Paper Talk
THE SUN ON SUNDAY
Juan Mata wants to fight for his place at Old Trafford rather than head back to Spain where he is attracting interest from a number of La Liga clubs.
Wigan’s 78-year-old owner Dave Whelan is in talks to sell the Latics to a group in Thailand.
Newcastle remain interested in signing Anderlecht defender Chancel Mbemba.
SUNDAY MIRROR
Real Madrid are ready to splash £80million on taking Juventus star Paul Pogba to the Bernabeu next season – and from under the noses of Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United who are all keen to sign the Frenchman.
Liverpool are showing an interest in Manchester City’s out of favour forward Steven Jovetic who is also wanted by Italian giants Inter Milan and Juventus.
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has told James Millner to ‘stay and fight for your place’ with the 29-year-old England midfielder yet to sign a new contract at the Etihad.
DAILY MAIL
Everton boss Roberto Martinez says he enjoys facing Arsenal because they do not employ ‘parasite’ tactics. The Spaniard has also told Kevin Mirallas to remain patient over a new contract.
SUNDAY TIMES
Juan Mata believes misfiring Manchester United ‘need to play quicker to create more’ but he says it will eventually click for the Reds.
DAILY STAR ON SUNDAY
Liverpool would be interested in signing James Milner, providing the Manchester City man is prepared to accept a pay cut.
Arsene Wenger is said to be keen on signing Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin for £20million this summer – although Spanish giants Barcelona are also interested in securing the Frenchman’s signature.
BBC
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Manchester City are considering a £100m bid for Barcelona's former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, 28, who moved to the Nou Camp in the summer of 2014. (Mail on Sunday)
Paris St-Germain manager Laurent Blanc has ruled out selling Brazilian defender Marquinhos, 20, to Manchester United. (Sunday Express)
Arsenal are on the trail of Hoffenheim's £20m-rated Brazilian playmaker Roberto Firmino, 23, as they fear losing Santi Cazorla with the 30-year-old attacking midfielder tipped for a return to Spain. (Sunday People)
Liverpool are looking at offering out-of-favour Manchester City striker Stevan Jovetic, 25, the chance to stay in the Premier League, with the striker set to leave Etihad Stadium in the summer. (Sunday Mirror)
However, City are willing to battle Liverpool for Burnley striker Danny Ings, 22, to boost their homegrown quota, and have made contact with his representatives. Ings will be out of contract in the summer. (Mail on Sunday)
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes that Argentina forward Lionel Messi, 27, will never leave Barcelona for Chelsea because of his stature in world football. (Gazetta della Sport, in Italian)
Tottenham have stepped up their interest in Sevilla striker Carlos Bacca after sending their new recruitment chief on a midweek mission to watch the 28-year-old in action in the Europa League. (Sunday People)
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has told James Milner he is desperate to keep him at the club but admitted he cannot guarantee the 28-year-old England midfielder a place in his team. (Sunday Mirror)
Palermo striker Paulo Dybala, 21, is closing in on a £30m move to Borussia Dortmund despite interest from Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. (Sunday Express)
OTHER GOSSIP
Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola will be offered the Manchester City job this summer if the Premier League champions fail to win a trophy under current manager Manuel Pellegrini. (the Sun - subscription required)
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says he now wants to remain in England for the rest of his career. (Independent on Sunday)
Football Association chairman Greg Dyke suggests that Mourinho's recent criticism of the FA over a two-game ban for Chelsea's Nemanja Matic may be "tactical". (Sunday Telegraph)
Tottenham striker Harry Kane, 21, has stoked up the rivalry with Chelsea ahead of the Capital One Cup final by claiming that the Stamford Bridge club should follow Spurs' example and promote more players from their youth system. (Sunday Express)
Talks over the futures of Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, 24, and on-loan striker Radamel Falcao, 29, will be held this week between the Old Trafford club and agent Jorge Mendes, who represents both players. (Daily Star Sunday)
Meanwhile, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal admits former Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria is short of confidence after the 27-year-old was replaced at half-time against Sunderland on Saturday. (Manchester Evening News)
Former Southampton defender Francis Benali fears the club could have another player exodus on their hands in the summer following their impressive performances this term. (Talksport)
Chelsea are set to give midfielder Nemanja Matic, 26, a big pay increase as part of a new contract, just over a year after the Serb returned to Stamford Bridge. (the Sun - subscription required)
Newcastle manager John Carver says he was unable to hand Jonas Gutierrez his first Newcastle United appearance for two years on Saturday after Massadio Haidara went off injured. The 31-year-old Argentina international was named on the bench against Aston Villa after overcoming testicular cancer. (Newcastle Chronicle)
Chelsea midfielder Ramires, 27, will not talk to or text compatriot and Spurs midfielder Paulinho, 26, ahead of Sunday's Capital One Cup final. (Daily Star Sunday)
BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA
It was a day of mixed fortunes for Crystal Palace's Glenn Murray. He scored two goals in his side's win over West Ham but also managed to get himself sent off. "Delighted to get a couple but disappointed to get sent off," he tweeted. "Main thing is big 3 points! Boys dug in well & deserved it."
And Wales' tense Six Nations win over France also earned praise from some of the Premier League's Welsh stars. Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey tweeted: "Great result for Wales today, always special to win in Paris. Hoping we can do the same tomorrow, let's get back on track." While Crystal Palace's Joe Ledley added: "Great win today from the lads. @GM_83 was on flames, and team Wales winning in the rugby perfect."
AND FINALLY....
The Sun on Sunday believes it has solved Chelsea striker Diego Costa's goal drought - he is living in the "cursed" former home of £50m Blues "flop" Fernando Torres. A Chelsea spokesman said Costa did not feel jinxed by the house. (the Sun - subscription required)
Crystal Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni had his name mis-spelled in Saturday's match programme at West Ham. The 35-year-old was referred to as 'Peroni' but had the last laugh as Palace won 3-1. (Metro)
Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has risked manager Arsene Wenger's anger by saying he cannot understand the fuss about players' smoking after team-mates Jack Wilshere and Wojciech Szczesny were both pictured appearing to smoke. (Sunday People)
Mail
West Ham 1-3 Crystal Palace: Glenn Murray scores brace but is sent off as 10-man Eagles secure impressive victory at Upton Park
Crystal Palace frontman Glenn Murray scored twice but was later sent off for late challenge on Winston Reid
Defender Scott Dann powered home a header to double the Eagles advantage before Murray's second
Jason Puncheon set up all three goals against Alan Pardew's former side
West Ham replied through Enner Valencia on 72 minutes but were unable to stage an unlikely comeback
By Riath Al-Samarrai
It's turning nasty again and not just because Mile Jedinak’s elbow found its way to Diafra Sakho’s face. These are hard times for Sam Allardyce and help from referees is about as scarce as support from the stands right now.
He was booed once more as he walked away from this debacle, complaining to himself and media about two key decisions that might have changed the game.
But, while he had a point that match-winner Glenn Murray was lucky to last as long as he did before his second yellow card, and Allardyce was also correct to criticise Palace’s Jedinak for his late elbow, West Ham lost this game because of their own performance. And in credit to Allardyce he did not shy away from that reality.
Crystal Palace striker Glenn Murray climbs above the West Ham defence to power a header towards goal as the Eagles took the lead
West Ham defender Aaron Cresswell attempted to clear Murray's effort away but inadvertently sliced the ball into his own net
West Ham goalkeeper Adrian questions his defence as Cresswell reacts and James Tomkins stands with his hands on his hips
Crystal Palace defender Scott Dann rises high above West Ham centre back Winston Reid and fires the ball past Adrian with a powerful header
Murray gets in between Tomkins and striker Diafra Sakho to produce a diving header which put Palace 3-0 up after 63 minutes
West Ham goalkeeper Adrian lets out a scream of frustration having been beaten for the third time of the afternoon
West Ham frontman Enner Valencia fired home a consolation for the Hammers as the home side were unable to stage an unlikely comeback
Far from it. His frustration and anger was obvious as he explained how his team’s week was spent preparing for Palace’s set-piece threat. To then lose three goals from two corners and a free-kick was mildly galling.
‘We spent time looking at their set-pieces based on the fact that 50 per cent of their goals come from set-plays,’ Allardyce said. ‘You know how dangerous they are. We have lost on that tactic alone which is a disappointing. Three goals is our fault.
‘We really did not see this coming. We have let ourselves down a bit.’
It’s a sentiment that could be broadened to the club’s recent form, even if Allardyce has been quick to highlight the tiny margins keeping West Ham from wins against Tottenham and Manchester United.
But the point stands that, unlucky or not, West Ham have now won only once in 10 league games and this defeat was dire. Awful, actually. The fact it came at Upton Park, where they have done so well this season, will only intensify the feeling that matters and confidence are on the slide.
Certainly there was no coherence in the home side’s thinking as Palace went 2-0 ahead. Glenn Murray headed the first, though Aaron Cresswell might be credited with an own goal for the calamitous swipe that sent to ball into the net. And Scott Dann scored the second after exposing some dreadful marking from Winston Reid.
Through no fault of his own, though, he must now contend with the possibility of losing Jedinak to retrospective action. He said: ‘I don’t think there is anything malicious in it. I hope the authorities look kindly on it.
‘Anyone who knows him knows he doesn’t have nastiness in him. It is a shame those incidents will grab some headlines.’
Those words struggled to convince against the evidence of television replays, but Palace’s wider performance was extremely impressive. It was only after Murray’s red card with 22 minutes to play that Palace let West Ham find any kind of stride pattern. They pulled a goal back through Enner Valencia and the same player also brought a delightful save from Julian Speroni, but there was no salvation for West Ham.
Pardew said: ‘Murray just has that nous as a No 9 to find a bit of space and be in the crucial place at the crucial time. He is a bit like Teddy (Sheringham) in that he can create space without a great deal of pace. He is clever.
‘I felt sorry for him getting sent off because he was brilliant for us.’
He was. But it always helps when the opposition is such a soft touch.
MATCH FACTS
West Ham (4-3-1-2): Adrian 6; Jenkinson 6, Tomkins 5, Reid 5, Cresswell 6; Noble 5.5, Song 6 (Nene 61, 6), Kouyate 6; Downing 6; Sakho 5.5, Valencia 6.5
Subs not used: Jaaskelainen, Nolan, Jarvis, O'Brien, Collins, Demel.
Booked: Valencia, Tomkins
Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Speroni 7; Ward 6, Dann 7, Delaney 6, Kelly 5.5; Jedinak 6.5, Mutch 5.5 (McArthur 33, 6); Zaha 5.5 (Ameobi 72, 6), Puncheon 7.5, Bolasie 6 Ledley 82); Murray 7
Subs not used: Hennessey, Hangeland, Gayle, Souare
Booked: Murray, Ward, Delaney
Sent off: Murray
Referee: Mike Dean 6
Attendance: 34,857
MOM: Jason Puncheon
Ratings by Riath Al-Samarrai
Mail
Mile Jedinak 'needs to be punished' for elbow on Diafra Sakho says Ruud Gullit
By Jonny Singer
Ruud Gullit labelled Mile Jedinak's elbow to the face of West Ham striker Diafra Sakho 'unbelievable and said the Australian should be punished by the FA.
Palace were 3-0 up when Jedinak caught Sakho in the face with his elbow, in an incident that went unpunished by referee Mike Dean.
And, speaking on Match of the Day, Gullit and Alan Shearer called on Jedinak to be banned for the challenge.
'It's unbelievable,' said Gullit. 'We talk about the FA doing something about diving, but this needs to be punished.'
Shearer agreed with his BBC colleague, branding the challenge 'very dangerous'.
'That could've been very dangerous and caused a serious injury,' he said. 'He puts his elbow into his face and I'm pretty sure the FA will look at that.'
Telegraph
Glenn Murray on target and sees red at Upton Park
West Ham United v Crystal Palace, Premier League - Alan Pardew keeps up his 100 per cent record of five away wins out of five since taking over Crystal Palace reins
By Gerry Cox, Upton Park
It was a tale of two managers and two sides moving in opposite directions, as Alan Pardew kept up his 100 per cent away record since taking over at Crystal Palace to lead them closer to safety, while Sam Allardyce's West Ham are drifting slowly down the table.
The Hammers were booed off at the end of this dismal defeat, which leaves them with only one win in their last ten league games and with their hopes of qualifying for the Europa League about to fade and die.
Allardyce's future is the subject of speculation, with his contract expiring in the summer and nothing in the pipeline, and after a bright first half to this season, which took them as high as fourth, are now drifting towards mid-table.
Unusually for an Allardyce team, they were undone by a trio of goals scored by Palace at set-pieces, and although they rallied with an Enner Valencia goal after Palace striker Glenn Murray was sent off in the 68th minute, the visitors rarely looked like letting it slip.
This was Palace's fifth successive away win since former West Ham manager Pardew took over in January, and they now have 30 points and a real chance of safety. “This win was so important because it gives us a platform. If we win at least three of our home games, we can stay in the division.”
Allardyce admitted his frustration. “We spent a lot of time looking at Crystal Palace's set-plays because the analysis says 50 per cent of their goals this season come from then.
“We set out a plan to stop it and we haven't done that, and we've lost the game on that tactic alone. “That's really disappointing. If you concede one, give Palace credit, if you concede three that is our fault.”
Both managers admitted that Mile Jedinak could have joined Murray in the dressing room after the Palace captain elbowed Diafra Sakho in the closing stages, unseen by referee Mike Dean.
“His elbow was high but I don’t think there was anything malicious in it,” said Pardew. “I hope the authorities look kindly on it.”
Allardyce added: “When you are in a winning position there is no need to do that and he was lucky to get away with it. It could have been a red card and a penalty to us. But I don’t want to make excuses for losing."
Palace were already down to ten men after Murray's dismissal for his second yellow card, just five minutes after his second goal.
His first goal was somewhat bizarre, after West Ham had started stronger in a tepid opening half. Aaron Cresswell fizzed a shot just over the Palace crossbar and then Mark Noble curled a free-kick against it, Palace broke the deadlock.
Murray had been denied three times before scoring in the 41st minute. Jason Puncheon swung in a corner, Murray's header was straight at Adrian but Cresswell tried to clear and sliced the ball over his own goal-line.
Palace increased their lead ten minutes later when another Puncheon corner was headed home powerfully by Scott Dann.
And it got even worse for West Ham when Murray, having won a free-kick, scored with a diving header from Puncheon's perfect delivery.
West Ham's new Brazilian striker Nene hit the post moments after making his debut as substitute before Murray received a second yellow card for catching Winston Reid.
Valencia fired in a shot from 20 yards in the 76th minute that Julian Speroni could only divert into the back of his net to give West Ham some hope, but Palace held out, with the keeper saving well from Valencia and Carl Jenkinson.
C&H
Noble/Tomkins: The finances
Local boys Mark Noble and James Tomkins signed deals worth less than the personal terms reported in the general media.
It was widely believed that Nobes had signed a deal worth £50k a week and his pal Tomkins’ new contract was valued at around the £40k a week mark.
ClaretandHugh understands according to sources that the midfield loyalist settled at around £45k and the big defender £35k a week – up from £25k.
These are basic wages but the two have clauses written in which would give them appearance, win and league position bonuses like the remainder of the squad.
It means that TOGETHER the duo’s joint salary is the same as Andy Carroll’s and just £10k in advance of loanee Alex Song.
One source said: “These two lads obviously want the best deals they can get but playing for the club they love is the No 1 issue.
OS
U18s put Royals to the sword
Djair Parfitt-Williams
West Ham United U18s ended their Barclays U18 Premier League regular season with a convincing 4-0 victory over Reading at Rush Green on Saturday.
The Hammers raced into a three-goal lead with half an hour, as Djair Parfitt-Williams and Joe Powell slotted home from close range, before the latter turned provider for Josh Pask.
Mark Phillip’s men added a fourth after the break when Parfitt-Williams was afforded too much space in the box to head home his second of the contest.
U18s coach Phillips had earlier made two changes to the side that started last weekend’s 2-1 home defeat by Norwich City. Neither Alex Pike nor Jordan Brown were available for selection, allowing England youth defenders Reece Burke and Vashon Neufville to return to the side.
Powell and Parfitt-Williams both threatened from the wings in the opening quarter of an hour,
while Reece Oxford, in a new holding midfield position, add strength to the Hammers back line.
On 17 minutes, West Ham hit the front when Powell picked up the ball on the right-hand touchline and aimed a direct through ball towards Parfitt-Williams. It looked as if either Tom McIntyre or Axel Andresson would deal with it, although they only succeeded in heading it into the path of Parfitt-Williams who finished calmly from close range.
Just a minute later, the hosts spurned a chance to double their lead when Jahmal Hector-Ingram fired over from close range.
The Hammers did, however, get their second goal within five minutes of their first, with Powell being given far too much space inside the penalty box to slide a shot into the corner of Lewis Ward’s net.
And the goals continued to come as the hosts added a third on 26 minutes when Powell again supplied the assist for Pask to head home from point-blank range.
Powell continued to threaten after the interval and might have added to his own tally, firstly volleying wide before Ward acrobatically tipped his low shot around the post.
The Hammers rounded off their thumping win by adding a fourth in second-half stoppage time. Once Ward had conceded a corner after parrying a shot from Parfitt-Williams, the Bermudan-born winger was perfectly placed to head home his second.
Phillips’ side end the regular season with 32 points from 22 games and will now have for their fellow Southern-based sides to conclude their seasons before finding out which play-off group they will enter.
U18: Howes, Knoyle (c), Pask, Burke, Neufville (Borg), Carter, Oxford, Powell (Sylvestre), Diangana, Parfitt-Williams, Hector-Ingram.
Subs not used: Rice, Boness.
