WHO Poll
Q: 2023/24 Hopes & aspirations for this season
a. As Champions of Europe there's no reason we shouldn't be pushing for a top 7 spot & a run in the Cups
24%
  
b. Last season was a trophy winning one and there's only one way to go after that, I expect a dull mid table bore fest of a season
17%
  
c. Buy some f***ing players or we're in a battle to stay up & that's as good as it gets
18%
  
d. Moyes out
37%
  
e. New season you say, woohoo time to get the new kit and wear it it to the pub for all the big games, the wags down there call me Mr West Ham
3%
  



Alan 11:34 Mon Jun 6
Monday newspapers (includes West Ham)
BBC

Arsenal are in talks to complete a double raid on Leicester's Premier League title-winning team by seeking out winger Riyad Mahrez, 25, in addition to striker Jamie Vardy, 29. (Sun)

The Gunners are confident that Vardy will sign for them before the 2016 European Championship starts on Friday. (Telegraph)

No decision is imminent on Vardy's future. He has been offered a £120,000-a-week deal by the Gunners. (Leicester Mercury)

The Foxes are targeting Watford striker Troy Deeney, 27, as a replacement for Vardy. (Telegraph)

New Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been backed to "transform" the club and take it to another level by chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak. (CityTV)

Guardiola is looking to further strengthen his midfield with the signing of Toni Kroos, 26, from Real Madrid, while City's Fernando, 28, is wanted by La Liga sides Villarreal and Valencia. (Manchester Evening News)

Chelsea winger Eden Hazard, 25, has dampened speculation he could join Paris St-Germain by saying they are not part of his plans and he only wants to leave Stamford Bridge on a high. (Telefoot, via Guardian)

PSG are ready to tempt Leicester midfielder N'Golo Kante, 25, with a huge five-year deal. (Daily Mirror)

Free agent Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 34, has teased Manchester United fans by saying he has a big announcement on Tuesday, but it could just be for his new clothing line. (Sun)

Everton will target Crystal Palace defender Scott Dann, 29, as their first signing for about £15m should manager Ronald Koeman leave Southampton for Goodison Park. (Liverpool Echo)

Eddie Howe will reject the chance to join Southampton as manager, as Russian owner Maxim Demin is still willing to pump cash into the side. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, 25, could be staying at Old Trafford after Real Madrid have decided not to trigger the £39m release clause in his contract. (AS)

The Red Devils have made a £35.2m bid to sign Valencia midfielder Andre Gomes, 22. (Alfredo Pedula, via Daily Star)

New United boss Jose Mourinho has recruited fellow Portuguese Ricardo Formosinho, 59, as his new technical scout at Old Trafford. (The Sun)

Former England midfielder Paul Ince believes Roy Hodgson should have taken Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe, 33 to Euro 2016, rather than gamble on Manchester United's 18-year-old frontman Marcus Rashford. (Chronicle)

Former Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor, 30, will have talks with Scottish Premiership side Rangers before travelling to Turkey for discussions with interested clubs. (Daily Mail)

And finally

TV presenter Mark Wright is being considered for a role at Sunderland next season after impressing Black Cats boss Sam Allardyce during training for Soccer Aid, according to pundit Chris Kamara. (Daily Mirror)





Guardian Rumour Mill

Alan Smith

Poor Leicester. Victoria Park has barely recovered from that enormous celebration party and already their title-winning team is at risk of falling apart. Days after The Guardian broke the news (despite whatever Sky sources might think) that Arsenal want to lure Jamie Vardy away, now Arsène Wenger apparently wants to take Riyad Mahrez too.

Arsenal would like to complete the Vardy business by the start of the European Championship – and if anything it could be construed as a neat ploy from Wenger, a piece of national service, to disrupt the preparations of one of England’s key players.

Indeed the Mill is feeling malnourished because of the Euros. In general, players are too occupied by doing their jobs and focusing on – cliche alert – the task at hand rather than manoeuvring for potential transfers. That results in even slimmer pickings for the rumour generators.

N’Golo Kanté might be tempted to join French failures PSG, who are willing to give the 25-year-old bundles of cash and a five-year contract to ensure every domestic title and their annual booting out of the Champions League at the quarter-finals. Still, at least Danny Drinkwater is getting plenty of rest.

In turn, Claudio Ranieri reportedly has an eye on the Watford captain, Troy Deeney, and Southampton’s Shane Long, who would be a good replacement for Vardy on the basis that he too never stops running.

PSG are also keen on Philippe Coutinho and willing to pay Liverpool £25m for the Brazilian’s services, while John Stones has again been linked with moves everywhere.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (evidently an exception to the above Euros rule) has promised a big announcement on Tuesday – the launch of a new clothing line! Fear not, though, Manchester United, because he is still interested in joining his old pal José Mourinho.

In more good news for the oh so long-suffering fans of United, David de Gea will be staying put because Real Madrid no longer want to bring him home and Mourinho has made a £35m bid to sign the Valencia midfielder André Gomes.

Last and certainly least, reality TV star Mark Wright has been offered a role at Sunderland after impressing Sam Allardyce during last night’s Soccer Aid kickabout, according to Chris Kamara, who last season had the temerity to call out a journalist live on TV for making the wild suggestion that Mourinho wanted to go to United.





Sport Witness

West Ham well placed for striker transfer tussle with Barcelona

Catalan newspaper Sport simply can't decide which striker Barcelona want to sign in the summer window, so are linking all of them. In their Monday edition, Sport focus on which players Barcelona are targeting for support upfront.

Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez need a deputy of a high quality and the usual Nolito links are covered. However, it's not just the Celta Vigo man lined up. Sport say Barcelona could also move for Alexandre Lacazette or Michy Batshuayi, two players very heavily linked with West Ham.

Lyon have made it clear they don't want to sell Lacazette to a club they consider to be below their level, and the player himself is also of that thought. Marseille will likely try to push Batshuayi to whoever offers the most, not really sharing the standpoint of Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas.

Unless Barcelona sell several players this summer and bring in unexpected funds then it's unlikely they'd bid what either French club want for their star strikers. Barcelona's financial situation is improving this summer, but they probably wouldn't want to part with a big chunk of money for either player, especially when Nolito would be available for much less.

Then there's the issue of game time, neither of the Ligue 1 stars would be keen on being a support player, with almost zero chance of becoming first choice anytime soon. At least for Batshuayi, West Ham may well have the edge.




HITC

Would Juan Mata be a good signing for West Ham United?

West Ham United are reportedly interested in signing Juan Mata from Manchester United in the summer transfer window.

Subhankar Mondal

According to Spanish publication El Confidencial, West Ham United are interested in signing Juan Mata from Manchester United in the summer transfer window.

It remains to be seen if United are open to the idea of selling the Spain international attacking midfielder to a Premier League rival, but one thing’s for sure: Mata would be a massive signing for West Ham.

The attacking midfielder has not been at his best at United, but he has done enough at his previous clubs to suggest that he is a world-class player.

Mata was a key figure in Chelsea’s FA Cup, Champions League and Europa League success, and he had no problem in settling into the Premier League.

The Spaniard did not fit the way Jose Mourinho played at Chelsea, but that should not undermine his talent and quality.

The former Valencia star is a very creative and inventive player, and playing under an attack-minded manager such as Slaven Bilic is only going to bring the best out of him.

Mata scored six goals and created 53 chances in 38 Premier League appearances for United this past season.

While the stats may not be too attractive, especially when one compares them with those of West Ham attacking midfielder Dimitri Payet, one must remember that Mata was playing in a Louis van Gaal side that was too slow and restricted the creative players.

While many will question whether Mata and Payet would be able to play together, it must also be considered that the United star would bring with him a winning mentality and vast experience.

The 28-year-old, who has won the World Cup and the European Championship with Spain, could be the player who guides West Ham to a top-four finish in the Premier League next season.

The Hammers could also feature in the Europa League proper next season, and having Mata in the team is certainly going to enhance their chances of going far in the competition.

Mata has not been a failure at United, but he has not been a success either and he would be hungry to get back to his best.

West Ham could have finished in the Champions League places this past season had Payet not got injured.

The Hammers cannot rely on the Frenchman all the time next season, and having someone like Mata to call upon is certainly going to be beneficial.




Il Milanista

MILAN - It heats the axis Milan-Turin-London. It risks becoming a true market triangle that involve AC Milan, Juventus and West Ham. Yes, because for several weeks the Hammers are on the trail of Bacca (as admitted by the Colombian's agent) but now, according to a report in Tuttosport this morning, the English club came back strong on Simone Zaza: ready with as many as 30 million euro for the Lucan attacker. Were they to get the white smoke for this operation, the AC Milan striker could therefore leave West Ham's plans.




Chronicle

Defender linked to Black Cats reportedly wants to quit current club

Sunderland have been linked with a host of defenders already this summer, and reports suggest this one is ready to quit his current club

Reported Sunderland target James Tomkins is ready to quit West Ham this summer, according to reports.

The Black Cats have been linked with a move for the centre-back with reports claiming that boss Sam Allardyce is keen on a reunion with Tomkins.

The 27-year-old defender was a regular under Allardyce - and produced some of his best form under the now-Sunderland boss - but grew frustrated, according to the report in the Sun, at West Ham after losing his place in the side towards the end of the season.

The centre-back was often played at right-back before having to settle for appearances mostly from the bench as manager Slaven Bilic even preferred winger Michail Antonio at right-back.

Tomkins now reportedly wants to quit the East London side, with Big Sam said to be interested.

With Wes Brown set to leave and 35-year-old John O'Shea entering the final year of his contract, Sunderland have been linked with a host of centre-backs already this summer as Allardyce looks for cover for strong pairing Lamine Kone and Younes Kaboul.

Together Kone and Kaboul played a huge part in the Black Cats' late run for safety. Kaboul has had an injury-hit career too, which would strengthen the purpose of bringing in another centre-back.

Tomkins joined West Ham at the age of just seven and has amassed almost 250 appearances for the club since breaking through the youth ranks.

And despite being a fan-favourite, reports suggest Bilic will listen to offers for Tomkins this summer as the West Ham boss looks for marquee signings for the Hammers ahead of their move to the Olympic Stadium.



Replies - Newest Posts First (Show In Chronological Order)

BubblesCyprus 4:35 Mon Jun 6
Re: Monday newspapers (includes West Ham)
Shame if Tomkins goes after seeing him come through the ranks

Son of Anarchy 4:20 Mon Jun 6
Re: Monday newspapers (includes West Ham)
Fanx Al

BubblesCyprus 4:18 Mon Jun 6
Re: Monday newspapers (includes West Ham)
Thanks Alan much appreciated as always.....BC

Mart O 2:58 Mon Jun 6
Re: Monday newspapers (includes West Ham)
Thanks Alan.

Tripe dresser. 2:43 Mon Jun 6
Re: Monday newspapers (includes West Ham)
Thanks aalan

Fivetide 11:38 Mon Jun 6
Re: Monday newspapers (includes West Ham)
Oh all right then - we'll take on Batshuayi and Mata if we must...


Thanks Alan.

Thanks Alan 11:36 Mon Jun 6
Re: Monday newspapers (includes West Ham)
Thanks Alan





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