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 12:09 Tue Jul 18
Tuesday newspapers (includes West Ham)
BBC

Premier League champions Chelsea have "serious and strong interest" in Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, 29. (Sky Sports)

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is not willing to pay over the odds for Real Madrid's 24-year-old striker Alvaro Morata, who could be heading to Italy. (Star)

Crystal Palace have offered about £16m for Arsenal defender Calum Chambers, 22. (Telegraph)

Manchester City have had a £2.6m bid rejected for Napoli's former Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina, 34. (Mirror)

City will not face competition from Bayern Munich for 28-year-old Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez, after the German club's chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge ruled out a move for the Chile international. (Manchester Evening News)

Manchester United are considering a final £60m offer for 23-year-old Tottenham and England midfielder Eric Dier. (Mirror)

Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 35, has dropped a hint he will re-sign for United by enrolling his sons back into their youth academy. (Sun)

Arsenal and England defender Kieran Gibbs, 27, is one of West Brom's top defensive targets, but the clubs are not close to a deal. (Birmingham Mail)

The Gunners will try to offload a number of fringe players before deciding whether to smash their transfer record for the second time this summer with a move for Monaco winger Thomas Lemar, 21. (Mail)

Arsenal have rejected a £6.2m offer from Sampdoria for midfielder Jack Wilshere, 25. (Di Marzio, via Express)

Crystal Palace are on the verge of signing Ajax defender Jairo Riedewald, 20, in a deal worth about £8m. (Evening Standard)

Nice left-back Dalbert Henrique, 23, has confirmed Liverpool have made an approach for him but says an offer from Inter Milan is "irresistible". (Express)

Brazil forward Neymar, 25, will not leave Barcelona because no club is prepared to meet his £195m release clause, the club's sporting director says. (Mail)

Newcastle United have had their bid for 22-year-old Norwich midfielder Jacob Murphy accepted - and the winger is now expected to link up with his new club at their pre-season training camp. (Chronicle)

Magpies manager Rafa Benitez has put pressure on owner Mike Ashley to "keep his word" in providing summer transfer funds. (Star)

Riyad Mahrez is ready to take a pay cut to join Roma, with the Serie A side set to make a second bid for the 26-year-old Leicester City winger. (Leicester Mercury)

Arsenal's Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, 27, is set to join Juventus after agreeing a deal in principle with the Italian champions. (Guardian)

Egypt winger Ahmed Elmohamady, 29, is set to become the latest player to leave Hull City following relegation to the Championship. He has flown home from a training camp in Portugal to seal a £1m move to Aston Villa. (Hull Daily Mail)

Another Hull player, Scotland left-back Andy Robertson, 23, appears to be a step closer to joining Liverpool in an £8m deal after he reportedly also left the training camp. (Liverpool Echo)

Former Swansea City striker Wilfried Bony, 28, has not travelled with the Manchester City squad to the United States, amid speculation the Swans are keen on re-signing the Ivory Coast international. (Wales Online)

Defender Mathieu Debuchy, 31, is expected to have a medical before a move to Nice within "the next 48 hours", finally ending the Frenchman's disappointing spell at Arsenal. (Europe1 Sports via Sun)

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs says he is willing to take a managerial job abroad or even in League Two, but wants to wait for a club that fits his philosophy. (Independent)

The best of Monday's transfer news

Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, 24, is likely to turn down a move to Premier League champions Chelsea and instead opt to join AC Milan. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian)

Manchester United are expected to complete the signing of Inter Milan midfielder Ivan Perisic, 28, in the next few days in a deal worth £48m. (Independent)

Wales forward Gareth Bale, 28, says he is "happy" at Real Madrid, despite being linked with a move.(Marca)

Chelsea look set to miss out on Juventus and Brazil left-back Alex Sandro, 26, as the Serie A club do not want to lose another defender having sold Italy international Leonardo Bonucci, 30, to AC Milan. (London Evening Standard)

Liverpool will increase their £57m bid for Guinea midfielder Naby Keita, but RB Leipzig coach Ralph Hasenhuttl says the 22-year-old is "comfortable" at the club. (Kicker via Liverpool Echo)





Guardian Rumour Mill

Michael Butler

Antonio Conte must be thinking that somebody at his former club Juventus has got it in for him. After watching Leonardo Bonucci join Milan for less money than Chelsea offered, and having had seemingly no joy in luring Alex Sandro from Turin, the news that the Old Lady have turned down a whopping £88m offer for Gonzalo Higuaín can’t have gone down too well. There’s no two ways about it: with less than three weeks to go before the Community Shield, Chelsea are panicking. Diego Costa is still partying in Brazil wearing an Atlético Madrid shirt, and the club’s only recognised striker is Michy Batshuayi.

From London to Genoa, a city divided by two clubs. There’s Genoa themselves, a long-established, working-class club that hasn’t won a thing in decades. Rivals Sampdoria are a posher, more recent conception with a much nicer kit – and a few more recent trophies in the cabinet. Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere should fit right in at the latter. Sampdoria have bid £6m, plus £1.5m in add-ons, for the Arsenal midfielder who suffered a hairline fracture to his left fibula in April and has also been linked with a loan move to Crystal Palace.

Meanwhile, Harry Redknapp is doing bits. Birmingham City can hardly be surprised at Harry’s new idea: throw a shedload of wages at ageing, mercurial veterans. If it all goes tits up, don’t worry, Harry is (probably) off at the end of the season! Somebody else can clean up the mess. Robbie Keane, Ashley Cole and Stuart Downing have all been linked with moves to the second city, while Everton have been approached over a loan deal for Aaron Lennon. Staying in the west Midlands, West Brom want to sign Kieran Gibbs. Arsenal want £10m’ West Brom want to pay less. The stand-off continues.

Brendan Rodgers is considering a move for Steven Caulker. The Celtic manager could reportedly take the central defender on a free transfer from QPR, although the London club would insist upon a sell-on fee. Caulker, who has spoken about his mental health issues in recent months, played under Rodgers on loan at Swansea back in 2011-12 alongside Scott Sinclair, who has implored the defender to join him north of the border. Finally, Norwich have accepted a £12m bid from Newcastle for Jacob Murphy. The England Under-21 forward should fly to Ireland to join his new team-mates for their pre-season tour later this week.





Mail

West Ham 0-0 Sturm Graz II: Slaven Bilic's side begin pre-season campaign with stalemate in Austria

West Ham enjoyed the better of the chances but were ultimately frustrated
Hammers fans were able to watch Pablo Zabaleta in action for the first time
Sturm Graz were stubborn and managed to thwart Slaven Bilic's side's attack

By Will Griffee

West Ham began their pre-season in earnest with a stalemate against Austrian side Sturm Graz II.

The Hammers created plenty of chances and will be disappointed in some profligate finishing at Bad Waltersdorf.

Enthusiastic opposition put up some stiff resistance and offered Slaven Bilic's side a welcome test first up.




Manuel Lanzini offered some bright sparks of creativity for Slaven Bilic's side

West Ham fans were able to watch Pablo Zabaleta in Hammers colours for the first time

The West Ham boss opted for a mixture of experience and youthful exuberance, offering all his fit squad members a half of football.

Sturm Graz play in the third tier of the Austrian leagues so Bilic will be slightly disappointed in the result given a number of star players on show.

New man Pablo Zabaleta started the game with Robert Snodgrass and Andre Ayew were other high-profile protagonists in action.


Arthur Masuaku bursts down the flank and attempts to cut inside with the ball


Robert Snodgrass was one of the more experienced players on show for the visitors

Manuel Lanzini came on and provided some cutting edge for the tourists but saw his volleyed effort repelled by the impressive stopper Tobias Schutzenauer and the hosts held firm for the duration.


Sofiane Feghouli attempted to provide a cutting edge but Sturm Graz held firm


Andre Ayew will be hoping to secure himself a starting role in Bilic's first team side

Bilic will be hoping to add further additions to his squad ahead of the new campaign and appears to be on the brink of adding Joe Hart to his ranks.

The England international is set to join the London club on a season long loan from Manchester City with the option for a permanent switch next summer.

The 30-year-old endured an indifferent spell last season with Torino and Bilic will hope he can regain his best form if he completes a move to the Hammers.

The Hammers are also looking for attacking reinforcements, but have so far seen their efforts to sign Stoke winger Marko Arnautovic for £20million prove unsuccessful, while Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud and Bayer Leverkusen's Javier Hernandez are further reported targets.

Next up for West Ham is a game against Fulham on July 20 at Sportzentrum Graz-Weinzodl, Austria.

WEST HAM - MATCH FACTS

Adrian (Randolph 46), Zabaleta (Byram 46), Collins (Rice 46), Burke (Ogbonna 46), Masuaku (Cresswell 46), Noble (c) (Cullen 46), Obiang (Makasi 46), Holland (Fernandes 46), Snodgrass (Lanzini 46), Ayew (Feghouli (46), Fletcher (Martinez 46)






Manchester Evening News

Man City player Joe Hart's loan to West Ham - the financial breakdown

England goalkeeper is due to complete his temporary deal with the Hammers today, but who will foot his wages bill?

By Stuart Brennan

Joe Hart will not cost Manchester City a penny in wages when he plays on loan at West Ham next season … but the Blues will make a small loss on the deal.

The England goalkeeper is expected to complete a temporary move to the Hammers on Tuesday, but there will be obligation for a permanent deal next year.

Hart, who is not wanted by Pep Guardiola , reported back for training at City last week but was missing from the tour party which flew to Houston yesterday after taking a train to London on Sunday.

With Claudio Bravo still on holiday, Ederson is the only senior keeper on tour, backed up by youngsters Danny Grimshaw and Aro Muric.

He passed his medical yesterday but some minor details in the agreement between the clubs mean his announcement as a West Ham player has been delayed by 24 hours.

City will pay around £2million of Hart's £4.5million annual salary during his season at West Ham, with the London club meeting the rest.

But that £2million is covered by the cost of the loan deal, which means West Ham will pay the Blues exactly £2million for the keeper's services.

City will still be obliged to pay Hart an amount for the player's image rights, but it is not thought to be close to the £2.9million claimed elsewhere.

So, while City will make a small loss on loaning out a top international keeper, they hope to profit in the long run by the loan boosting his sale value next summer.

City sources refused to discuss the details of the financial arrangement but confirmed that they will break even on wages.

Hart has been out in the cold at City since Guardiola walked through the door last summer, and decided that he wanted a keeper who is better with his feet.

The Blues brought in Bravo last summer but his failure means they have splashed out £35million for Ederson and are now looking at a deal for Napoli's former Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina.

Hart spent a season on loan at Torino but his form there killed the Blues' hopes of raising a big transfer fee from his sale.

Now the Blues hope that a successful season with the Hammers will restore his former market value ahead of a sale next year.






HITC

Slaven Bilic admits West Ham United's Cheikhou Kouyate already has a problem

John Verrall

West Ham United midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate has injured himself in training.

Slaven Bilic has told West Ham United’s official website that Cheikhou Kouyate has a problem due to his fitness.

West Ham have been training in Austria, ahead of the new campaign, and have managed to largely avoid injury so far.

However, Kouyate has picked up a knee complaint in training.

And Bilic said: “The only one problem we’ve had is with Cheikhou, who injured his knee in a very strange and awkward way during training, but apart from that I’m happy with everything.

“The boys are training hard, they are pushing really hard, the facilities are really good and it is a great place to be.”

West Ham played a pre-season friendly against Sturm Graz yesterday, and it appears Bilic’s side still need to sharpen up before the new campaign.

The Hammers could only pick up a 0-0 draw in the contest, with their finishing poor throughout.

West Ham are known to be on the look out for new additions in the coming weeks, as Bilic looks to freshen his side up.

The Hammers were in disappointing form last campaign, and lacked the consistency to challenge for a European spot.

Bilic has so far only been able to bring in Argentine defender Pablo Zabaleta on a free transfer, after his contract at Manchester City expired.




Replies - Newest Posts First (Show In Chronological Order)

GingerNut 2:22 Tue Jul 18
Re: Tuesday newspapers (includes West Ham)
And so it begins......

And Bilic said: “The only one problem we’ve had is with Cheikhou, who injured his knee in a very strange and awkward way during training, but apart from that I’m happy with everything.


Carroll ends the season with a groin problem, but now it is his hip! Not surprised.

Antonio worries me. How many weeks out now with a hamstring pull?

Eggbert Nobacon 12:47 Tue Jul 18
Re: Tuesday newspapers (includes West Ham)
http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/marko-arnautovic-to-complete-west-ham-move-in-the-next-48-hours-for-clubrecord-23m-transfer-fee-a3590291.html

Marko Arnautovic to complete West Ham move in the next 48 hours for club-record £23m transfer fee

West Ham’s search for strikers should be rewarded in the next 48 hours, with the signing of Marko Arnautovic from Stoke City.

Standard Sport understands that a £23 million deal for the 28-year-old Austrian international has been agreed and that the player himself has settled personal terms.

West Ham had earlier had two bids, the first for £15 million and the second for £20 million, rejected by Stoke but it has proved third time lucky for manager Slaven Bilic, who is desperate to add some fire power up front for his West Ham team next season, particularly with Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho still out injured.

Stoke were keen to clear £20 million as they are obliged, under the terms of a contract signed when the player joined them from Werder Bremen four seasons, ago to pay the German club 20 per cent of any further transfer fee.

Arnautovic, who injured a knee in a pre-season match for Stoke last week, is expected to undergo a medical and then join the West Ham squad at their training camp in Austria.

Bilic emphasised the need for striking reinforcements following the 0-0 draw with Sturm Graz last night when he said: “We should have scored five or six goals but to be fair we are not scoring in training so it was the same in the game.”

West Ham are also assessing a knee injury to midfield player Cheikhou Kouyate, picked up in training.

England goalkeeper Joe Hart meanwhile, who is joining West Ham on a season-long loan from Manchester City, passed a medical in London on Monday night.

BubblesCyprus 12:38 Tue Jul 18
Re: Tuesday newspapers (includes West Ham)
ted fenton 12:21 Tue Jul 18

ted fenton 12:21 Tue Jul 18
Re: Tuesday newspapers (includes West Ham)
Thanks Alan 12:13 Tue Jul 18

Sniper 12:15 Tue Jul 18
Re: Tuesday newspapers (includes West Ham)
Thanks Alan

Glad to hear the injury list is already getting longer too

Thanks Alan 12:13 Tue Jul 18
Re: Tuesday newspapers (includes West Ham)
Thanks Alan





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