Saturday News (includes West Ham)
Posted: 28 Jun 2025, 10:05
BBC
Manchester United, Newcastle United and Tottenham have all been put off Bournemouth's price tag for 25-year-old Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo with the Cherries demanding £70m. (The I - subscription required), external
Arsenal are hopeful of agreeing a deal to sign 21-year-old Spanish defender Cristhian Mosquera after holding talks with Valencia. (Guardian), external
Cameroon midfielder Bryan Mbeumo, 25, has informed Brentford and Tottenham of his decision to sign for Manchester United if he makes a transfer this summer. (The Athletic - subscription required), external
Everton's 23-year-old England centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite is set to sign a new five-year contract, with the Toffees also optimistic Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gueye, 35, will sign a one-year deal. (Times - subscription required), external
Bundesliga side RB Leipzig are the latest club to have expressed their interest in English midfielder Harvey Elliott, 22, if he is to leave Liverpool this summer, with Brighton and West Ham also among suitors. (Mirror, external)
Feyenoord midfielder Antoni Milambo is set to become Keith Andrews' first signing as Brentford boss, with the Bees in advanced talks to sign the 20-year-old Dutch attacking midfielder. (London Evening Standard, external)
Leeds United have opened preliminary talks with Juventus and Brazil midfielder Douglas Luiz, 27, over a move to the newly promoted Premier League club this summer. (Calciomercato - in Italian, external)
West Ham are interested in signing 22-year-old United States midfielder Yunus Musah from AC Milan, with Nottingham Forest also holding talks with the former England youth international. (Tuttomercatoweb - in Italian, external)
However, Forest have ended their interest in 25-year-old Juventus winger Timothy Weah after the United States international rejected the club's contract proposal. Forest had agreed a deal of about £19m with the Italian club for Weah and Belgian winger Samuel Mbangula, 21. (ESPN, external)
Newcastle are set to increase their offer for Brighton's Joao Pedro after a £50m bid for the 23-year-old Brazil striker was rejected. (Talksport), external
Aston Villa face competition from Italian duo Juventus and Lazio for 23-year-old Lens midfielder Neil El Aynaoui, a Morocco Under-23 international. (Calciomercato - in Italian, external)
Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze is among the forward players Arsenal are interested in signing, with Tottenham also keen on the 26-year-old England international. (Sky Sports)
Sky Paper Talk
THE SUN
Liverpool are willing to play a waiting game to land dream striker Alexander Isak after a key pre-season deadline.
Brentford have held talks to sign Gambian wonderkid Adama Bojang, but could face a fight with West Ham for the highly-rated forward.
Lucas Paqueta could be set to move back to his boyhood club.
Wayne Rooney has been tipped for a shock return to management - in non-League.
DAILY EXPRESS
Man Utd are ready to hand Bryan Mbeumo £200,000 but Brentford will not be moved on their transfer demand.
DAILY MIRROR
Lyon have struck a deal with UEFA which they hope will pave the way for them to play in the Europa League next season.
Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has conceded that the club hierarchy were disappointed when Trent Alexander-Arnold informed them he wanted to leave.
THE ATHLETIC
Bryan Mbeumo has informed Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur of his decision to sign for Manchester United if he makes a transfer this summer.
London City Lionesses are set to complete the signing of left-back Poppy Pattinson on a free transfer from Brighton and Hove Albion.
DAILY MAIL
Sir David Beckham is among those calling for Bobby Moore to be given a posthumous knighthood.
Real Betis want Danilo on loan from Nottingham Forest as his proposed move to Lyon hangs in the balance.
Hull City are close to appointing Steven Gerrard's former right-hand man Dean Holden as assistant manager after the Englishman turned down the chance to be the boss of Adana Demirspor in Turkey.
DAILY RECORD
Rangers have reportedly told Maccabi Tel Aviv they are willing to meet their asking price for Dor Turgeman.
Lille are ready to switch their sights to fresh targets after getting cold feet over the megabucks fee Rangers are demanding for Hamza Igamane.
The Athletic
Head has to rule heart for West Ham when it comes to Michail Antonio’s future
By Roshane Thomas
There was a noticeable absentee during West Ham United’s final home game of the season against Nottingham Forest.
Many supporters arrived at the London Stadium on May 18 to bid farewell to stalwarts Lukasz Fabianski, Aaron Cresswell and Vladimir Coufal following the news they would be leaving after the expiry of their contracts on June 30. But for those who intently scoured the dugout, they would have noticed the non-arrival of Michail Antonio, who was conspicuous by his absence.
It is pertinent to wonder if he opted against attending because he remained hopeful his 10-year spell as a West Ham player had not reached its course. At the time, the 35-year-old forward, whose deal also expires on June 30, was engaged in contract talks with majority shareholder David Sullivan and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay. Although talks had reached an impasse, Antonio was optimistic there would eventually be a breakthrough. But there has been no significant progress and, on Monday, the London-born Jamaica international is set to be released.
It would mark a sad end to his spell given his club-legend status. Antonio joined West Ham from Nottingham Forest in 2015 and is their all-time leading Premier League goalscorer with 68 goals in 268 games. He ranks third in West Ham’s history for the number of Premier League appearances (268), behind Cresswell (312) and ex-captain-turned-sporting-director Mark Noble (414).
Antonio’s last appearance for West Ham was in a 3-1 defeat by Leicester City on December 3. He hoped to extend his stay after his miraculous recovery from a serious car crash in December, when he was involved in a single-vehicle collision after the Ferrari he was driving struck a tree in Epping Forest.
He underwent surgery on a lower limb injury and spent four and a half weeks recovering in hospital, returning to fitness ahead of schedule having initially been informed his rehabilitation would take 12 months. He was given a guard of honour by his team-mates when he returned to full training on May 5 but much to Antonio’s frustration, the club’s hierarchy has decided to go in a new direction.
Antonio made an emotional return to the London Stadium in March before the 1-0 loss to Newcastle United, and some supporters paraded banners as a mark of respect.
Whatever happens next, he will be fondly remembered for how he reinvented himself as a striker under former manager David Moyes, memorably scoring four goals against Norwich City in July 2020, becoming the first West Ham player to do so since David Cross in 1981. There’s also his quirky goal celebrations and his unselfishness when played at right-back under Slaven Bilic.
Antonio reached double figures in goals for four consecutive seasons, between 2019-20 and 2022-23. He remained crucial amid the club’s perennial failure to find his replacement. In January 2023, the striker had interest from Everton, Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Last summer, the club rejected an offer from Brazilian side Gremio for the forward.
During West Ham’s previous failed searches for Antonio’s successor, there have been failed bids for Dominic Solanke, then of Bournemouth; Jhon Duran, formerly of Aston Villa; and Hugo Ekitike, back when the in-demand Frenchman played for Reims, among other forwards. Gianluca Scamacca, Jordan Hugill, Jonathan Calleri, Marko Arnautovic, Javier Hernandez, Simone Zaza, Lucas Perez, Sebastien Haller and Albian Ajeti have come and gone, while Antonio has remained a fixture at the London Stadium, often entrusted with playing as a lone striker.
“It was always a journey with Michail, not just one moment,” former West Ham boss Bilic told The Athletic last year. “When I was manager, the fans would always say: ‘Let’s sign a striker’. First, we brought (Simone) Zaza, then, after me, they signed (Sebastien) Haller, (Gianluca) Scamacca, but it was always Michail who was the first choice.
“What makes me smile the most is the fact that he’s gone on to become a West Ham legend. They tried to say he was just a Championship player, but he’s proved them all wrong.”
Antonio’s four-goal haul against Norwich in July 2020 is one of the high points of his West Ham career (Tim Keeton /pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Despite his longevity, Antonio’s impending departure is the best move for both parties, with head coach Graham Potter aiming to kickstart a new era in 2025-26.
The forward scored just one goal in 14 league appearances before his season was curtailed. Early on, when he was restored to the XI following Niclas Fullkrug’s struggles with injuries, it was clear that Antonio’s impact had regressed.
His sole goal came against relegated side Ipswich Town in October and following that match, in starts against Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Everton, Newcastle United and Arsenal, Antonio was often hooked early by former manager Julen Lopetegui.
Another potential factor behind the hierarchy opting to let Antonio go is their focus on transitioning to a more youthful side. Last season, the average age of West Ham’s team was the joint-oldest in the Premier League (28.8 years old, level with Everton). Of their 28-man squad, 12 players were aged 30 or over. Including Antonio, five of those will now search for new clubs.
Antonio hopes his involvement with Jamaica in the Gold Cup will attract potential suitors. He made his comeback from injury as an 85th-minute substitute in Jamaica’s opening group-stage defeat to Guatemala on June 17, before cameo appearances — from the 81st minute and 72nd minute — in subsequent games against Guadeloupe and Panama, respectively.
“From where he was after the accident to be playing and walking is a miracle,” manager Steve McClaren told reporters after Jamaica’s first match. “We’re delighted because we need that kind of leadership. We’ll build up his fitness as much as we can. It was good to get him minutes, although he didn’t have the fairytale of scoring.”
Although Jamaica have been eliminated from the competition, Antonio will be encouraged that he proved doubters wrong.
“It’s a bit of a surprise being back so early, but something that I worked hard for and the graft that I put in to be here,” Antonio told the Jamaica Gleaner earlier this week. “Hopefully, I can show everyone that I’m not just back, but I’m back and playing well.
“Before the very first game, preparing for it when being on the coach, I felt lost. Even in the changing room, some of my team-mates asked if I was alright because I was zoned out. But when the opportunity came to come on the pitch, my body felt ready.”
If Antonio departs, it will not be the ending he would have envisioned for his West Ham career. He may well have already prepared a heartfelt statement eulogising the fans and his team-mates for their unwavering love and support. He will duly receive an outpouring of love if his departure is confirmed.
But when the tears have dried up and the dust settles before a new chapter, Antonio will be aware of the profound impact joining West Ham has had on his life and career.
(Top photo: Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
Sport Witness
West Ham player set to be offered colossal €15-20m a year to move
By Naveen Ullal
Neom are interested in a move for West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus this summer.
That’s at least what TuttoMercatoWeb are reporting, and they make it clear it’s their own information.
Neom have secured promotion to the top flight and identified the West Ham player as a target to strengthen their squad.
Kudus’ contract lasts until 2028 and the Hammers have an option for another year. According to the report, Graham Potter’s side have already set a price of £70m [€82m].
The Saudi club have a ‘lot of money’ and TMW insist it shouldn’t be a problem for them to meet West Ham’s request. They further add the Ghana international’s preference will be key, meaning his approval, to conclude the operation.
In order to convince the former Ajax man, the report states Neom are ready to offer him a salary of €15-20m per year.
TMW points out Chelsea have tried to sign the 24-year-old by offering Robert Sánchez and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall as part of the deal. However, they haven’t made advances as the West Ham’s request is too high.
Manchester United, Newcastle United and Tottenham have all been put off Bournemouth's price tag for 25-year-old Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo with the Cherries demanding £70m. (The I - subscription required), external
Arsenal are hopeful of agreeing a deal to sign 21-year-old Spanish defender Cristhian Mosquera after holding talks with Valencia. (Guardian), external
Cameroon midfielder Bryan Mbeumo, 25, has informed Brentford and Tottenham of his decision to sign for Manchester United if he makes a transfer this summer. (The Athletic - subscription required), external
Everton's 23-year-old England centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite is set to sign a new five-year contract, with the Toffees also optimistic Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gueye, 35, will sign a one-year deal. (Times - subscription required), external
Bundesliga side RB Leipzig are the latest club to have expressed their interest in English midfielder Harvey Elliott, 22, if he is to leave Liverpool this summer, with Brighton and West Ham also among suitors. (Mirror, external)
Feyenoord midfielder Antoni Milambo is set to become Keith Andrews' first signing as Brentford boss, with the Bees in advanced talks to sign the 20-year-old Dutch attacking midfielder. (London Evening Standard, external)
Leeds United have opened preliminary talks with Juventus and Brazil midfielder Douglas Luiz, 27, over a move to the newly promoted Premier League club this summer. (Calciomercato - in Italian, external)
West Ham are interested in signing 22-year-old United States midfielder Yunus Musah from AC Milan, with Nottingham Forest also holding talks with the former England youth international. (Tuttomercatoweb - in Italian, external)
However, Forest have ended their interest in 25-year-old Juventus winger Timothy Weah after the United States international rejected the club's contract proposal. Forest had agreed a deal of about £19m with the Italian club for Weah and Belgian winger Samuel Mbangula, 21. (ESPN, external)
Newcastle are set to increase their offer for Brighton's Joao Pedro after a £50m bid for the 23-year-old Brazil striker was rejected. (Talksport), external
Aston Villa face competition from Italian duo Juventus and Lazio for 23-year-old Lens midfielder Neil El Aynaoui, a Morocco Under-23 international. (Calciomercato - in Italian, external)
Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze is among the forward players Arsenal are interested in signing, with Tottenham also keen on the 26-year-old England international. (Sky Sports)
Sky Paper Talk
THE SUN
Liverpool are willing to play a waiting game to land dream striker Alexander Isak after a key pre-season deadline.
Brentford have held talks to sign Gambian wonderkid Adama Bojang, but could face a fight with West Ham for the highly-rated forward.
Lucas Paqueta could be set to move back to his boyhood club.
Wayne Rooney has been tipped for a shock return to management - in non-League.
DAILY EXPRESS
Man Utd are ready to hand Bryan Mbeumo £200,000 but Brentford will not be moved on their transfer demand.
DAILY MIRROR
Lyon have struck a deal with UEFA which they hope will pave the way for them to play in the Europa League next season.
Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has conceded that the club hierarchy were disappointed when Trent Alexander-Arnold informed them he wanted to leave.
THE ATHLETIC
Bryan Mbeumo has informed Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur of his decision to sign for Manchester United if he makes a transfer this summer.
London City Lionesses are set to complete the signing of left-back Poppy Pattinson on a free transfer from Brighton and Hove Albion.
DAILY MAIL
Sir David Beckham is among those calling for Bobby Moore to be given a posthumous knighthood.
Real Betis want Danilo on loan from Nottingham Forest as his proposed move to Lyon hangs in the balance.
Hull City are close to appointing Steven Gerrard's former right-hand man Dean Holden as assistant manager after the Englishman turned down the chance to be the boss of Adana Demirspor in Turkey.
DAILY RECORD
Rangers have reportedly told Maccabi Tel Aviv they are willing to meet their asking price for Dor Turgeman.
Lille are ready to switch their sights to fresh targets after getting cold feet over the megabucks fee Rangers are demanding for Hamza Igamane.
The Athletic
Head has to rule heart for West Ham when it comes to Michail Antonio’s future
By Roshane Thomas
There was a noticeable absentee during West Ham United’s final home game of the season against Nottingham Forest.
Many supporters arrived at the London Stadium on May 18 to bid farewell to stalwarts Lukasz Fabianski, Aaron Cresswell and Vladimir Coufal following the news they would be leaving after the expiry of their contracts on June 30. But for those who intently scoured the dugout, they would have noticed the non-arrival of Michail Antonio, who was conspicuous by his absence.
It is pertinent to wonder if he opted against attending because he remained hopeful his 10-year spell as a West Ham player had not reached its course. At the time, the 35-year-old forward, whose deal also expires on June 30, was engaged in contract talks with majority shareholder David Sullivan and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay. Although talks had reached an impasse, Antonio was optimistic there would eventually be a breakthrough. But there has been no significant progress and, on Monday, the London-born Jamaica international is set to be released.
It would mark a sad end to his spell given his club-legend status. Antonio joined West Ham from Nottingham Forest in 2015 and is their all-time leading Premier League goalscorer with 68 goals in 268 games. He ranks third in West Ham’s history for the number of Premier League appearances (268), behind Cresswell (312) and ex-captain-turned-sporting-director Mark Noble (414).
Antonio’s last appearance for West Ham was in a 3-1 defeat by Leicester City on December 3. He hoped to extend his stay after his miraculous recovery from a serious car crash in December, when he was involved in a single-vehicle collision after the Ferrari he was driving struck a tree in Epping Forest.
He underwent surgery on a lower limb injury and spent four and a half weeks recovering in hospital, returning to fitness ahead of schedule having initially been informed his rehabilitation would take 12 months. He was given a guard of honour by his team-mates when he returned to full training on May 5 but much to Antonio’s frustration, the club’s hierarchy has decided to go in a new direction.
Antonio made an emotional return to the London Stadium in March before the 1-0 loss to Newcastle United, and some supporters paraded banners as a mark of respect.
Whatever happens next, he will be fondly remembered for how he reinvented himself as a striker under former manager David Moyes, memorably scoring four goals against Norwich City in July 2020, becoming the first West Ham player to do so since David Cross in 1981. There’s also his quirky goal celebrations and his unselfishness when played at right-back under Slaven Bilic.
Antonio reached double figures in goals for four consecutive seasons, between 2019-20 and 2022-23. He remained crucial amid the club’s perennial failure to find his replacement. In January 2023, the striker had interest from Everton, Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Last summer, the club rejected an offer from Brazilian side Gremio for the forward.
During West Ham’s previous failed searches for Antonio’s successor, there have been failed bids for Dominic Solanke, then of Bournemouth; Jhon Duran, formerly of Aston Villa; and Hugo Ekitike, back when the in-demand Frenchman played for Reims, among other forwards. Gianluca Scamacca, Jordan Hugill, Jonathan Calleri, Marko Arnautovic, Javier Hernandez, Simone Zaza, Lucas Perez, Sebastien Haller and Albian Ajeti have come and gone, while Antonio has remained a fixture at the London Stadium, often entrusted with playing as a lone striker.
“It was always a journey with Michail, not just one moment,” former West Ham boss Bilic told The Athletic last year. “When I was manager, the fans would always say: ‘Let’s sign a striker’. First, we brought (Simone) Zaza, then, after me, they signed (Sebastien) Haller, (Gianluca) Scamacca, but it was always Michail who was the first choice.
“What makes me smile the most is the fact that he’s gone on to become a West Ham legend. They tried to say he was just a Championship player, but he’s proved them all wrong.”
Antonio’s four-goal haul against Norwich in July 2020 is one of the high points of his West Ham career (Tim Keeton /pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Despite his longevity, Antonio’s impending departure is the best move for both parties, with head coach Graham Potter aiming to kickstart a new era in 2025-26.
The forward scored just one goal in 14 league appearances before his season was curtailed. Early on, when he was restored to the XI following Niclas Fullkrug’s struggles with injuries, it was clear that Antonio’s impact had regressed.
His sole goal came against relegated side Ipswich Town in October and following that match, in starts against Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Everton, Newcastle United and Arsenal, Antonio was often hooked early by former manager Julen Lopetegui.
Another potential factor behind the hierarchy opting to let Antonio go is their focus on transitioning to a more youthful side. Last season, the average age of West Ham’s team was the joint-oldest in the Premier League (28.8 years old, level with Everton). Of their 28-man squad, 12 players were aged 30 or over. Including Antonio, five of those will now search for new clubs.
Antonio hopes his involvement with Jamaica in the Gold Cup will attract potential suitors. He made his comeback from injury as an 85th-minute substitute in Jamaica’s opening group-stage defeat to Guatemala on June 17, before cameo appearances — from the 81st minute and 72nd minute — in subsequent games against Guadeloupe and Panama, respectively.
“From where he was after the accident to be playing and walking is a miracle,” manager Steve McClaren told reporters after Jamaica’s first match. “We’re delighted because we need that kind of leadership. We’ll build up his fitness as much as we can. It was good to get him minutes, although he didn’t have the fairytale of scoring.”
Although Jamaica have been eliminated from the competition, Antonio will be encouraged that he proved doubters wrong.
“It’s a bit of a surprise being back so early, but something that I worked hard for and the graft that I put in to be here,” Antonio told the Jamaica Gleaner earlier this week. “Hopefully, I can show everyone that I’m not just back, but I’m back and playing well.
“Before the very first game, preparing for it when being on the coach, I felt lost. Even in the changing room, some of my team-mates asked if I was alright because I was zoned out. But when the opportunity came to come on the pitch, my body felt ready.”
If Antonio departs, it will not be the ending he would have envisioned for his West Ham career. He may well have already prepared a heartfelt statement eulogising the fans and his team-mates for their unwavering love and support. He will duly receive an outpouring of love if his departure is confirmed.
But when the tears have dried up and the dust settles before a new chapter, Antonio will be aware of the profound impact joining West Ham has had on his life and career.
(Top photo: Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
Sport Witness
West Ham player set to be offered colossal €15-20m a year to move
By Naveen Ullal
Neom are interested in a move for West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus this summer.
That’s at least what TuttoMercatoWeb are reporting, and they make it clear it’s their own information.
Neom have secured promotion to the top flight and identified the West Ham player as a target to strengthen their squad.
Kudus’ contract lasts until 2028 and the Hammers have an option for another year. According to the report, Graham Potter’s side have already set a price of £70m [€82m].
The Saudi club have a ‘lot of money’ and TMW insist it shouldn’t be a problem for them to meet West Ham’s request. They further add the Ghana international’s preference will be key, meaning his approval, to conclude the operation.
In order to convince the former Ajax man, the report states Neom are ready to offer him a salary of €15-20m per year.
TMW points out Chelsea have tried to sign the 24-year-old by offering Robert Sánchez and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall as part of the deal. However, they haven’t made advances as the West Ham’s request is too high.