BBC
Manchester United are willing to listen to offers for 31-year-old Brazil midfielder Casemiro, 30-year-old French defender Raphael Varane, and England winger Jadon Sancho, 23, as manager Erik ten Hag attempts to trim down his squad. (Independent)
Billionaire businessman Sir Jim Ratcliffe's acquisition of a 25% stake in Manchester United has been delayed because of "legal structure" matters. (Mail)
Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, 21, and Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, 23, are high on Ange Postecoglou's wanted list as the Tottenham boss reshapes the club's squad. (Sky Sports)
Everton midfielder Dele Alli, 27, is close to a return to full training as he steps up his recovery from the thigh injury which has meant he has yet to play this season. (Times - subscription required)
Liverpool are keeping tabs on French defender Maxence Lacroix as they consider making a January move for Wolfsburg's 23-year-old to provide cover for the injured Joel Matip. (Sun)
Chelsea are set to reject any offers that come in for Albania striker Armando Broja, 22, in January with Fulham keen. (Football Insider)
Fulham have made Brazilian midfielder Andre, 22, of Fluminense their number one target should 28-year-old Portugal midfielder Joao Palhinha depart Craven Cottage in January. (Telegraph - subscription required)
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is keen to sign Palhinha from Fulham which is likely to spell the end of 28-year-old Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey's time with the Gunners. (Mirror)
Manchester United and Newcastle now lead the race to sign 27-year-old Guinea forward Serhou Guirassy from Stuttgart. (Football Insider)
MLS club Colorado Rapids are in talks over a deal for Manchester City's USA goalkeeper Zack Steffen, 28. (Athletic - subscription required)
France midfielder Adrien Rabiot, 28, will snub a move to the Premier League and sign a new deal with Juventus. (Gazzetta Dello Sport - in Italian)
Inter Milan are set break their wage structure to tie Argentina striker Lautaro Martinez, 26, down to a new long-term contract. (Calciomercato - in Italian)
Lyon are open to selling 20-year-old French forward Rayan Cherki in January amid interest from West Ham and Chelsea. (Footmercato - in French)
Germany forward Timo Werner has been told by RB Leipzig sporting director Rouven Schroder he can leave the Bundesliga club on loan in January, but neither Manchester United nor Real Madrid are likely to sign the 27-year-old. (Bild - in German)
Spain forward Ferran Torres, 23, has told Barcelona manager Xavi that he is committed to the club and does not want to leave in January. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish)
Sunderland are interviewing Swedish coach Kim Hellberg, who has said he is leaving IFK Varnamo, about becoming their next manager following the dismissal of Tony Mowbray. (Times - subscription required)
Spanish defender Jonny Otto, 29, is having ongoing talks with Wolves over his future at Molineux after a recent training ground incident. (Express & Star - subscription required)
France goalkeeper Mike Maignan, 28, is considering his future at AC Milan after contract talks stalled, with Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain all monitoring developments. (90min)
Real Madrid have identified Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies as their long-term solution at left-back, with the Bundesliga club concerned they will not be able to meet the 23-year-old Canadian defender's wage demands in the future. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish)
Sky Paper Talk
THE INDEPENDENT
Manchester United are willing to listen to offers on a series of high-profile players, as Erik ten Hag seeks to hone his squad and ensure it is fully committed to his approach. Casemiro, Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho are available for transfer, although the club will be flexible on other squad members.
DAILY MAIL
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's 25 per cent stake in Manchester United is now not expected to be announced until the week after next.
Nottingham Forest have banished club captain Joe Worrall and Scott McKenna from first-team training.
Crystal Palace head coach Roy Hodgson's future is under scrutiny following a worrying run of one victory in eight matches.
Erik ten Hag is refusing to bow to demands from senior Manchester United players for more days off and advanced notice of their training schedule.
The price of Everton's new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock is set to rise by up to £150m due to increased construction costs directly attributable to the war in Ukraine.
Todd Boehly's long absences from Chelsea this season have been noted by players and staff.
The FA have appointed former Manchester United executive James Gray as their new commercial director, with the governing body making digital growth a key priority.
DAILY MIRROR
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is believed to be considering a move for Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha, which could spell the end of Thomas Partey's Emirates stay.
Jurgen Klopp could be forced into the market for a new centre-half - and Wolfsburg defender Maxence Lacroix is on his radar.
Manchester United winger Amad is back in full training as he nears his comeback from a long-term injury.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
A Liverpool-supporting survivor of the Oct 7 terrorist attack on Israel was ejected from Anfield last week after holding up a banner of a fellow fan held hostage by Hamas.
Fulham have made Brazil midfielder Andre their No 1 target should Joao Palhinha depart in January, with the Fluminense player's representatives travelling to England this week ahead of a potential switch to the Premier League.
Steve Cooper, the Nottingham Forest manager, is under increasing scrutiny after freezing out captain Joe Worrall but is expected to take the game at Wolves this weekend.
Erik ten Hag has revealed friends tried to talk him out of taking the Manchester United job but he insisted on taking the challenge, with the Dutchman also saying he has no regrets over his handling of Jadon Sancho.
Jon Rahm has admitted that signing with LIV Golf in a record deal worth upwards of £450m ($566.4m) is a "big risk" to his Ryder Cup future.
England and Harlequins flanker Emily Robinson has received a five-week ban for headbutting Saracens' Sydney Gregson during their Premiership Women's Rugby match last Saturday.
THE TIMES
The American company which is trying to take over Everton has loaned more than £100m to the club while seeking approval for the deal.
Sunderland are interviewing the 35-year-old Swedish coach Kim Hellberg about becoming their next manager.
Jermain Defoe was interviewed by the FA after a private arbitration found he used an agent who was unlicensed in a transfer, but the governing body has confirmed it took no action against the striker.
The British & Irish Lions will play in Ireland for the first time before the 2025 tour to Australia after arranging a send-off fixture against Argentina.
THE SUN
Dennis Bergkamp has opened the door to an emotional return to Arsenal - after declaring his aim to end a six-year exile from football.
THE GUARDIAN
Julen Lopetegui is on Nottingham Forest's radar as the club explore possible successors to struggling manager Steve Cooper.
The Saudi Pro League's sporting director has declared any superstar player, including Lionel Messi, is welcome in the country.
Gloucestershire want to build the world's "most environmentally sustainable" cricket ground and host one of the Hundred's possible expansion teams by selling the Nevil Road site that has been their home since the days of WG Grace.
New figures showing that 53 per cent of children and young people in England still do not meet the chief medical officer's guidelines for daily activity are a "national concern", the Youth Sport Trust has warned.
THE ATHLETIC
Sir Dave Brailsford and Jean-Claude Blanc of INEOS met Manchester United executives at Old Trafford on Thursday as Sir Jim Ratcliffe's acquisition of a 25 per cent stake in the club edges closer.
The Metropolitan Police are investigating after an object was allegedly thrown towards Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson at full-time in his side's 2-0 defeat by Bournemouth on Wednesday night.
The Colorado Rapids are in advanced talks over a deal to sign U.S. national team goalkeeper Zack Steffen from Manchester City.
Steve Cooper expects to be in charge at Wolverhampton Wanderers - and has challenged his Nottingham Forest players to show fans what it means to them to play for the club at Molineux.
The Premier League more than halved its annual funding for the LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall, which is behind the annual Rainbow Laces campaign, in its most recent contract with the organisation while Adidas have also vastly reduced their own financial commitment.
The Union of European Clubs, the fledgling lobby group for non-elite professional teams across the continent, received a significant boost on Friday with the addition of 34 new members from England and Wales.
Burnley winger Luca Koleosho has been ruled out for an extended period with a significant knee injury.
DAILY RECORD
Harry Kewell could be set to leave Celtic, with reports suggesting the coach is the frontrunner for the Yokohama Marinos job.
Leeds United are trying to land Aberdeen's head of recruitment Jordan Miles.
Rangers boss Philippe Clement is ready to sanction a January loan for Leon King.
Derek McInnes has backed Barry Robson to ride out the storm and get Aberdeen back up the table.
SCOTTISH SUN
Alfredo Morelos could be set for shock return to British football with several clubs eyeing up a January swoop, according to a report.
Guardian
Ward-Prowse caps West Ham comeback as Tottenham squander another lead
James Ward-Prowse (centre) leads the West Ham celebrations after scoring his side’s second goal at Tottenham. Photograph: Nigel French/Getty Images/Allstar
Ben Bloom at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
The other four felt different: Chelsea had a numerical advantage, Wolves seemed little more than a late aberration, Aston Villa was an unfortunate freak, Manchester City a hard-fought point.
But on this occasion – a Premier League record fifth successive match that Tottenham have thrown away a lead – the excuses are starting to run thin. They were simply not good enough for too much of the match, namely the whole second half.
At the half-time break there had been a sense of when, or how many, the home side would score, so dominant were they in dictating proceedings when in possession (which was almost the entirety). But they barely came close after Cristian Romero’s early opener.
There was admittedly a sense of the unaccountable about both West Ham goals: Jarrod Bowen benefiting from a wicked double deflection and James Ward-Prowse gifted an empty net to tap into. But there comes a point where Tottenham’s attractive football – of which there was plenty, as always under Ange Postecoglou – must pay dividends.
Home supporters have now endured three consecutive home league defeats for the first time since 2008 and that 10-game unbeaten run to kick off the season is a distant memory.
“It is unacceptable,” said the Spurs captain, Son Heung-min. “As players we should take responsibility. They are tough to play against but we knew what was coming. 1-0 is not enough, you have to try and win the game.
“The fans do not deserve this. When you go 1-0 up early you should bring more energy and play with more energy but we didn’t and that is why we lost. When you have the chances to kill the game you have to play better.”
Romero’s fine looping header, muscling his way between defenders to attack Pedro Porro’s corner, looked like being the first of many Spurs goals in a first half of total dominance.
The hosts’ slick interplay and rapid progression up the pitch rendered West Ham’s attacking players obsolete for large swathes. It was all the visitors could do to boot the ball into opposition territory for a momentary breather before weathering the inevitable next wave.
That West Ham were level within seven minutes of the restart owed much to a huge dose of good fortune. A speculative Mohammed Kudus crack from range ricocheted first off Romero and then Ben Davies straight into the path of the unwitting Bowen, who could not believe his luck with the goal at his mercy. He duly smashed it past Guglielmo Vicario.
Jarrod Bowen fires West Ham’s equaliser past the Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario. Photograph: Rob Newell/CameraSport/Getty Images
Then it happened; the type of moment that encourages opposition supporters to use that yawningly dull phrase “Spursy”. Under minimal pressure, Destiny Udogie self-imploded by playing a woefully underhit back pass to Vicario, whose only option was to hare out and push the ball clear with Bowen bearing down on him.
Presented with the opportunity to shoot as the goalkeeper lay on the floor, Ward-Prowse’s initial effort hit the post, only to rebound straight back for him to pass into an empty net.
Despite increasingly desperate pleas from the home supporters, Tottenham rarely came close to equalising. A poor Richarlison header when unmarked six yards out epitomised their plight.
“It’s another game where we’ve dominated and we haven’t turned that dominance into something more tangible,” said Postecoglou. “We kept the opposition in the game. I thought we were very poor in both boxes today. Those two goals were terrible goals for us to concede.
“This is not about playing good football, this is about winning games of football. I try to set up teams to win. 1-0 up at half-time was not a good performance from us. A good performance would be three or four goals up at half-time.”
Asked what he thinks is to blame for Tottenham’s continued failure to hold on to leads, the Australian said: “It’s just not having that conviction in front of goal to finish things off. As simple as that.
“If we were out on our feet then you could factor that into it. But I don’t see that. At the moment we’re just going through this spell where we’re so-called playing good football but I don’t see that.
“What I see is us not really showing any clear conviction in what we’re doing. We’ve a long way to go as a team and today is further evidence of that.”
Despite guiding West Ham to the top half of the Premier League and the Europa League knockout stages, David Moyes has increasingly faced criticism for a series of uninspiring performances from his side. This was a victory to show the benefit of his pragmatism.
“We were up against it tonight,” he said. “We had to dig in. Thankfully we just about scraped it. The quality Tottenham showed in the first half, I don’t know if we touched the ball for eight or nine minutes.
“We gained a bit of confidence once we got some passes. We wanted to get after them a bit more but by the same breath we were cautious about them picking us off. We are a team who can give some of the good teams a bloody nose. We have that in us.”
Mail
Tottenham 1-2 West Ham: Spurs throw away ANOTHER lead as James Ward-Prowse hits winner in London derby to see Ange Postecoglou's side go five games without a win
By Sami Mokbel
IT'S happened again,' taunted the elated West Ham supporters. It keeps happening to Tottenham - that's the problem.
For the fifth consecutive game, Spurs let their advantage slip. They've not won any of those matches, either. That's a problem.
From five points clear at the top of the table to five without a win, Tottenham suddenly have answers to find.
The fact it was West Ham will just compound the misery. Not that David Moyes will care an iota about that - what a come back from his Hammers in Tottenham's backyard.
But Spurs only have themselves to blame. Again.
It sparked pandemonium in the away end as the Hammers defeated their London rivals
Because for 45 minutes they were excellent. But they were eventually outthought and outmuscled to leave Ange Postecoglou on the receiving end of a Moyes masterclass.
The positivity train has came to a shuddering halt. Boos at the full time whistle were quickly drowned out by the quick fingered PA operator here at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, who swiftly turned on the music.
But Tottenham are out of tune right now. Reality is biting.
Perhaps the injuries - and there are a few in fairness - have caught up with them.
Perhaps Postecoglou will have to adapt his attacking principles to emerge from this rut with their Champions League hopes still in tact.
Whatever it is, Postecoglou isn't letting his players off the hook.
'We've got a long way to go as a team, today was further evidence of that,' said the Australian.
'At the moment we are going through this spell of playing 'so called good football' but I don't see that.'
It is clear his players are rattled. The final whistle sparked a barrage of aggression from Spurs winger Dejan Kulusevski, that saw the Swede booked.
Captain Heung-min Son made his feelings clear, too. Not that Postecoglou was buying into a narrative that his players had been victims of poor refereeing.
'I have no idea why the players were unhappy, we didn't lose because of the referee,' added Postecoglou.
But while Tottenham face a period of soul searching ahead of Sunday's clash against Newcastle, their opposition last night are riding on a crest of a wave.
One loss in eight. Unbeaten in six. Six wins from eight. No matter how you spin it makes heartwarming reading for those in claret and blue.
Mohammed Kudus is dynamite. Jarrod Bowen is on fire. But Moyes, typically, isn't getting carried away.
'Thankfully we just about scraped it. We are attempting to find a way to win in games,' said the Scot.
Cristian Romero's return to the starting XI following a three match suspension arrived as a welcome return for Ange Postecoglou. How they've missed the temperamental Argentine's tenacity - put most of all his pace in the heart of Tottenham's defensive high line.
And it was Romero who handed Spurs a deserved 11th minute lead, leaping above Nayef Aguerd and Edson Alvarez to thump a header past Lukasz Fabianski, who was making his first Premier League start of the season in place of injured No 1 Alphonse Areola.
Romero celebrated by making a heart shape out of his fingers. The love from his team-mates and supporters soon followed.
The dynamism of this Spurs side in full flow is such a sight to behold. Pass. Move. Run. Relentless.
No wonder Tottenham fans have taken such a shining to the Australian. West Ham were huffing and puffing just to hang onto Spurs coattails.
Moyes, with a pen in his had, gesticulated to his players frantically from his technical area.
Yet there was nothing he could do to stem the tide of white shirts. Giovani Lo Celso, Brennan Johnson and Yves Bissouma all squandered decent chances.
West Ham couldn't wait for the half-time whistle. Spurs looked to be in the mood to play all night.
Yet with all that said, Postecoglou knew the dangers of a 1-0 lead and Lucas Paqueta missed a glorious chance on the stroke of half time.
Not that West Ham deserved an equaliser, mind. But you don't always get what you deserve, Tottenham were about to find out the hard way.
The sucker punch duly arrived seven minutes after the restart. Tottenham failed to deal with Paqueta's hopeful ball forward as the ball broke to Kudus.
The Ghana international's shot ricocheted off Romero and Davies before breaking to Jarrod Bowen, who did the rest form close range.
An eruption of joy from the away end. An outpouring of frustration from those with Tottenham connections.
It shouldn't have come to this. But it had.
And all of a sudden West Ham were playing with a swagger. Paqueta forced Vicario into a 56th minute save after a flowing counter that involved Bowen and Kudus before James Ward-Prowse before hit the post amid a flurry of corners and crosses into the box.
Suddenly the natives were becoming restless, in a season of positivity this script wasn't heading in the direction they'd envisaged.
Misplaced pass were greeted with groans, rather than encouragement. The decision to replace Lo Celso with Oliver Skipp was welcomed with audible moans.
The anxieties would have eased considerably had Richarlison, introduced as a 67th minute substitute, scored with a free header just moments after coming on or if Porro's effort in the 73rd minute wasn't stopped by Fabianski.
You just knew what was coming - and in the 74th minute it arrived like a dagger to the heart.
Udogie sold Vicario short with his back pass leaving Bowen to hunt the ball down like a terrier. Eventually the ball broke to Ward Prowse who, after initially hitting the post, stroked into an empty net to net a euphoric winner.
Ward-Prowse's winner was another gift from Spurs as their defensive lapses proved costly
MATCH FACTS
Spurs (4-3-3): Vicario 6.5; Porro 6, Romero 6.5, Davies 6, Udogie 6.5; Bissouma 6 (Gil 84), Lo Celso 7 (Skipp 67, 5), Hojbjerg 6 (Richarlison 67, 5); Kulusevski 6.5, Son 7 (Veliz 88), Johnson 7 (Sarr 84).
Subs not used: Forster, Royal, Donley, Dorrington.
Booked: Porro, Romero.
Scorer: Romero 11.
Manager : Ange Postecoglou 6.
West Ham (4-3-3): Fabianski 7; Coufal 6.5, Zouma 7, Aguerd 6.5, Emerson 6.5; Soucek 7, Ward-Prowse 7.5, Alvarez 6.5; Bowen 7, Kudus 7 (Fornals 88), Paqueta 7.
Subs not used: Anang, Cresswell, Mavropanos, Ings, Ogbonna, Benrahma, Kehrer, Mubama.
Booked: Emerson, Ward-Prowse.
Scorers: Bowen 52, Ward-Prowse 74.
Manager: David Moyes 7.
Referee: Michael Salisbury 6.5.
The Athletic
How David Moyes’ half-time tactical tweak and demand for more urgency revived West Ham
By Roshane Thomas
David Moyes had urged West Ham United to show personality and take more risks after witnessing their draw against Crystal Palace last Sunday, and his players clearly took that message on board.
The second-half performance in the victory at Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, a win secured by goals from Jarrod Bowen and James Ward-Prowse, was laced with the intensity and urgency that had missing up to the break, as well as in too many of the team’s recent performances. It was West Ham back to their best.
They showcased their offensive flair with Bowen spearheading the attack. There was indefatigable work rate to admire from Mohammed Kudus, too, with Emerson Palmieri operating well down the left flank and nullifying Dejan Kulusevski’s impact.
West Ham are known for sitting deep and hitting teams on the break and their luck markedly improved after the break thanks to a few tactical tweaks implemented at half-time.
In the first half, West Ham had as low as eight per cent possession and were too defensive as their average position shows. Kudus (No 14) is the only player who spent most of the opening 45 minutes beyond the halfway line.
Tottenham, in contrast, had eight players whose average first-half position was beyond the halfway line.
But, having witnessed that becalmed first-half performance, Moyes made clear to his players that, by pressing further up the pitch, Kudus and Bowen’s could exploit Tottenham’s high defensive line.
He had seen evidence that the ploy might work. Just before the half-hour mark, Bowen advanced forward but was unable to thread a pass to Kudus. The red circle is where the Ghana international should have been, in between defenders Cristian Romero and Ben Davies.
Kudus had started the game as a lone striker but switched roles with Bowen after the restart. It was a tactical tweak which was key to West Ham gaining confidence offensively. Bowen scored the equaliser seven minutes after the break, registering his ninth league goal of the campaign — seven of those have come away from home. No English player has scored more league goals than Bowen this season.
“Jarrod was a little bit off at the weekend (against Palace) because he was out for three weeks with an injury,” said Moyes. “He just looked a little bit rusty, but tonight we swapped him and Kudus’ positions at different times during the game.
“I was pretty pleased we weren’t more than a goal down at half-time. I didn’t think we’d given up many chances. When we got the ball we gave it away after a few times. We missed opportunities that could’ve given us more confidence and momentum. At half-time I knew we were in the game but we had to stay in the game. We got a bit of luck with the ricochet which fell to Jarrod but you need a bit of luck sometimes. It went our way tonight.”
Bowen’s second-half performance highlighted why Moyes believes the winger has the credentials to transition into a centre-forward. His off the ball movement unsettled Tottenham’s defence.
Shortly after his goal, Bowen made a surging run with Kudus in possession.
But the attacker was hesitant in passing to his team-mate and opted for a safer pass.
Just 15 minutes later, Kudus advanced forward with Bowen in a perfect position to out-pace Davies and exploit the space in behind. All this passage of play requires is a long ball over the top from Kudus. He once more stalled in making the pass, but it was only a matter of time before Bowen’s movement off the ball would be rewarded.
That came during the build-up for Ward-Prowse’s goal. With Bowen and Kudus pressing, naturally their team-mates followed suit. Ward-Prowse forced defender Udogie to pass back to his goalkeeper, but the full-back was unaware that Bowen was ready to pounce.
Guglielmo Vicario rushed off his line to prevent Bowen from latching on to Udogie’s short back pass…
… but the goalkeeper only pushed the ball straight to Ward-Prowse, who anticipated the error.
Despite initially hitting the post, the rebound fell to the midfielder who scored his third goal since joining from Southampton in August.
“The manager wanted us to be hard to beat,” said Ward-Prowse. “We had to be clinical on the counter attack, and we certainly were. I’ve never scored a goal like that before. To be honest, I was more concerned with not hitting Jarrod! But thankfully it went in and sometimes you get that luck — it went in for us.”
West Ham’s second half performance is a reminder of this team’s capabilities. They were more attack-minded and their average position after the break showed why they had more joy with Bowen (No 20) and Ward-Prowse (No 7) playing further up the pitch — a huge contrast from how deep they had been in the first half.
“I’m pleased with how we were resilient and diligent in our work, organised, defensively structured and we were always a threat as well,” added Moyes. “We defended better and, in the second half, we stepped up a bit.
“We had to be mindful of not opening up and allowing Tottenham to score again. Recently I’ve been disappointed that we haven’t defended well enough and tonight was the opposite. We found a way against a top six side. We have a bit of a run going at the moment and if we can keep it going then that would be great.”
There will be more tests for West Ham with upcoming games against Fulham, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United. But if they continue to play with personality, intensity and urgency, the manager will have few complaints.
