Sunday News (includes West Ham)
Posted: 04 May 2025, 09:27
BBC
France forward Christopher Nkunku, 27, has decided to leave Chelsea this summer. (Sky Sports Germany), external
Ukrainian defender Oleksandr Zinchenko, 28, may leave Arsenal this summer with interest coming from Borussia Dortmund. (Football Insider), external
American midfielder Weston McKennie, 26, has reached a verbal agreement with Juventus to stay at the club until 2028. (Fabrizio Romano, external)
Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are among a number of clubs interested in signing 20-year-old Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen. (CaughtOffside, external)
Aston Villa will struggle to sign England forward Marcus Rashford, 27, on a permanent deal from Manchester United if they do not qualify for the Champions League. (Football Insider), external
Scouts from Aston Villa were in the crowd to watch Spain and Porto forward Samu Aghehowa, 20, amid interest in signing him this summer. (Record , externalvia Sports Witness, external)
Everton are contemplating a deal to bring former striker Richarlison, 27, back to the club, with Tottenham Hotspur reportedly willing to accept a fee in the region of £40m. (GiveMeSport, external)
Real Madrid are considering a summer move for Real Sociedad right-back Jon Aramburu, 22. (Fichajes - in Spanish, external)
Leeds United have added AZ forward Troy Parrott, 23, to their striker shortlist following their promotion to the Premier League. (TeamTalk, external)
Fiorentina are close to extending the contract of 20-year-old defender Pietro Comuzzo amid interest from Serie A rivals Napoli. (Tuttomercato - in Italian, external)
Liverpool could make an extraordinary move for Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, 24, with the Brazilian open to a move away from Spain. (GiveMeSport, external)
Ajax are willing to sell Netherlands defender Jorrel Hato, with the 19-year-old garnering interest from clubs like Chelsea. (Kick-off podcast)
Sky Paper Talk
SUNDAY MIRROR
Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku has decided to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.
Manchester United's Casemiro could be in for a massive pay rise if Ruben Amorim's squad clinches the Europa League title.
Aston Villa scouts were in attendance at the Dragao on Friday as Samu Aghehowa scored twice for Porto against Moreirense.
Manchester City are leading the race for Franco Mastantuono, according to Gazzetta but have competition from Paris Saint-Germain.
THE SUN ON SUNDAY
Sheffield United are turning to an Anglo-American AI talent spotting company to find new players - and that will mean the axe for top scouts.
MAIL ON SUNDAY
Steven Gerrard has added further fuel to speculation that he could be set to return to Rangers after professing his love for the club while enjoying a night out.
THE ATHLETIC
Manchester United target Jonathan Tah was offered to Real Madrid months ago - but Los Blancos turned him down.
THE SUNDAY TIMES
Surrey are set to confirm that they are developing an additional ground to their main home, the Oval, at a site in New Malden, while Middlesex are exploring developing a base away from Lord's at Uxbridge as the counties who play at venues that host Hundred franchises scramble for new facilities.
DAILY RECORD
Lazio president Claudio Lotito has closed the door on Gustav Isaksen leaving the club as Celtic search for a replacement for Jota.
The Athletic
Is Graham Potter under pressure at West Ham?
By Roshane Thomas
It is common practice for there to be tension in dressing rooms at football clubs but it is damning for West Ham United that bust-ups have been a regular theme under two managers this season.
Julen Lopetegui, who replaced David Moyes in May 2024 upon the expiry of his contract, clashed with Jean-Clair Todibo, Alphonse Areola and Mohammed Kudus during his ill-fated eight-month spell as head coach. Lopetegui’s failure to create a harmonious atmosphere culminated in the Spaniard being the shortest-lived managerial appointment in the club’s 124-year history, sacked after just 22 games.
But tension has also been brewing since Graham Potter succeeded Lopetegui in January. According to sources The Athletic has spoken to, who all spoke under the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, it has emerged that there have been fights between the players. It has been a tempestuous dressing room, and Potter faces a tough challenge of lifting morale, with West Ham winless in their seven Premier League games, their longest such run since January 2023. Their last victory was against Leicester City on February 27.
Club insiders, who spoke under the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, admit the pressure is felt across the board but remain hopeful of Potter turning it around. The head coach signed a two-and-a-half-year contract — and this deal does not include a break clause. The club were initially only willing to give Potter a contract until the end of the season, which he was reluctant to sign. Karren Brady, the vice-chairman, then led negotiations, and all parties agreed to Potter’s terms. Potter was not West Ham’s only option. The club’s hierarchy also interviewed former Milan manager Paulo Fonseca, who flew to London to meet majority shareholder David Sullivan. Fonseca held positive talks, but his camp got the impression Potter was West Ham’s preferred option.
But there has not been a new-manager bounce like Moyes and Vitor Pereira’s impact at Everton and Wolves, respectively. Since Potter’s appointment on January 9, West Ham rank 16th for form, eight points behind Everton and 12 points behind Pereira’s side. Moyes’ influence at Everton means he was named the Premier League manager of the month for February. Pereira is in the running for April’s award, along with Aston Villa’s Unai Emery, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, Newcastle United’s Eddie Howe and Liverpool’s Arne Slot.
West Ham have sporadically shown progression under Potter. There were encouraging performances against Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, but Potter has a paltry return of three wins in 14 Premier League games. The nadir of his spell was last weekend’s 3-2 capitulation against Brighton & Hove Albion. Supporters voiced their displeasure at forward Niclas Fullkrug’s demotion to the bench, who launched a diatribe against his team-mates after the draw against Southampton the week prior. In Potter’s post-match press conference at Brighton, he looked like a man under pressure when he said: “If you want me to swear, I can swear.”
He arrived at Friday’s press conference at Rush Green in a happier mood, but candidly admitted how West Ham’s struggles have affected his family life.
“We were close to winning (against Brighton), like we were against Liverpool,” said Potter. “You’re close to a good result, close to another decent performance and a positive victory result. And then all of a sudden, boof, and then you’re back into everything’s bad results-wise, which it is. You’ve got to deal with that but time is a great healer.
“They’ve (my family) known me long enough to know that, ‘Just leave Daddy alone a little bit. Just leave him be. Let’s go for a walk, let’s take the dog out, let’s just leave him to curse at his computer or whatever.’ And this is the thing that you have to try all the time. I think it’s an ongoing battle for us all. It’s just: how do you get that balance? But this notion that you can just have an experience like that and then just be alright with people. It just doesn’t work. I just can’t do it. It takes time to get it out of your system.”
Summer signings will dictate Potter’s success. He predicts an exciting window but pursuing key targets will be arduous with no European football to offer. West Ham have to sell before they can buy and sources at West Ham, kept anonymous to protect relationships, say Kudus is expected to depart this summer to fund their recruitment. But the club will not entertain any offers for captain Jarrod Bowen, whose contract expires in the summer of 2030.
The squad will be overhauled with stalwarts Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski, Michail Antonio and Vladimir Coufal entering the final months of their deals. Tomas Soucek, Edson Alvarez, Guido Rodriguez and Emerson Palmieri have uncertain futures, while the loans of Carlos Soler, from Paris Saint-Germain, and Evan Ferguson, from Brighton & Hove Albion, are unlikely to be converted into permanent deals. Potter was reluctant to say who does not feature in his plans, but had an interesting observation about his squad.
“It’s hard to say at the moment,” he said when asked how much change he anticipates there being. “I think I wouldn’t want to quantify it. There’s a saying, isn’t there? If you can’t change people, change people. We have to make decisions that make sure the club is in a better place going forward. We’re working with the players we have. We’re working all the time to try to get the level we want.”
Potter’s side needs to show improvement in the coming weeks, otherwise the lurching turbulence will continue to gather pace.
Caught Offside
Exclusive: Aston Villa and West Ham United among clubs fighting to sign English winger
Omari Hutchinson, the 21-year-old winger who has flourished at Ipswich Town, has become one of the most talked-about young prospects
Several Premier League clubs are queuing up to secure his signature ahead of the summer transfer window with Ipswich Town getting relegated to the Championship.
According to Caught Offside sources, Burnley and Leeds United are among the clubs most seriously monitoring his situation. With both teams focusing heavily on youth development and squad rejuvenation, Hutchinson fits perfectly into their long-term plans.
Leeds, in particular, view him as an ideal candidate to be part of their next generation of first-team regulars, especially after securing promotion to the Premier League.
Everton, who are actively scouting young talents amid ongoing restructuring efforts, are also showing strong interest.
The Toffees, known for developing exciting young players in the past like, see Hutchinson as a crucial addition who could quickly become a fan favourite at Goodison Park.
West Ham United and Aston Villa are monitoring Hutchinson
Graham Potter’s West Ham United side are also part of the race to sign the young Ipswich star.
The Hammers believe Hutchinson could bring speed and unpredictability to their flanks, complementing their current forward options.
Aston Villa have also joined the race. Villa’s recruitment team reportedly rate Hutchinson highly and consider him a smart investment for the future, one who could thrive under Unai Emery’s system.
Ipswich, aware of the growing demand, are reportedly demanding between €30 million and €35 million for the talented winger.
Despite his team’s poor over all performance this season, Hutchinson has still managed to impress at Ipswich.
The 21-year-old has scored three goals and provided two assists this season in the Premier League.
France forward Christopher Nkunku, 27, has decided to leave Chelsea this summer. (Sky Sports Germany), external
Ukrainian defender Oleksandr Zinchenko, 28, may leave Arsenal this summer with interest coming from Borussia Dortmund. (Football Insider), external
American midfielder Weston McKennie, 26, has reached a verbal agreement with Juventus to stay at the club until 2028. (Fabrizio Romano, external)
Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are among a number of clubs interested in signing 20-year-old Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen. (CaughtOffside, external)
Aston Villa will struggle to sign England forward Marcus Rashford, 27, on a permanent deal from Manchester United if they do not qualify for the Champions League. (Football Insider), external
Scouts from Aston Villa were in the crowd to watch Spain and Porto forward Samu Aghehowa, 20, amid interest in signing him this summer. (Record , externalvia Sports Witness, external)
Everton are contemplating a deal to bring former striker Richarlison, 27, back to the club, with Tottenham Hotspur reportedly willing to accept a fee in the region of £40m. (GiveMeSport, external)
Real Madrid are considering a summer move for Real Sociedad right-back Jon Aramburu, 22. (Fichajes - in Spanish, external)
Leeds United have added AZ forward Troy Parrott, 23, to their striker shortlist following their promotion to the Premier League. (TeamTalk, external)
Fiorentina are close to extending the contract of 20-year-old defender Pietro Comuzzo amid interest from Serie A rivals Napoli. (Tuttomercato - in Italian, external)
Liverpool could make an extraordinary move for Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, 24, with the Brazilian open to a move away from Spain. (GiveMeSport, external)
Ajax are willing to sell Netherlands defender Jorrel Hato, with the 19-year-old garnering interest from clubs like Chelsea. (Kick-off podcast)
Sky Paper Talk
SUNDAY MIRROR
Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku has decided to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.
Manchester United's Casemiro could be in for a massive pay rise if Ruben Amorim's squad clinches the Europa League title.
Aston Villa scouts were in attendance at the Dragao on Friday as Samu Aghehowa scored twice for Porto against Moreirense.
Manchester City are leading the race for Franco Mastantuono, according to Gazzetta but have competition from Paris Saint-Germain.
THE SUN ON SUNDAY
Sheffield United are turning to an Anglo-American AI talent spotting company to find new players - and that will mean the axe for top scouts.
MAIL ON SUNDAY
Steven Gerrard has added further fuel to speculation that he could be set to return to Rangers after professing his love for the club while enjoying a night out.
THE ATHLETIC
Manchester United target Jonathan Tah was offered to Real Madrid months ago - but Los Blancos turned him down.
THE SUNDAY TIMES
Surrey are set to confirm that they are developing an additional ground to their main home, the Oval, at a site in New Malden, while Middlesex are exploring developing a base away from Lord's at Uxbridge as the counties who play at venues that host Hundred franchises scramble for new facilities.
DAILY RECORD
Lazio president Claudio Lotito has closed the door on Gustav Isaksen leaving the club as Celtic search for a replacement for Jota.
The Athletic
Is Graham Potter under pressure at West Ham?
By Roshane Thomas
It is common practice for there to be tension in dressing rooms at football clubs but it is damning for West Ham United that bust-ups have been a regular theme under two managers this season.
Julen Lopetegui, who replaced David Moyes in May 2024 upon the expiry of his contract, clashed with Jean-Clair Todibo, Alphonse Areola and Mohammed Kudus during his ill-fated eight-month spell as head coach. Lopetegui’s failure to create a harmonious atmosphere culminated in the Spaniard being the shortest-lived managerial appointment in the club’s 124-year history, sacked after just 22 games.
But tension has also been brewing since Graham Potter succeeded Lopetegui in January. According to sources The Athletic has spoken to, who all spoke under the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, it has emerged that there have been fights between the players. It has been a tempestuous dressing room, and Potter faces a tough challenge of lifting morale, with West Ham winless in their seven Premier League games, their longest such run since January 2023. Their last victory was against Leicester City on February 27.
Club insiders, who spoke under the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, admit the pressure is felt across the board but remain hopeful of Potter turning it around. The head coach signed a two-and-a-half-year contract — and this deal does not include a break clause. The club were initially only willing to give Potter a contract until the end of the season, which he was reluctant to sign. Karren Brady, the vice-chairman, then led negotiations, and all parties agreed to Potter’s terms. Potter was not West Ham’s only option. The club’s hierarchy also interviewed former Milan manager Paulo Fonseca, who flew to London to meet majority shareholder David Sullivan. Fonseca held positive talks, but his camp got the impression Potter was West Ham’s preferred option.
But there has not been a new-manager bounce like Moyes and Vitor Pereira’s impact at Everton and Wolves, respectively. Since Potter’s appointment on January 9, West Ham rank 16th for form, eight points behind Everton and 12 points behind Pereira’s side. Moyes’ influence at Everton means he was named the Premier League manager of the month for February. Pereira is in the running for April’s award, along with Aston Villa’s Unai Emery, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, Newcastle United’s Eddie Howe and Liverpool’s Arne Slot.
West Ham have sporadically shown progression under Potter. There were encouraging performances against Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, but Potter has a paltry return of three wins in 14 Premier League games. The nadir of his spell was last weekend’s 3-2 capitulation against Brighton & Hove Albion. Supporters voiced their displeasure at forward Niclas Fullkrug’s demotion to the bench, who launched a diatribe against his team-mates after the draw against Southampton the week prior. In Potter’s post-match press conference at Brighton, he looked like a man under pressure when he said: “If you want me to swear, I can swear.”
He arrived at Friday’s press conference at Rush Green in a happier mood, but candidly admitted how West Ham’s struggles have affected his family life.
“We were close to winning (against Brighton), like we were against Liverpool,” said Potter. “You’re close to a good result, close to another decent performance and a positive victory result. And then all of a sudden, boof, and then you’re back into everything’s bad results-wise, which it is. You’ve got to deal with that but time is a great healer.
“They’ve (my family) known me long enough to know that, ‘Just leave Daddy alone a little bit. Just leave him be. Let’s go for a walk, let’s take the dog out, let’s just leave him to curse at his computer or whatever.’ And this is the thing that you have to try all the time. I think it’s an ongoing battle for us all. It’s just: how do you get that balance? But this notion that you can just have an experience like that and then just be alright with people. It just doesn’t work. I just can’t do it. It takes time to get it out of your system.”
Summer signings will dictate Potter’s success. He predicts an exciting window but pursuing key targets will be arduous with no European football to offer. West Ham have to sell before they can buy and sources at West Ham, kept anonymous to protect relationships, say Kudus is expected to depart this summer to fund their recruitment. But the club will not entertain any offers for captain Jarrod Bowen, whose contract expires in the summer of 2030.
The squad will be overhauled with stalwarts Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski, Michail Antonio and Vladimir Coufal entering the final months of their deals. Tomas Soucek, Edson Alvarez, Guido Rodriguez and Emerson Palmieri have uncertain futures, while the loans of Carlos Soler, from Paris Saint-Germain, and Evan Ferguson, from Brighton & Hove Albion, are unlikely to be converted into permanent deals. Potter was reluctant to say who does not feature in his plans, but had an interesting observation about his squad.
“It’s hard to say at the moment,” he said when asked how much change he anticipates there being. “I think I wouldn’t want to quantify it. There’s a saying, isn’t there? If you can’t change people, change people. We have to make decisions that make sure the club is in a better place going forward. We’re working with the players we have. We’re working all the time to try to get the level we want.”
Potter’s side needs to show improvement in the coming weeks, otherwise the lurching turbulence will continue to gather pace.
Caught Offside
Exclusive: Aston Villa and West Ham United among clubs fighting to sign English winger
Omari Hutchinson, the 21-year-old winger who has flourished at Ipswich Town, has become one of the most talked-about young prospects
Several Premier League clubs are queuing up to secure his signature ahead of the summer transfer window with Ipswich Town getting relegated to the Championship.
According to Caught Offside sources, Burnley and Leeds United are among the clubs most seriously monitoring his situation. With both teams focusing heavily on youth development and squad rejuvenation, Hutchinson fits perfectly into their long-term plans.
Leeds, in particular, view him as an ideal candidate to be part of their next generation of first-team regulars, especially after securing promotion to the Premier League.
Everton, who are actively scouting young talents amid ongoing restructuring efforts, are also showing strong interest.
The Toffees, known for developing exciting young players in the past like, see Hutchinson as a crucial addition who could quickly become a fan favourite at Goodison Park.
West Ham United and Aston Villa are monitoring Hutchinson
Graham Potter’s West Ham United side are also part of the race to sign the young Ipswich star.
The Hammers believe Hutchinson could bring speed and unpredictability to their flanks, complementing their current forward options.
Aston Villa have also joined the race. Villa’s recruitment team reportedly rate Hutchinson highly and consider him a smart investment for the future, one who could thrive under Unai Emery’s system.
Ipswich, aware of the growing demand, are reportedly demanding between €30 million and €35 million for the talented winger.
Despite his team’s poor over all performance this season, Hutchinson has still managed to impress at Ipswich.
The 21-year-old has scored three goals and provided two assists this season in the Premier League.