aston Villa pair Emiliano Martinez and Leon Bailey are the latest Premier League players targeted for potential moves to Saudi Arabia.
The Aston Villa president of business operations, Chris Heck, is to leave at the end of the season to take on the same role at LIV Golf.
THE TIMES
Mark Wood is set to take on some short-term coaching duties with Andrew Flintoff's England Lions while he continues his rehabilitation from knee surgery.
The RFU council should be disbanded as part of a radical restructuring of a governance structure that is "dysfunctional" and "unfit for the modern era", according to an independent 14-month review.
DAILY RECORD
Hibs are keen on taking Regan Charles-Cook back to the Scottish Premiership.
The Athletic
George Earthy interview: ‘My family are West Ham crazy – I’m still a season ticket holder’
By Roshane Thomas
George Earthy’s unwavering love for West Ham United is palpable as he passionately outlines what sets him apart in his bid to become a first-team regular under head coach Graham Potter.
“It would mean a lot to me to be a first-team regular at West Ham,” he tells The Athletic. “My family are West Ham crazy so to fully cement a place in the team would mean everything. I’m still a season ticket holder, so I know how it feels to be a West Ham fan. I know how the supporters feel during a win, defeat or draw.
“I’m one of them, and it would mean everything to help the club. I’ll go the extra mile. I know how it feels to lose a match and it taking ages to get over it. I’m optimistic about the future and I back myself.”
The 20-year-old joined Championship side Bristol City on a season-long loan in August. During that loan spell, the England Under-21 international has registered three goals in 36 league appearances, 11 of which have been starts. Earthy has featured heavily in Liam Manning’s promotion-chasing team, who will aim to secure their play-off spot in Saturday’s home fixture against Preston North End. They are currently fifth.
Earthy believes the lessons from his loan will put him in good standing for his return to West Ham.
“I arrived here with a certain target for goals and assists,” the midfielder says. “I haven’t got as many as I want, but I can be proud of my first ever loan, especially with it being in the Championship.
Earthy lives in the city centre in Bristol, which has helped him settle. He has started five of their last six league games, with his best contribution being an equaliser in the 1-1 draw against QPR.
Earthy celebrates scoring for West Ham last season (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
There are positive signs ahead of his impending return. Potter and academy staff have monitored Earthy’s development. The head coach has also shown willingness to promote youth since replacing Julen Lopetegui in January. He gave 19-year-old midfielder Lewis Orford his senior debut against Crystal Palace, young defender Kaelan Casey has been an unused substitute on five occasions under Potter, while Ollie Scarles’ trajectory led to an England Under-20 call-up in March.
Lopetegui handed Scarles his Premier League debut against Bournemouth in December — and the left-back has developed into a first-team regular, dislodging Emerson Palmieri in the process. Earthy, a member of the FA Youth Cup-winning team in 2023, hopes he can follow suit.
“It’s great to see Ollie doing well, and it motivates all the academy boys,” says Earthy. “Seeing his progress from afar makes me want to be in a similar position next season. It makes you think, ‘If Ollie is doing it, why can’t I?’ I saw the manager and his backroom staff recently at the training ground. I didn’t want to go back to pre-season, and it being my first time meeting them. The gist of the chat was keep doing what you’re doing and let’s get to work in pre-season.”
Earthy made his first-team debut 13 months ago against Fulham. He was rewarded for his performances with the Under-21s, having amassed nine goals and assists under Steve Potts. Former manager David Moyes integrated Earthy into the senior team towards the latter stages of the 2023-24 season. Kurt Zouma (on a season-long loan at Saudi Pro League club Al Orobah), Danny Ings, Lucas Paqueta and Aaron Cresswell helped Earthy settle into a new environment. The quartet were also there for him during his toughest moment.
Moments after entering the field against Fulham, Earthy sustained a serious head injury when he collided with team-mate Edson Alvarez. Play was stopped for eight minutes as Earthy received medical attention after players of both sides had immediately raised concerns. The youngster left the pitch on a stretcher with an oxygen mask and a neck brace.
He then left the London Stadium in an ambulance with his family. When Earthy was discharged from the hospital, he was informed a particular team-mate went above and beyond to check on his well-being.
“I don’t remember much about it,” says Earthy in a jocular mood. “It happened so quickly. I remember the buzz of making my debut, and I’m just grateful I didn’t get knocked out before having a few touches. I went from being on the pitch to waking up at the hospital, not knowing why I was there. I was a bit all over the place after I woke up. I was in serious pain, and I thought I’d broken my neck.
“I had a crazy headache because my nose was broken. A lot of the lads sent nice messages and it wasn’t until days later when I found out Nayef Aguerd (who is on a season-long loan at Real Sociedad) contacted my dad to make sure I was fine. He’s a top guy and so down to earth. He’s one of those team-mates you value as a friend. My dad (Paul) is a season-ticket holder and loves West Ham, so he was shocked when Nayef phoned him.
“He said to my dad, ‘This is Nayef, I play with your son’. As if my dad wouldn’t know who he is already! My dad was buzzing when he phoned because he doesn’t get to speak to players that often. I thanked Nayef when I recovered. It was nice of him to go out of his way to see if I was fine.”
Given the nature of Earthy’s injury, he had to follow the FA and Premier League concussion guidelines ahead of his return to play. He missed the next two league games against Crystal Palace and Liverpool. He was an unused substitute against Chelsea but had an immediate impact after his introduction against Luton Town.
“I scored my first senior goal for West Ham with my first touch after coming on,” he says. “It was a full circle moment from what I experienced on my debut. All the boys were buzzing for me. Reece Burke (the Luton defender and ex-West Ham academy prospect) congratulated me after the game. I didn’t keep the match ball or the shirt, I wasn’t really thinking at the time. But it’s a moment that I will never forget.”
Earthy’s progression culminated in him being named young player of the year. Previous recipients include Declan Rice, Ben Johnson, James Tomkins, Jack Collison, Freddie Sears and Reece Oxford. Earthy hopes to mirror some of their success, and it is his dedication which will serve him well. After Lopetegui’s appointment in May 2024, he was given a tour of Chadwell Heath training ground by sporting director Mark Noble. The Spaniard had a brief exchange with Earthy, who was training on his day off.
Lopetegui told Noble he was aware of Earthy. He hoped to play under the Spaniard but opted to go out on loan once it became clear first-team chances would be slim.
“I just wanted game time, in all honesty,” says Earthy. “The new manager came in and I was part of the pre-season. As soon as it became clear I wouldn’t be involved, it was a no-brainer to go out on loan. I used to work with the (Bristol City) gaffer (Liam Manning) at West Ham, so it helped that we have a pre-existing relationship. I knew how he wanted to play and what he demands from players. I didn’t really speak to anyone for advice because I wanted to experience it myself. The Championship is an intense league and it was about getting used to it.
“Everyone helped me feel settled on and off the pitch, but I got injured quite quickly. I came off the bench against Coventry (in August) and injured ligaments in my ankle, which set me back. It took me time to get back in the team. Now this is the best I’ve felt all season. It was tough initially because it was a new experience. I went from being on the bench at West Ham with little expectations to then going on loan, being expected to have a massive impact.
“Coming here on loan has made me realise how resilient I am. You need to have that mental toughness to cope with the good and bad times in football. It’s helped me grow as a person and a player.
“I feel ready for when I return to West Ham. In all honesty, I felt ready last season, but it was about proving myself. It didn’t come as a shock to me when the manager gave me a chance. I prepared and worked hard for that moment. The goal is to play and do well for the club I love. Let’s see what happens.”
(Top photo: Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images)
C&H
West Ham in Two-Way Fight For Greek Wonderkid
West Ham remain firmly in the hunt for Olympiacos forward Charalampos Kostoulas ahead of the summer transfer window.
Claret & Hugh were first to reveal the Hammers’ interest in the 17-year-old, who is widely tipped to become a major star in European football.
However, West Ham face serious competition from Manchester United, who are reportedly growing increasingly confident of securing the youngster’s signature.
Graham Potter currently has a shortlist of striker targets, and a top London Stadium source has confirmed to C&H that a centre forward remains a priority.
That said, Potter’s top targets have been described by insiders as overly ambitious, with West Ham unlikely to attract — or afford — names such as Samuel Omorodion Aghehowa.
A senior transfer source told Claret & Hugh: “It could be Jhon Durán all over again — West Ham are chasing Champions League players they can’t afford anyway.”
The Irons famously made a £45m bid for Durán in January, just weeks after Aston Villa had rejected a £70m offer from PSG. Similarly, West Ham were said to be £25m short of Porto’s valuation for Omorodion — highlighting a growing pattern of setting sights on players well outside the club’s financial reach.
Given that, it’s no bad thing to have more realistic backup options — and if Graham Potter can guarantee Kostoulas first-team football, it could give West Ham the edge over Manchester United.
Brazil forward Rodrygo, 24, is considering leaving Real Madrid in the summer transfer window as he has fallen down the pecking order at the Bernabeu. (Radio Marca - in Spanish), external
Manchester United and Juventus are competing to try to sign 25-year-old Brazil midfielder Ederson from Atalanta. (Tuttosport - in Italian), external
England striker Harry Kane has been linked with a return to the Premier League but the 31-year-old is planning to stay at Bayern Munich for one more year. (Talksport), external
Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, 32 and Jamaica winger Leon Bailey, 27, are being targeted by clubs in Saudi Arabia. (Telegraph - subscription required), external
Bayern Munich believe they are in a good position to sign Germany attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, who would try to sell the 21-year-old to another club if he agitates for a move. (Sky Sports Germany) , external
Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is on Bayer Leverkusen's list of possible candidates to replace Xabi Alonso, who has been linked with taking over from Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid. (Sky Sports Germany), external
English attacking midfielder Harvey Elliott, 22, has struggled for first-team football at Liverpool this season but wants to stay and fight for his place at the club. (Liverpool Echo), external
Everton are among the clubs interested in 22-year-old Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, with the English forward believed to have a £30m release clause, while the prospect of England forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin, 28, signing a new deal beyond this summer at the club is not out of the question. (The i Paper), external
South Korea defender Kim Min-jae says he hopes he can remain at Bayern Munich, despite the German club appearing to be open to selling the 28-year-old if the right offer arrives. (Sport Bild - in German) , external
French forward Enzo Kana-Biyik, 18, is set to finalise a move to Manchester United on a free transfer from Le Havre. (Manchester Evening News, external)
Former Wolves and West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui has signed a deal to become the Qatar coach, with the Spaniard's deal running until June 2027. (Fabrizio Romano)
Sky Paper Talk
THE SUN
Chelsea are leading a trio of Premier League clubs in the race to sign Lorient midfielder Arthur Avom this summer.
Manchester United scouts are on the trail of a talented Serbian teenager who is being compared to Paul Pogba and Jude Bellingham - Partizan Belgrade midfielder Ognjen Ugresic.
Joelinton is set to miss the remainder of Newcastle's Champions League push.
DAILY MAIL
Chelsea sources insist Enzo Fernandez is going nowhere, even if Real Madrid escalate their interest in the 24-year-old Argentinian this summer.
The chairman of Chelsea's Europa Conference League semi-final opponents Djurgardens has resigned amid allegations of racist comments.
Julen Lopetegui is being lined up to take over the Qatar national team less than three months after being sacked by West Ham.
Birmingham are prepared to offer their top transfer targets huge salaries to move to St Andrew's - well above what most Championship clubs can afford.
Harvey Elliott has admitted he 'needs to think about what is best for his future' following Liverpool's title-winning campaign.
DAILY MIRROR
Enzo Maresca fears Djurgardens' synthetic pitch could damage Chelsea's bid to rejoin the Champions League mainstream - and admits he fears for his players' well-being.
Aaron Ramsey has dropped the biggest hint yet that he will not be in contention to take the Cardiff City job permanently after expressing doubts over the prospect of holding a joint player-manager role.
THE ATHLETIC
Manchester City are set to participate in the inaugural World Sevens Football (W7F) tournament.
West Ham United forward Crysencio Summerville has undergone successful hamstring surgery and is aiming to return for the 2025-26 campaign.
Li Tie, the former head coach of the Chinese men's national football team who played for Everton in the Premier League, has lost an appeal against his 20-year prison sentence for offering and accepting bribes.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Aston Villa pair Emiliano Martinez and Leon Bailey are the latest Premier League players targeted for potential moves to Saudi Arabia.
The Aston Villa president of business operations, Chris Heck, is to leave at the end of the season to take on the same role at LIV Golf.
THE TIMES
Mark Wood is set to take on some short-term coaching duties with Andrew Flintoff's England Lions while he continues his rehabilitation from knee surgery.
The RFU council should be disbanded as part of a radical restructuring of a governance structure that is "dysfunctional" and "unfit for the modern era", according to an independent 14-month review.
DAILY RECORD
Hibs are keen on taking Regan Charles-Cook back to the Scottish Premiership.
The Athletic
George Earthy interview: ‘My family are West Ham crazy – I’m still a season ticket holder’
By Roshane Thomas
George Earthy’s unwavering love for West Ham United is palpable as he passionately outlines what sets him apart in his bid to become a first-team regular under head coach Graham Potter.
“It would mean a lot to me to be a first-team regular at West Ham,” he tells The Athletic. “My family are West Ham crazy so to fully cement a place in the team would mean everything. I’m still a season ticket holder, so I know how it feels to be a West Ham fan. I know how the supporters feel during a win, defeat or draw.
“I’m one of them, and it would mean everything to help the club. I’ll go the extra mile. I know how it feels to lose a match and it taking ages to get over it. I’m optimistic about the future and I back myself.”
The 20-year-old joined Championship side Bristol City on a season-long loan in August. During that loan spell, the England Under-21 international has registered three goals in 36 league appearances, 11 of which have been starts. Earthy has featured heavily in Liam Manning’s promotion-chasing team, who will aim to secure their play-off spot in Saturday’s home fixture against Preston North End. They are currently fifth.
Earthy believes the lessons from his loan will put him in good standing for his return to West Ham.
“I arrived here with a certain target for goals and assists,” the midfielder says. “I haven’t got as many as I want, but I can be proud of my first ever loan, especially with it being in the Championship.
Earthy lives in the city centre in Bristol, which has helped him settle. He has started five of their last six league games, with his best contribution being an equaliser in the 1-1 draw against QPR.
Earthy celebrates scoring for West Ham last season (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
There are positive signs ahead of his impending return. Potter and academy staff have monitored Earthy’s development. The head coach has also shown willingness to promote youth since replacing Julen Lopetegui in January. He gave 19-year-old midfielder Lewis Orford his senior debut against Crystal Palace, young defender Kaelan Casey has been an unused substitute on five occasions under Potter, while Ollie Scarles’ trajectory led to an England Under-20 call-up in March.
Lopetegui handed Scarles his Premier League debut against Bournemouth in December — and the left-back has developed into a first-team regular, dislodging Emerson Palmieri in the process. Earthy, a member of the FA Youth Cup-winning team in 2023, hopes he can follow suit.
“It’s great to see Ollie doing well, and it motivates all the academy boys,” says Earthy. “Seeing his progress from afar makes me want to be in a similar position next season. It makes you think, ‘If Ollie is doing it, why can’t I?’ I saw the manager and his backroom staff recently at the training ground. I didn’t want to go back to pre-season, and it being my first time meeting them. The gist of the chat was keep doing what you’re doing and let’s get to work in pre-season.”
Earthy made his first-team debut 13 months ago against Fulham. He was rewarded for his performances with the Under-21s, having amassed nine goals and assists under Steve Potts. Former manager David Moyes integrated Earthy into the senior team towards the latter stages of the 2023-24 season. Kurt Zouma (on a season-long loan at Saudi Pro League club Al Orobah), Danny Ings, Lucas Paqueta and Aaron Cresswell helped Earthy settle into a new environment. The quartet were also there for him during his toughest moment.
Moments after entering the field against Fulham, Earthy sustained a serious head injury when he collided with team-mate Edson Alvarez. Play was stopped for eight minutes as Earthy received medical attention after players of both sides had immediately raised concerns. The youngster left the pitch on a stretcher with an oxygen mask and a neck brace.
He then left the London Stadium in an ambulance with his family. When Earthy was discharged from the hospital, he was informed a particular team-mate went above and beyond to check on his well-being.
“I don’t remember much about it,” says Earthy in a jocular mood. “It happened so quickly. I remember the buzz of making my debut, and I’m just grateful I didn’t get knocked out before having a few touches. I went from being on the pitch to waking up at the hospital, not knowing why I was there. I was a bit all over the place after I woke up. I was in serious pain, and I thought I’d broken my neck.
“I had a crazy headache because my nose was broken. A lot of the lads sent nice messages and it wasn’t until days later when I found out Nayef Aguerd (who is on a season-long loan at Real Sociedad) contacted my dad to make sure I was fine. He’s a top guy and so down to earth. He’s one of those team-mates you value as a friend. My dad (Paul) is a season-ticket holder and loves West Ham, so he was shocked when Nayef phoned him.
“He said to my dad, ‘This is Nayef, I play with your son’. As if my dad wouldn’t know who he is already! My dad was buzzing when he phoned because he doesn’t get to speak to players that often. I thanked Nayef when I recovered. It was nice of him to go out of his way to see if I was fine.”
Given the nature of Earthy’s injury, he had to follow the FA and Premier League concussion guidelines ahead of his return to play. He missed the next two league games against Crystal Palace and Liverpool. He was an unused substitute against Chelsea but had an immediate impact after his introduction against Luton Town.
“I scored my first senior goal for West Ham with my first touch after coming on,” he says. “It was a full circle moment from what I experienced on my debut. All the boys were buzzing for me. Reece Burke (the Luton defender and ex-West Ham academy prospect) congratulated me after the game. I didn’t keep the match ball or the shirt, I wasn’t really thinking at the time. But it’s a moment that I will never forget.”
Earthy’s progression culminated in him being named young player of the year. Previous recipients include Declan Rice, Ben Johnson, James Tomkins, Jack Collison, Freddie Sears and Reece Oxford. Earthy hopes to mirror some of their success, and it is his dedication which will serve him well. After Lopetegui’s appointment in May 2024, he was given a tour of Chadwell Heath training ground by sporting director Mark Noble. The Spaniard had a brief exchange with Earthy, who was training on his day off.
Lopetegui told Noble he was aware of Earthy. He hoped to play under the Spaniard but opted to go out on loan once it became clear first-team chances would be slim.
“I just wanted game time, in all honesty,” says Earthy. “The new manager came in and I was part of the pre-season. As soon as it became clear I wouldn’t be involved, it was a no-brainer to go out on loan. I used to work with the (Bristol City) gaffer (Liam Manning) at West Ham, so it helped that we have a pre-existing relationship. I knew how he wanted to play and what he demands from players. I didn’t really speak to anyone for advice because I wanted to experience it myself. The Championship is an intense league and it was about getting used to it.
“Everyone helped me feel settled on and off the pitch, but I got injured quite quickly. I came off the bench against Coventry (in August) and injured ligaments in my ankle, which set me back. It took me time to get back in the team. Now this is the best I’ve felt all season. It was tough initially because it was a new experience. I went from being on the bench at West Ham with little expectations to then going on loan, being expected to have a massive impact.
“Coming here on loan has made me realise how resilient I am. You need to have that mental toughness to cope with the good and bad times in football. It’s helped me grow as a person and a player.
“I feel ready for when I return to West Ham. In all honesty, I felt ready last season, but it was about proving myself. It didn’t come as a shock to me when the manager gave me a chance. I prepared and worked hard for that moment. The goal is to play and do well for the club I love. Let’s see what happens.”
(Top photo: Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images)
C&H
West Ham in Two-Way Fight For Greek Wonderkid
West Ham remain firmly in the hunt for Olympiacos forward Charalampos Kostoulas ahead of the summer transfer window.
Claret & Hugh were first to reveal the Hammers’ interest in the 17-year-old, who is widely tipped to become a major star in European football.
However, West Ham face serious competition from Manchester United, who are reportedly growing increasingly confident of securing the youngster’s signature.
Graham Potter currently has a shortlist of striker targets, and a top London Stadium source has confirmed to C&H that a centre forward remains a priority.
That said, Potter’s top targets have been described by insiders as overly ambitious, with West Ham unlikely to attract — or afford — names such as Samuel Omorodion Aghehowa.
A senior transfer source told Claret & Hugh: “It could be Jhon Durán all over again — West Ham are chasing Champions League players they can’t afford anyway.”
The Irons famously made a £45m bid for Durán in January, just weeks after Aston Villa had rejected a £70m offer from PSG. Similarly, West Ham were said to be £25m short of Porto’s valuation for Omorodion — highlighting a growing pattern of setting sights on players well outside the club’s financial reach.
Given that, it’s no bad thing to have more realistic backup options — and if Graham Potter can guarantee Kostoulas first-team football, it could give West Ham the edge over Manchester United.