|
Paper Talk
Manchester United are lining up a record-breaking bid for Real Madrid's James Rodriguez.
Willian has finally got some good news for Chelsea fans by declaring: 'Sign me up'.
Luke Shaw is making positive steps on the road to recovery from his horrific double leg break against PSV Eindhoven in September.
Mario Gotze will meet with Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer to discuss his future at the German Champions with Liverpool waiting in the wings.
Chelsea will not sign a striker this month despite on-loan Radamel Falcao being too unfit to play for his parent club, Monaco.
Jurgen Klopp says he snubbed a chance to fill Alex Ferguson's boots at Manchester United. The Liverpool boss was approached by Fergie himself three years ago.
Alexandre Lacazette has warned the Premier League's top clubs he will not move to England to warm their bench. Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea have all been linked with the 24-year-old Lyon striker.
Liverpool are lining up a January offer for Southampton striker Shane Long.
Everton 'keeper Tim Howard is wanted by MLS side Colorado Rapids, who could offer him up to £2m per season.
Bacary Sagna has accused referees of sabotaging Manchester City's title chances.
Watford hope to tie up a £6.5m deal for Malaga winger Nordin Amrabat.
Newport County have confirmed the loan signing of Chelsea goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney.
Guus Hiddink has warned Chelsea not to do anything "stupid" in the transfer market. Hiddink believes clubs have to be "rather desperate" to sign new players in January.
The Chelsea transfer saga of last summer made a man of John Stones, says Everton manager Roberto Martinez.
Southampton risk star striker Graziano Pelle returning to Italy after delaying talks over a new contract. Pelle - wanted by both Juventus and Fiorentina - is into the final 18 months of his current deal.
Tony Pulis has called for the transfer window to be scrapped after claiming the "jungle" mentality it creates has messed with West Brom striker Saido ÂBerahino's head.
Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers are interested in signing Aiden McGeady on loan from Everton.
Cristiano Ronaldo could be returning to England before Euro 2016...but only as part of the Portugal squad being lined up for a friendly with Roy Hodgson's side, potentially at Old Trafford.
Norwich have agreed an £8.5 million fee for Swiss international defender Timm Klose. Klose, 27, has grabbed his chance to play in the Premier League after dropping down the pecking order at German club Wolfsburg.
Liverpool are competing with Arsenal for Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams. The winger broke the record in Spain after being clocked at 22.2 miles per hour.
Arsenal are looking at Leicester's head of technical scouting Ben Wrigglesworth as they start an overhaul of their player recruitment system.
Harry Kane inspires the same fear that Romario and Ronaldo once did, claims Tottenham boss Pochettino
Celtic have opened talks with Manchester City over taking their best young talent on loan, with Patrick Roberts and Bersant Celina talked about.
Everton are facing a fight to land Sam Byram after Newcastle and West Ham launched attempts to hijack the deal. Leeds have accepted a £3m bid from the Merseyside club.
QPR could offer Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford a first-team lifeline.
Bristol City will look at Oxford United manager Michael Appleton as a possible replacement for Steve Cotterill, who was fired on Thursday.
Manchester United want Tottenham youth supremo John McDermott, influential in bringing through the likes of Harry Kane at White Hart Lane, to take over as their head of youth recruitment when Derek Langley leaves at the end of the season.
Tony Pulis is in a battle with former club Crystal Palace over a £1m bonus payment they made to him just before he left Selhurst Park
Sam Allardyce, the Sunderland manager, has warned that English football will struggle to produce another Harry Kane if the FA does not resist Fifa's Âattempt to end the emergency loan system.
Manchester United's head of youth development is to quit the club at the end of the season after becoming disillusioned with the state of the academy.
Despite the criticism from pundits and supporters, Simon Mignolet is set to sign a new deal at Anfield and believes he is improving as a goalkeeper.
Liverpool are monitoring Athletic Bilbao's forward Inaki Williams, who has a release clause in his contract of 20m euros.
BBC
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, 48, says he was sounded out about taking over at Manchester United in 2013 by Sir Alex Ferguson but turned down the chance to go on the shortlist of candidates to take over at Old Trafford. (Daily Mirror)
Klopp says he could not have left Borussia Dortmund, where he was boss at the time, as "it was April and in the middle of the planning for next season". (Sun)
Meanwhile, Liverpool midfielder Emre Can, 22, insists Klopp's training methods are not to blame for the club's recent injury problems . (Times - subscription required)
Having signed several Southampton players in the past few years, Liverpool could recruit another player from Saints as they consider an £8m move for striker Shane Long. (Sun)
Liverpool have also scouted 21-year-old Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams, who has a release clause in his contract of 20m euros (£15.3m) and has also attracted interest from Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. (Guardian)
Chelsea are considering making a summer move to bring former manager and current Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri back to Stamford Bridge. (Tuttosport via Daily Express)
Meanwhile, Chelsea playmaker Willian, 27, wants to sign a lengthy new contract with the club, despite the Blues struggling in the lower half of the Premier League. (Sun)
Newcastle's new £12m midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, 23, is looking forward to a new challenge after being left "nearly in tears" by his experience at Swansea City. (Wales Online)
Manchester United want Tottenham's head of coaching and player development, John McDermott, to oversee their academy system. (Times - subscription required)
Manchester City are planning a summer overhaul in preparation for Pep Guardiola arriving as their new manager. The club are set to join the chase for 21-year-old Everton defender John Stones, while striker Wilfried Bony, 27, and centre-back Eliaquim Mangala, 24, could be off-loaded. (Daily Telegraph)
However, Everton manager Roberto Martinez says Stones has improved as a player and as a leader this season, and believes the club's refusal to sell him to Chelsea last summer has aided his development. (Daily Express)
Everton face competition from West Ham and Newcastle for the signature of Leeds defender Sam Byram, despite the Goodison Park club having an offer accepted for the 22-year-old. (Guardian)
Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce wants the FA to resist Fifa's plans to scrap the emergency loan system. (Daily Telegraph)
Watford are hoping to complete the £6.5m signing of Malaga's 28-year-old winger Nordin Amrabat. (Daily Star)
Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette, 24, says he will not leave the French club in January but could move to the Premier League this summer - with Chelsea and Newcastle reportedly interested. (London Evening Standard)
Southampton have delayed talks over a new contract with striker Graziano Pelle, who has 18 months left on his current deal, and risk losing the 30-year-old, who has been linked with Juventus and Fiorentina. (Daily Echo)
Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon does not believe Atletico Madrid's transfer ban will be a reason for manager Diego Simeone, who has been linked with Chelsea, to leave the Spanish club. (Talksport)
Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck, 25, midfielders Francis Coquelin, 24, and Jack Wilshere, 24, are all back in training but still weeks away from first-team action. (Independent)
Ola Toivonen will remain at Sunderland on loan until the end of the season after Rennes ruled out a return to France for the 29-year-old midfielder. (Shields Gazette)
Bologna have reached an agreement with Sunderland to turn 30-year-old Italian midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini's loan move to Italy into a permanent deal. (La Gazzetta dello Sport)
Swansea have rejected an approach from Sunderland for their 26-year-old Ghanaian forward Andre Ayew. (Daily Mirror)
Middlesbrough, Derby and Celtic are interested in taking 19-year-old Manchester City forward Bersant Celina out on loan. (Daily Mail)
And finally
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp produced a fist-pumping celebration on the run after his side's equaliser in a 3-3 draw with Arsenal on Wednesday and Reds keeper Simon Mignolet says the German even does it in training. (Guardian)
Swansea fans can swap their Jonjo Shelvey shirts for free following the 23-year-old midfielder's £12m move to Newcastle. (South Wales Evening Post)
UEFA.com
UEFA.com's weekly wonderkid: Reece Oxford
The famed West Ham academy has churned out another promising talent in defender Reece Oxford, who became the east London club's youngest debutant earlier this season.
West Ham United started their 2015/16 season much earlier than any of their Premier League rivals, playing in the UEFA Europa League first qualifying round on 2 July. Reece Oxford, then 16, made his senior debut for the east Londoners that day and has since gone on to feature a further seven times for Slaven Bilić's side, most recently against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup on 9 January. Last month, on his 17th birthday, he also signed his first professional contract.
Name: Reece Oxford
Club: West Ham United
Debut: 2 July 2015 v Lusitans
Position: Defender
Nationality: English
Date of birth: 16/12/98
Preferred foot: right
Height: 178cm
2015: 2 July - @Reeceoxford_ becomes #WestHam's youngest-ever player in a @EuropaLeague tie with Lusitans #WHU2015 pic.twitter.com/ZxrJ9QQXlL
— West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) December 31, 2015
They say …
"He's definitely going to be a big player. He's only 16 so he's going to have ups and downs, but for now we have to manage him – not only on the pitch but off it too so he stays grounded and can progress. The boy has everything, everything."
Slaven Bilić, West Ham manager
Background …
Born in Edmonton, north London, Oxford spent his pre-teen years as a striker at nearby Tottenham Hotspur, who released him in 2011, opening the door for West Ham to secure his services. Last summer, Oxford – who broke into the club's Under-21 team as a 15-year-old – graduated to the senior squad as Respect Fair Play entrants West Ham embarked on their first European campaign since 2006/07.
Playing style …
Operating at centre-back, Oxford skippered England as they reached the quarter-finals of the 2015 UEFA European U17 Championship in Bulgaria. Tall and quick, he is not daunted in the face of illustrious opponents. Indeed, his calm, unflustered demeanour is one of his biggest assets. "If Messi was in front of me, I'd be more fazed than Reece," Bilić told Sky Sports. "People were asking [after his display at Arsenal on 9 August]: 'Are you sure he is 16?'"
Shades of …
Oxford has been compared to Rio Ferdinand, who came through the West Ham academy two decades before him.
Eureka moment …
Oxford was handed a surprise start for West Ham's tough opening-day assignment at Arsenal. Tasked with protecting centre-backs Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna, Oxford helped neutralise a home midfield containing the creative talents of Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Özil and Santi Cazorla. His showing in a surprise 2-0 victory was widely praised.
And well done Reece Oxford. A truly astonishing debut by the 16 year old.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) August 9, 2015
Best-case scenario …
With West Ham relocating to the 2012 Olympic Stadium next season, Oxford will have a bigger arena in which to showcase his talents. The hope is he could one day succeed another local lad, Mark Noble, as Hammers captain.
He says …
"Sometimes players can fall off a bit when they sign a big deal, but I just want to get better and progress as a player. I want to start in the Premier League and sign longer for the club."
"I always get reminded that I did so well against Arsenal and I have to pinch myself that I did OK against the top players. I hope I showed my potential and hopefully I can kick on this season and get some more games for the first team."
HITC
It's official, Premier League West Ham are the most improved team in all of Europe
West Ham United are enjoying a fantastic new era under Slaven Bilic and it's officially just got even better.
Damien Lucas
The Hammers are fifth in the Premier League table and one point off the Champions League places after winning 3-1 away at Bournemouth in midweek.
It was a fourth win in a row for Slaven Bilic's side in all competitions and extended the club's unbeaten run to eight games.
A memorable season has already produced a first win at Anfield for 63 years and first double over Liverpool since 1964 as well as away wins over Arsenal and Manchester City while Bilic's men have also put Chelsea to the sword at Upton Park.
Their excellent form, attacking prowess - despite missing as many as seven key first team players all at the same time recently - and new found style have made them a surprise package to challenge the top four.
'We've got Payeeeeeeet'
The East Londoners are widely regarded to have done some of the best business in the last two summer transfer windows bringing in the likes of superstar Dimitri Payet for just £10 million, Chiekhou Kouyate, Aaron Cresswell, Pedro Obiang, Angelo Ogbonna, Diafra Sakho, Manuel Lanzini, Michail Antonio and Alex Song.
And things have got even better for the Hammers faithful after the Irons were officially ranked the most improved team in Europe.
That's according to the Euro Club Index which is a ranking system of football teams in the highest division of all European countries.
The ECI calculates the ranking based on the sporting results of three consecutive seasons. The relative playing strengths are calculated of all relevant teams within each country on the start date and the relative strengths are calculated of the teams that have represented their country in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Super Cup.
It also assesses probabilities of different results (win, draw, loss) for football matches in the near future based team performance and squad strength.
Olympic leap
And the Hammers have been rewarded by being the biggest climbers in the entire Euro Club Index as they shot up seven places to 64th above the likes of Bordeaux and last season's Europa League finalists Dnipro.
It comes with the club on the brink of their big move to the 54,000 seater Olympic Stadium this summer.
The ECI results give weight to the recent prediction of London Mayor Boris Johnson who said West Ham are the biggest project of their kind in Europe and will change the face of London when they move to Stratford.
"This is just the beginning," Johnson told whufc.com.
"I think people will look back, everyone involved with West Ham, everyone who supports West Ham, I think they will be very proud, actually, that they are part of something that is the biggest economic social regeneration project anywhere in Europe.
“I think West Ham fans are part of something that is going to change the face of London."
OS
Preview - Newcastle United
The background
There’s no time for rest for Slaven Bilic and his West Ham United team as they make the long journey to Newcastle United on Saturday.
Fresh from defeating AFC Bournemouth 3-1 on Tuesday night, the Hammers will hope to make it a Club record in the Premier League and extend their unbeaten run to nine games.
Of those eight matches undefeated, the Hammers have won their last three to move to within a solitary point of the top four.
They showed real heart and character to pull off their result at Bournemouth, fighting back from a goal down to take the points thanks to a Dimitri Payet free-kick and Enner Valencia’s double.
Newcastle are in the drop zone, with 18 points from 21 matches, but did show heart of their own on Tuesday to come back from 3-1 behind to claim a point against Manchester United.
Hope seemed minimal when Wayne Rooney and Jesse Lingard fired United into a 2-0 lead, but back came Newcastle through Georginio Wijnaldum and Aleksandar Mitrovic.
A second for Rooney gave the visitors the lead again, but Phil Dummett’s last gasp leveller ensured the points would be shared.
The history
West Ham and Newcastle have met 128 times previously, with Newcastle holding the edge with 51 victories to the Hammers’ 40.
The history dates back to an FA Cup tie in February 1908, which the Magpies won 3-0.
West Ham’s first win against the north east side came in the very first league meting, in October 1923, when William Brown’s goal was enough to separate the sides.
In recent times, West Ham defeated the Geordies 2-0 at the Boleyn Ground earlier this season thanks to a Dimitri Payet double, while the corresponding fixture last term ended 2-0 in Newcastle’s favour – a result which sealed their Premier League survival.
The match
Team news
West Ham United
The Hammers welcome Victor Moses back into their squad after a six-week lay-off due to a hamstring injury. The on-loan winger returned to full training this week.
Cheikhou Kouyate could also feature after sitting out of Tuesday’s game, but Andy Carroll is out after suffering a hamstring problem at the Vitality Stadium.
Diafra Sakho and Manuel Lanzini are the only other absentees as Bilic begins to have more options to call upon again.
Newcastle United
Newcastle’s new signings Henri Salvert and Jonjo Shelvey could make their Magpies debuts in Saturday’s game against the Hammers.
However, Papiss Cisse has had surgery on a groin injury and is set to be out for a further month.
Match info
- Saturday’s referee is Neil Swarbrick. He will be assisted by Scott Ledger and John Brooks. Lee Mason is the fourth official. Swarbrick has refereed one Hammers match this term, the 2-2 draw at Sunderland in which he sent off the Black Cats’ Jeremain Lens.
- West Ham have won two of the last three encounters, including a 2-0 triumph at Upton Park in September.
- Newcastle have drawn a league-high five matches at home this season.
- West Ham have won their last three league matches and are unbeaten in their last eight (D5).
- Their win at Bournemouth on Tuesday was their first in six away games (D3, L2).
- Only Leicester and Arsenal have won more away league games than West Ham's five this season.
- Dimitri Payet has scored or set up more goals for West Ham in all competitions this season than any other player (six goals, five assists).
Ticketing, travel, coverage and other info
- Tickets for the game have SOLD OUT to Hammers supporters.
- A very cold day is expected on Tyneside, with temperatures only crawling up to 2C (36F) at kick-off time. It is, at least, expected to be a dry day.
- If you’re not heading to the game, make sure you stay up to date on our digital channels. The whufc.com Match Centre has live audio commentary and text updates, in-running stats and photos and more, while you can get involved in the conversation on social using #NEWWHU
Toonarmyblog
Newcastle Looking For Elusive Win At Home To Flying Hammers
Going to keep this fairly short and sweet but today sees the second of this weeks double header of home games as West Ham come to town looking to continue their good form that has seen them rise to 5th in the table.
I said before the Man United game that we needed to be looking for a minimum of 4 points from these two games so after Tuesday's thrilling draw with Man United that really does leave us needing to get 3 points in this one by hook or by crook.
I think the performance and the way we battled back on Tuesday can give us some confidence going into this one and we could also see debuts for Shelvey and Saivet which I think can always give a side a bit of a boost when there are some new faces on show trying to impress.
It seems a long time ago since West Ham were last here in May when a 2-0 win for us ensured our Premier League survival. I don't think too many people expected us to be in a similar position 8 months down the line but today's game is probably nearly as important to that one as the number of winnable games continues to tick down.
I think we will obviously see a different proposition in terms of West Ham this time round. They are flying under Slaven Bilic and will be looking for 3 more points to keep pressure on the top 4 in what is a crazy season.
I will be honest at the start of the season I thought they could struggle a bit. As much as I despise Big Sam I thought ahead of moving into their new stadium it could be a bit of a risk moving away from the relative mediocrity that Allardyce brings but fair play to them for getting some fantastic results already this season.
Star man is definitely Payet and it's bad news for us that he seems to have returned from injury just in time for this one. If West Ham do get anything from this one then you can bet he will be the architect.
For us I can't see there being too many changes from the Man United game to be honest although it will be interesting to see if the manager looks to throw either of the new boys straight in.
I think Colback has been carrying a bit of a knock recently so I suppose it gives you the option to maybe rest him and there is obviously continued speculation over the future of Tiote.
Would like to see the new signings show what they can do but at the same time after a decent performance from most players on Tuesday it would be slightly harsh to see them just come straight in at the expense of some of them. Will be interesting to see what the manager does and if either of them do come in whether it effects our shape.
Other than those midfield choices though I can't see any other changes mainly because there are not really any other options I don't think with players still on the treatment table or finding their way back to fitness.
I know there is still plenty of time left in the transfer window for us to sign some more players to try and effect the remaining games but either way I think today could be a big marker as to how this season is going to pan out. We don't somehow manage to get maximum points today and I think we are in big big trouble...
West Ham blog update:-
farewellboleyn.blogspot.com
|
