Thursday News (includes West Ham)

[Alan]

BBC

Arsenal are exploring a move for 24-year-old Brazil forward Rodrygo, who could leave Real Madrid this summer. (Sky Germany), external

Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz is expected to choose between a move to Bayern Munich and Liverpool within the next 10 days, with both clubs keen on the 22-year-old Germany international. (Kicker - in German), external

Barcelona want to sign Liverpool's 28-year-old Colombia winger Luis Diaz, who has two years remaining on his Anfield deal. (ESPN), external

Liverpool have looked at 20-year-old Lyon and Belgium winger Malick Fofana as a possible option if Diaz ends up leaving the club. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish), external

Napoli and Chicago Fire are leading the race to sign 33-year-old Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, who will leave Manchester City as a free agent this summer. (Talksport), external

 Manchester City midfielder James McAtee is a target for Bayer Leverkusen, while the 22-year-old Englishman is also being monitored by a number of Premier League clubs. (Sky Germany), external

Chelsea are determined to hold on to Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez, despite the 24-year-old being on Real Madrid's shortlist of possible targets this summer. (Guardian), external

Liverpool have offered their highly-rated Spanish centre-back Wellity Lucky, 19, a new four-year deal. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Fiorentina president Rocco Commisso is set to meet with Italy striker Moise Kean to try to convince the 25-year-old to stay amid interest from a number of clubs. (Football Italia), external

Viktor Gyokeres has told Sporting team-mates he is unsure where he will be playing next year, with the 26-year-old Sweden forward linked with Arsenal and Manchester United. (Canal 11, via Star)




Sky Paper Talk

THE SUN

Roma want Nuno Espirito Santo to walk out on Nottingham Forest and come to Serie A.

Chelsea are ready to make a shock bid for Real Madrid star Rodrygo, according to reports.

Manchester United are interested in signing Lyon star Rayan Cherki, according to reports.

England are set to play in a tiny 8,000-seater stadium when they visit Serbia in September.

Jamie Vardy has been linked with a shock move to FA Cup winners Crystal Palace.

Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly received a mega offer from an unnamed Brazilian club ahead of the Club World Cup.

DAILY MAIL

Manchester City are reportedly trying to sign one of Liverpool's transfer targets from under their noses - Bournemouth's £45m-rated left-back Milos Kerkez.

Atletico Madrid will move for Emiliano Martinez only if current goalkeeper Jan Oblak can be persuaded to accept an offer from the Saudi Pro League.

Ruben Amorim would prefer to sign rough diamonds instead of ready-made stars to rebuild Manchester United, according to one of Portugal's smartest recruitment experts.

Disabled Manchester United and Tottenham fans have hit out at the 'insulting' number of wheelchair and accessible tickets available for their Europa League final clash.

Lamine Yamal will reportedly inherit Lionel Messi's iconic No 10 shirt at Barcelona after signing a new contract with the club this summer.

Jarrad Branthwaite's participation at the European Under 21 Championships is in doubt after he injured his hamstring playing in Everton's final game at Goodison Park on Sunday.

THE TIMES

The Chelsea chairman and co-owner Todd Boehly has warned that the football calendar is too congested and feels that his players are facing too many games.

THE ATHLETIC

Brighton & Hove Albion forward Joao Pedro missed Monday's win over Liverpool following a training ground altercation with team-mate Jan Paul van Hecke.

Real Madrid are planning for midfielder Jude Bellingham to have surgery on a persistent shoulder problem after the 2025 Club World Cup.

Former Liverpool, Barcelona and Spain goalkeeper Pepe Reina has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 42.

DAILY TELEGRAPH

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are on course to see more than £20m wiped off their Champions League windfall for winning the Europa League thanks to their dreadful domestic seasons.

Mike Brown, the Leicester Tigers and former England full-back, will retire at the end of the season and signed off a 20-year professional career with a parting shot at the game's authorities.

DAILY RECORD

Steven Gerrard could face one major final hurdle before he accepts the Rangers job - even though he appears to be on the brink of a return to Ibrox.

Lawrence Shankland has been offered a three-year deal by Hearts as they plan to make him a legend.

Giorgos Giakoumakis has opened the door on a stunning return to Celtic by revealing he dreams of playing for the club again.

THE SUN

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is ready to sell French club OGC Nice with potential offers from Saudi Arabia, according to reports.

Arsenal vowed to take the "strongest possible action" after a video emerged of a group of fans appearing to racially abuse Paris Saint-Germain players.

Marcus Rashford has flown to Dubai in a desperate bid to rescue his season.

Barcelona legend Xavi is the new favourite to replace Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham should he leave at the end of this season.

Leeds United have joined Everton in the chase to sign Newcastle's Sean Longstaff.

DAILY MAIL

River Plate midfielder Franco Mastantuono has put Manchester United on notice after expressing his interest in joining Real Madrid.

Mohammed Kudus' contract contains a remarkable £125m release clause for Saudi sides this summer - but West Ham would be willing to listen to more realistic offers for their 24-year-old winger rather than demanding that lofty fee in full.

Real Madrid TV have launched a scathing fresh attack on another referee in the run-up to their LaLiga clash with Celta Vigo this weekend.

DAILY MIRROR

Manchester United have beaten Paris Saint-Germain and a host of other European clubs to a deal for Enzo Kana-Biyik, with the highly-rated teenage striker putting pen to paper on a long-term contract.

Manchester City have confirmed that their clash with Bournemouth later this month will be Kevin De Bruyne's farewell match.

Mikel Arteta faces a major striker dilemma this summer.

The FA has defended the decision to massively hike ticket prices for this year's FA Cup final.

THE ATHLETIC

Two members of Manchester United's senior leadership team - Richard Hawkins, director of football insights and innovations, and David Harrison, director of football operations - are expected to leave the club as part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's second round of redundancies.

Spanish second division club Elche have banned the sale and consumption of sunflower seeds inside their stadium.

Chilean club Colo-Colo must play five home matches in continental competition without fans and will also not be allowed supporters for the next five away matches.

Barcelona are likely to be without Jules Kounde for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tie against Inter due to a hamstring injury.

DAILY TELEGRAPH

Newcastle United hold a strong interest in signing Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo but are concerned about the asking price.

THE TIMES

Arsenal face competition from other Premier League clubs, including Bournemouth, to sign Espanyol's highly rated goalkeeper Joan García this summer.

Scottish Championship club Greenock Morton have been hit by a Fifa transfer ban for failing to submit the necessary paperwork when they signed a player from Liverpool.







The 72

Wycombe Wanderers are interested in West Ham forward Callum Marshall, a report from the Bucks Free Press has said.

Wycombe Wanderers are preparing for another season of League One football after coming up short in the play-offs.

The Chairboys were narrowly beaten by Charlton Athletic over two semi-final legs. The Addicks will now face Leyton Orient in the final this weekend as they play a winner-takes-all clash for a spot in the Championship.

At Adams Park though, the focus now turns to the 2025/26 campaign. Mike Dodds will be eager to make his mark on the ranks, and it seems targets are already on the radar.

According to a report from the Bucks Free Press, Wycombe Wanderers are interested in Northern Ireland strike Callum Marshall.

The promising 20-year-old will be back with parent club West Ham this summer off the back of a fruitful season on loan at Huddersfield Town. He is under contract with the Hammers until 2027 and it seems likely that he heads out on a new loan deal.

His League One success may pique Championship interests, but the Chairboys are the only side named in the chase for young forward Marshall at this moment in time.

A stronger second EFL loan

Rumoured Wycombe Wanderers target Marshall gained his first taste of EFL action with West Brom over the second half of the 2023/24 campaign. However, coming off the back of a prolific spell in the Hammers’ academy, he struggled to find success at The Hawthorns.

Marshall played just three times, so a drop down to League One with Huddersfield Town felt beneficial for him at the time.

The Northern Ireland international developed well over his time with the Terriers. Mainly playing as a striker but also finding minutes on the right and in attacking midfield, he managed 10 goals and four assists in 46 games for the club.

Wycombe Wanderers’ attacking options

Wycombe Wanderers have players in attacking positions they will need to replace this summer.

Sam Vokes is heading for the exit door at the end of his deal while Gideon Kodua’s loan will end. Star man Richard Kone is also likely to draw renewed interest for his starring role at Adams Park.

Versatile attackers such as Kieran Sadlier and Bez Lubala are due to be released too, so there will be gaps for Dodds and co to plug over the coming weeks and months.



GFF News

West Ham and OGC Nice interested in Bournemouth’s Hamed Junior Traoré

Hamed Junior Traoré (25) has got his career back on track in what has been a fruitful loan spell at AJ Auxerre. It remains to be seen whether he will return to parent club, Bournemouth, especially amid interest from several clubs in acquiring his services.

Traoré has been a focal point in Auxerre’s attack this campaign, with Christophe Pélissier’s side exceeding all expectations and obtaining a comfortable mid-table finish in Ligue 1. The Ivorian winger has netted 10 goals across the campaign, as well as registering two assists.

He is now attracting interest, with his time at Auxerre seemingly at an end. Whilst the Burgundy side would likely be keen on retaining the player, the €20m that Bournemouth are demanding would surely be out of their reach. OGC Nice are one of the sides interested, as per Foot Mercato, however, Bournemouth’s demands may once again prove an issue. Le Gym’s CEO, Fabrice Bocquet, recently said that the club would not be able to spend €10-15m on a single player this summer.

West Ham United, Atalanta, and Bologna are the other clubs that have enquired about Traoré, according to Foot Mercato.

[Texas Iron]

Cheers…

[With Kind Regards]

Thanks Alan.