Thursday News (includes West Ham)

[Alan]

BBC

Juventus are stepping up their efforts to sign 27-year-old France striker Randal Kolo Muani, who is on loan at Tottenham from Paris St-Germain, and Spurs could look to replace him with Crystal Palace's France forward Jean-Philippe Mateta, 28, if he leaves. (Mail), external

Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee is also an option for Juventus, with Manchester United now open to the 24-year-old leaving them on loan. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external

Manchester United are also considering what to do with England international Harry Maguire. The club have not held substantive talks with the 32-year-old defender who is out of contract at the end of the season. Teams in Italy and Turkey have been in touch with his agent. (Athletic - subscription required), external

The Saudi Pro League is planning a move for Paris St-Germain and France forward Ousmane Dembele, 28, after this summer's World Cup. (Sky Sports), external

PSG have started talks to extend the contract of manager Luis Enrique, whose current deal with the Champions League holders runs out in 2027. (Le Parisien - in French), external

Turkey attacking midfielder Kenan Yildiz, 20, has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs but is close to extending his contract with Juventus. (Sky Sports Germany), external

Atletico Madrid want to sign Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka, who is out of contract at Bayern Munich in the summer, and the 30-year-old is considering the offer. (Sky Sports Germany), external

Serie A strugglers Fiorentina have contacted West Ham about signing England defender Kyle Walker-Peters, 28, and French midfielder Soungoutou Magassa, 22, from the Hammers. (Gazzetta dello Sport, via Football Italia), external

Jesse Lingard, 33, is in talks with English and Italian clubs. The former Manchester United midfielder, who has 32 England caps, is a free agent after leaving FC Seoul in December. (Mail+ - subscription required), external

River Plate have agreed a deal to sign 18-year-old Chelsea and Ecuador attacking midfielder Kendry Paez, who has spent the first half of this season at Strasbourg on loan. (Fabrizio Romano), external

AC Milan are on the lookout for a defender and could target Radu Dragusin of Tottenham. The 23-year-old Romania international is also of interest to Roma and Napoli. (Calciomercato), external

Norwich City have submitted a bid worth 8m euros (£7m) including add-ons for Bodo/Glimt striker Kasper Hogh. Celtic are also interested in the 25-year-old who scored in the Norwegian side's 2-1 Champions League win at Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night to qualify for the play-off round. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Ipswich Town have expressed an interest in signing Leeds United striker Joel Piroe but it is thought the 26-year-old, who is also wanted by FC Twente, Paris FC and Celtic, is keen to stay at Elland Road and fight for his place. (Sky Sports), external

Ipswich are also weighing up a move to bring in striker Sam Surridge, 27, from MLS side Nashville SC. (The Telegraph), external

Bristol City are closing in on a loan deal for Middlesbrough forward Delano Burgzorg, 27, as well as the permanent signing of 20-year-old Manchester City defender Seb Naylor. (Bristol Post), external

Bristol City have also submitted two offers to Polish side Pogon Szczecin for 24-year-old attacker Sam Greenwood, while French striker Fally Mayulu, 23, is set to go the other way for around 1.5m euros (£1.3m) with a medical booked for Thursday. (Meczyki - in Polish), external

Preston North End are set to sign Serbian striker Milos Lukovic on loan from Ligue 1 side Strasbourg after the 20-year-old spent the first half of the season on loan at Spanish Segunda Division club Las Palmas. (L'Equipe - in French), external

Sheffield Wednesday have rejected a second seven-figure bid from Millwall for Swedish midfielder Svante Ingelsson, 27, while the Lions have also made a £300,000 offer for Owls striker Bailey Cadamarteri with Portsmouth also said to be keen on the 20-year-old. (The Star), external

Watford are working on a deal to sign Georgian international centre-back Saba Goglichidze, 21, from Udinese, while goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann, 31, is set to move to League One side Leyton Orient. (Sky Sports), external

West Bromwich Albion are interested in Austin FC midfielder Joseph Rosales, 25, after the Honduran international previously worked under Eric Ramsay at MLS club Minnesota United. (Diez - in Spanish), external

Hull City's Turkish striker Enis Destan, 23, is close to moving on loan to Belgian Pro League side Westerlo until the end of the season. (HLN - in Dutch)




Sky Paper Talk

PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester United have not held substantive talks with Harry Maguire and are unsure what to do with the defender who is out of contract at the end of the season - The Athletic

PSV's Ricardo Pepi has turned down West Ham as he waits for Fulham to submit a third bid for him - The Sun

Liverpool currently have no plans to bring back Kostas Tsimikas from his loan at Roma - Daily Mail

ournemouth are in talks with Inter Milan winger Luis Henrique - TalkSPORT

EUROPEAN FOOTBALL

Jesse Lingard is in advanced talks to join an unnamed Serie A club despite having talks with various Premier League clubs since becoming a free agent - The Sun

Brighton have given permission to centre back Diego Coppola to join Paris FC on loan - Daily Mail

PSG have began talks with manager Luis Enrique to extend his contract amid reported interest from Manchester United - Le Parisien

SCOTTISH FOOTBALL

Celtic's Reo Hatate is the source of interest from several English clubs - Scottish Sun




Guardian Rumour mill

Will Unwin

There is plenty of plotting to be done at Old Trafford and they are keen to bring in some young talent. One man on the Manchester United shortlist is Chelsea’s 19-year-old Tyrique George, who has become something of a fringe figure at Stamford Bridge in recent times. Other options for the recruitment bods are Milan’s Rafael Leão and Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye.

Randal Kolo Muani scored in Tottenham’s win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday night but his future looks uncertain. That was his only his third goal for the club in an underwhelming loan. Juventus are in search of a striker and could bring him back to Turin for a second spell. Another option for i bianconeri is Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee, who does not look as if he will be prolific in the Premier League and is available this month.

After Raheem Sterling’s contract was terminated, plenty more may be sent packing. Amid talk that West Ham are interested in the Chelsea defender Axel Disasi, a challenger has entered the running. Serie A’s Fiorentina want to offer the Frenchman an escape route from Stamford Bridge, where he was part of Enzo Maresca’s bomb squad. The situation is more cordial since Liam Rosenior took over but Disasi still needs to find a new home. Meanwhile, Kendry Páez has agreed to join River Plate on loan to add to the Blues’ exodus.

Fiorentina must really like Premier League players because they have also got on the blower to ask about the West Ham duo Kyle Walker-Peters and Soungoutou Magassa.

Leeds are keen on adding a striker before Monday night, which could mean the end for Joël Piroe at the club. The Dutch striker was a fine servant in the Championship but is without a goal in 12 appearances this season and the Elland Road faithful are eager to find an upgrade. Piroe need not worry, because a few teams will gladly give him a new home. Ipswich are leading the chase but FC Twente, Paris FC and Celtic are keeping an eye on the situation, too. The Tractor Boys have other irons in the figure with Nashville’s Sam Surridge of note. Any incoming could allow Sammie Szmodics to leave Portman Road; Derby are thought to have made a bid.

There only be only days to go in this transfer window, but that should not stop of us from looking ahead to the summer when Harry Wilson, as things stand, will be out of contract. The whispers blowing down the Thames are that the winger will not sign a new contract with Fulham and will try his hand as a free agent. He will not be short of suitors considering his current form, and can already have a word with clubs abroad if he fancies a complete change of scenery.






Sports Witness

West Ham ready to offer players to sign defender – One in, two out

By Kaustubh Pandey

On Wednesday, Corriere Fiorentino reported Fiorentina have made contact for West Ham duo Kyle Walker-Peters and Soungoutou Magassa.

Former Tottenham Hotspur sporting director Fabio Paratici was driving the move, with the right-back seen as a possible replacement for Nicolo Fortini.

Fiorentina are expecting offers to arrive for the Italian defender, with Juventus and AS Roma interested. Fortini is seen as a last minute option as other clubs sell their own players and look for replacements.

The 19-year-old has made a mark for the Florence club this season. Featuring 23 times in all competitions, he’s played in a variety of positions during a troublesome campaign.

West Ham are now interested in Fortini and this comes from today’s La Nazione.

The Florence newspaper report the teenager is likely to depart in the last few days of the winter window. Roma offered €10m plus bonuses last week and are expected to make a new approach.
West Ham transfer on pause for other offers

Things can become complicated for them due to West Ham’s interest. La Nazione report the Hammers have offered Walker-Peters and Magassa in a possible approach for Fortini.

Fiorentina like the two players but they are taking a pause to evaluate this offer further. Likelier, they’re waiting to see if Roma return with something better. Napoli have also been credited with interest and could make an attempt.

The defender’s contract in Florence runs until 2027. This makes him a largely accessible option for the interested clubs. La Nazione feel that even if Fortini doesn’t leave in the winter, his future will be uncertain once again in the summer.

It should be safely presumed that the Italian would replace Walker-Peters at West Ham and that is why the Englishman has been offered to Fiorentina.



C&H

West Ham’s Midfield Exodus Opens Door for Forgotten Academy Youngster

Matt Kemp

West Ham United have entered a period of dramatic midfield transition during the January transfer window, and out of that upheaval one of the club’s academy prospects, Lewis Orford — who turns 20 in February — now finds himself with a genuine pathway into the first‑team squad.

The departures of midfielders James Ward‑Prowse (loan), Guido Rodríguez, George Earthy (loan), Lucas Paquetá, and Andy Irving have reshaped the spine of the team almost overnight. What looked like a crowded, competitive midfield picture has suddenly opened up, creating space for the academy player. Orford is stepping into that void at exactly the right moment.

Orford Ready to Seize His Moment

The Premier League 2 captain did not play on Tuesday night versus Boston in the National League Cup Quarter Final victory due to a suspension, yet there is every chance that he will be in the first-team squad for the away fixture against Chelsea this weekend.

Having returned to the club in November after his loan spell at Stevenage was cut short, coaches inside the academy have consistently praised his performances.

Orford’s rise signals a renewed commitment to the academy pipeline. West Ham fans love seeing one of their own break through, and the timing couldn’t be better.

With the midfield reshaped and opportunities abundant, he has the chance to establish himself as a central figure in West Ham’s next chapter.

There remains a slight possibility that Nuno could still send the player on loan to a Championship or EFL side. However, with the squad already thin and a relegation battle looming, many fans — including me — will be eager for Orford to stay and bolster the available options.

[With Kind Regards]

Thanks Alan. 

[Heavi995]

Cheers Alan