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Alan 12:48 Fri Oct 1
Friday newspapers (includes West Ham)

BBC

Real Madrid could renew their interest in Manchester United and Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani, 34, when the transfer window reopens in January. (El Nacional - in Spanish)

England midfielder Kalvin Phillips is close to signing a new contract at Leeds United as the 25-year-old's agent says there is a "real willingness" from both sides to make it happen. (John Percy via Telegraph)

Netherlands midfielder Donny van de Beek, 24 is ready to try to leave Manchester United in January because of his lack of playing time at the Old Trafford club. (Mail)

Chelsea are still negotiating with the agents of German centre-back Antonio Rudiger, 28, over a new contract. (Fabrizio Romano via Twitter)

German striker Timo Werner, 25, will reassess his Chelsea future if he cannot force his way back into Thomas Tuchel's team - and could return to Germany at the end of the season. (Telegraph - subscription required)

Barcelona will not sack Dutch manager Ronald Koeman before the side's away trip to La Liga champions Atletico Madrid on Saturday. (Sport)

But Liverpool's German boss Jurgen Klopp has been shortlisted as a possible replacement for Koeman. (El Nacional via Mirror)

Other options include former Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo and River Plate manager Marcelo Gallardo, who are both reportedly open to taking over at the Nou Camp. (Express)

Spain manager Luis Enrique has played down a return to manage former club Barcelona as he intends to stay in his current job until his contract ends after the 2022 World Cup. (AS)

Arsenal may have only signed a new goalkeeper this summer but they are already lining up other options between the sticks as German goalkeeper Bernd Leno, 29, is being linked with a January exit. (Metro)

AC Milan have been offered 30-year-old Arsenal and France striker Alexandre Lacazette, whose contract with the Gunners runs out next summer. (Calciomercato, via Football Italia)

Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah, 22, is looking to leave the Gunners, with Leeds, Aston Villa and Brentford all monitoring the England Under-21 international's situation. (Ekrem Konur via Twitter)

West Ham might have a second chance to sign full-back Luca Pellegrini, 22, as the Italy international struggles for opportunities at Juventus. (Calciomercato - in Italian)

Spain winger Adama Traore, 25, was linked with Tottenham in the summer but is edging closer to signing a new deal with Wolves.(Mail)

Liverpool boss Klopp wants to sign Bayern Leverkusen and France winger Moussa Diaby, 22. (Calciomercato - in Italian)

Steve Bruce has told friends he is feeling "lower than ever before" and has considered quitting as Newcastle manager for the first time. (Football Insider)

Paris St-Germain wanted Liverpool and England midfielder Jordan Henderson, 31, before they managed to sign Argentine Lionel Messi, 34, on a free transfer from Barcelona this summer. (Here We Go podcast via GMS)

Barcelona are tracking Swedish teenager Williot Swedberg, 17. The midfielder has also attracted interest from Liverpool and AC Milan. (Fichajes - in Spanish)

Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke's comments, in rubbishing reports that Norway striker Erling Haaland, 21, has a 'transfer pact' with the club, have upset his agent Mino Raiola. (AS)






Guardian

Rapid Vienna fans’ missiles mar West Ham win sparked by Declan Rice

Jacob Steinberg at the London Stadium


Declan Rice celebrates after scoring the first goal in West Ham’s 2-0 victory. Photograph: Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United/Shutterstock

The attention should have lingered on those flashes of quality from Declan Rice and Saïd Benrahma. West Ham had settled a bitty contest with two fine goals and they had managed the game well during a testing second half, hiding their inexperience at this level by staying professional when a mediocre Rapid Vienna threatened to cancel out their slender lead.

Rice was a commanding presence in midfield, bursting forward to score the opening goal but never forgetting about his defensive responsibilities. Craig Dawson and Issa Diop were resilient in central defence and West Ham, who escaped when Rapid had a late penalty chalked off by VAR, knew that their position at the top of Group H was safe when Benrahma settled this unremarkable Europa League tie in added time.

On the pitch, at least, it was a good night for David Moyes’s side. Rice showed the progressive side to his game when he scored for the second time in as many outings in this competition. Dawson was excellent. Benrahma scored a beauty.


Saïd Benrahma watches his shot heading for the bottom corner. Photograph: Jed Leicester/Shutterstock

The focus should have been on West Ham, who are three points above Dinamo Zagreb, excelling in their first competitive home game in Europe since 2006. They did not deserve to have it stolen by Rapid’s supporters, who were more interested in fighting than in supporting their limited team.

Much of Rapid’s following were still inside the London Stadium long after the final whistle, brainlessly fighting police officers. Some West Ham fans had also stayed behind to goad the visitors and it was a while before order was restored.

There is bound to be a Uefa investigation, which could lead to sanctions for West Ham as they were at home. The warning signs had been there from the start. The mood was heated in the corner of the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand housing the away contingent, both sets of fans throwing missiles at each other during the pre-match lights show, and it boiled over when Rice scored in the 29th minute, police forced to help the stewards stop Rapid’s fans from charging into the home end.

Some Rapid fans jumped over the advertising hoardings at the bottom of the lower tier and there was even the absurdity of someone chucking a water cooler at the West Ham fans. “We want to be a club in Europe regularly and because of that we need to behave correctly,” Moyes said. “I am not sure who started it but I was aware of it.”

Rapid’s manager, Dietmar Kuhbauer, had nothing to say about the disorder and the frustration was that the nonsense drew attention away from a smooth West Ham goal. There was a lovely ball from Andriy Yarmolenko to open Rapid up, clever movement from Michail Antonio to elude his markers and Rice ghosting forward to finish off the move.

Rice wheeled away gleefully after taking Antonio’s unselfish pass and tapping into the unguarded net. West Ham’s captain had batted away questions over his future before the game and the England international hardly looked unhappy as he celebrated with his teammates.

West Ham, who made seven changes after beating Leeds last weekend, had mostly threatened from set-pieces before going ahead. Rice and Dawson both headed against the woodwork after being found by Aaron Cresswell, who had bottles thrown at him when he took a corner near Rapid’s fans.

Joint-bottom of the Austrian Bundesliga, Rapid were poor. West Ham were comfortable, although they were not at their most coherent in attack. “We’re still learning at this level,” Moyes said. “But we were worthy winners.”

Moyes wanted more urgency in the second half. A weary Antonio made way for Jarrod Bowen. Manuel Lanzini replaced the disappointing Nikola Vlasic. Mark Noble, off the pace in midfield, came off for Tomas Soucek.

West Ham had fallen back and luck was on their side after they conceded a penalty with just under 20 minutes left.

The referee, Tobias Stieler, reversed his decision after consulting the pitchside monitor and seeing that the young right-back, Ben Johnson, made no contact with Marco Grüll when the Rapid substitute tumbled in the area.

Rapid’s fans held up an anti-VAR banner, but their team had nothing left to say. Bowen produced a comical miss at the other end and the final word went to Benrahma, cutting in from the left and teasing a clever shot past Paul Gartler.




Telegraph

West Ham maintain perfect Europa League start after trouble with Rapid Vienna fans


Declan Rice celebrates scoring his team's first goal Credit: AFP

John Aizlewood, at the London Stadium

In the end goals from Declan Rice and, in added time, Said Benrahma were enough to see off Rapid Vienna and West Ham United already look sure to progress from Europa League Group H. However, this peculiar performance asked more questions than it answered. In a one-way first half, they outclassed the feeble Austrians, hit the woodwork twice and created a hatful of glistening chances. Then, apropos of nothing, they handed the initiative to Rapid who, without troubling debutant goalkeeper, PSG loanee Alphonse Areola, might have snatched something. And certainly without the righteous intervention of Var, Rapid would have had a penalty, but better sides than them would surely have taken advantage of West Ham’s torpor.

“The performance wasn’t as high as others,” admitted David Moyes, the West Ham head coach. “But it wasn’t as if we didn’t deserve to win the game. We could have had more.”

For all that the stadium announcer pronounced West Ham’s first ever competitive game with an Austrian side and their first European game at all since a 2016 Europa League qualifying defeat to the Romanians of Astra Giurgiu, a “European extravaganza”, Moyes was rather less sentimental.

Noting that the Austrians who finished last season second from the top of the Bundesliga, are currently second from the bottom, with an eye on Brentford’s visit on Sunday, Moyes made seven changes from Saturday’s win at Leeds. “I want to be in this competition after Christmas, but I want to do well in the Premier League too.”

With places to play for, initially West Ham were eagerness itself. Two of Saturday’s starters almost put the home side ahead in the seventh minute when Rice headed Aaron Cresswell’s free kick onto the post and Issa Diop rolled the rebound wide.


West Ham nearly took an early lead but Declan Rice's header agonisingly bounced off the post

West Ham looked set for a boot-filling evening. Rice controlled midfield, Andriy Yarmolenko created havoc on the left and Benrahma did much the same down the right. In the centre Michail Antonio gave Kevin Wimmer the kind of torrid encounter he suffered during unlamented spells at Tottenham and Stoke and when Maximillian Ullmann took a Ben Johnson cross full in the face, Rapid were already looking only to cling on.

West Ham hit the woodwork again in the 27th minute when Craig Dawson rose above a startled defence to head Cresswell’s corner against Paul Gartier’s post. Two minutes later, the overdue breakthrough came when Yarmolenko spotted Antonio’s run into the penalty area. Antonio had the time, space and quickness of thought to head the ball down and cross low. The unmarked Rice tapped his second goal of his European campaign into the empty goal.


Declan Rice (No 41) swept the ball home from a Michail Antonio cross to put West Ham 1-0 up

Skirmishes and an exchange of water bottles took place between some of the more boisterous sections of the small-in-number but loud-of-voice Viennese travellers and the West Ham fans next to them, but nobody reached the pitch and a platoon of stewards assisted by a handful of police quelled the unpleasantness. “I was so focused on the game, I didn’t see anything,” said Dietmar Kubauer, the Rapid head coach. “I saw it,” said Moyes. “I don’t know who started it, but we want to be a club who’s welcomed in Europe, who behaves correctly.”

A twinkled-toed Kelvin Arase run was a momentary reminder that while Rapid were outclassed, they weren’t necessarily out of the contest and, still overawed, they pressed forwards when the marooned Ercan Kara was withdrawn in favour of the nimble Japanese, Kohya Kitagawa, albeit with more enthusiasm than quality.

Sensing the dip in tempo, Moyes gave his team a theoretical fillip with a triple substitution just after the hour, bringing on three usual starters. Rapid made a triple one themselves at the same moment and their changes were more impactful.

For all their dominance, West Ham were still just a heartbeat away from parity and when substitute Marco Grull gambolled into the penalty area and took a theatrical tumble in the vicinity of Johnson, German referee Tobias Stieler awarded a penalty to general disbelief. Rapid celebrated, but they celebrated too soon. Stieler was asked to re-think by Var and justice was done.

West Ham should have settled it when Jarrod Bowen sprinted through on goal alone and rounded Gartier, only to shoot high and wide of the goal as Wimmer made himself big on the line and in added time Bowen waltzed around Robert Ljubicic and forced Gartier to pull off a splendid diving save. There was still chance for that final hurrah and it came when Benrahma collected Bowen’s lovely through ball, cut in from and launched a low curler around Gartier. West Ham were home and hosed, despite themselves.





TeamTalk

EXCLUSIVE: West Ham plot Championship raid with echoes of top Moyes signing



West Ham have kept tabs on Hull City’s talent after signing Jarrod Bowen and now want to sign youngster Keane Lewis-Potter, TEAMtalk understands.

The Hammers snapped winger Bowen up in January 2020 for around £22million. Since then, though, he has since proved a solid addition for boss David Moyes.

Indeed, he has contributed nine goals and 12 assists in 62 appearances.

However, TEAMtalk has learned that West Ham have kept their eyes on the developing talent at Hull.

As such, they are now contemplating a January bid for Bowen’s fellow winger Lewis-Potter, who has risen through Hull’s youth ranks.

After earning the club’s Academy Player of the Year award in 2018/19 with 24 goals in 34 games, he made his senior debut in November 2019.

Since then, he has hit 20 goals and 10 assists in 85 appearances.

His best campaign came last term, when he directly contributed to 19 goals in League One. His 13 goals and six assists helped Hull bounce straight back up to the Championship.

In his debut Championship campaign in 2019/20, Lewis-Potter struck two goals and two assists in 21 outings.

However, he has matched those statistics in only 10 games this time around.

As a result of his impressive rise, the attacker earned a new contract in January this year. His deal runs out in the summer of 2023.

West Ham have enjoyed Bowen’s success since he moved down south and they are now keeping tabs on Lewis-Potter’s situation.

He has become one of the Championship’s top prospects and a key figure in Grant McCann’s team.

Bowen has yet to miss a game for West Ham this season, even if he has not played every minute.

On Thursday, he featured for 29 minutes and got an assist as the Hammers beat Rapid Vienna in the Europa League.




Juve.com

Weston McKennie’s Juventus exit gathers pace with asking price set



West Ham are claimed to have been told that Weston McKennie will cost them £35 Million, with the Juventus star supposedly keen to make the switch.

The American international was a regular in the first-team last season, albeit with many of his appearances coming off the bench, but his best position remains unknown at present.

McKennie has featured at centre-back, defensive midfield, CM, as an attacking midfielder and also on both the left and right wider roles, and he hasn’t failed to disappoint in any of them.

The former Schalke star has also popped up with some important goals last season, saving Andrea Pirlo’s bacon on a few different occasions, and I don’t imagine that the fans would be happy to see him leave.

The club’s decision is final however, and they may believe that his fee could be better invested in other areas of the team, and the FootballInsider claims that we have told West Ham that they can sign their target if they stump up with a £35 Million fee.

The Hammers are claimed to be looking to replace Declan Rice in the coming year, with the midfielder having rejected their efforts to extend his contract, with McKennie claimed to be keen on both playing in the Premier League and the idea of living in London.

I don’t doubt that the 23 year-old will be a big hit in England, and I don’t look forward to seeing him leave either, as I have always enjoyed the way he played with passion and aggression, but at the same time, I do understand the club’s decision.

BillyJenningsBoots 2:42 Sat Oct 2
Re: Friday newspapers (includes West Ham)

We have a song for Weston Mckennie if he joins already...

Weston Mckennie
We've got Weston Mckennie
Weston Mckeeeeeenie
We've got Weston Mckennie

Obviously to the tune of One McAvennie... Sorted

kylay 6:43 Fri Oct 1
Re: Friday newspapers (includes West Ham)

Vexed 2:46 Fri Oct 1

AG!

He's a solid box-to-box midfielder and would love to see him here. That being said, Juve want more than double what they paid for him a year ago and they clearly don't rate him. I'd only take him as a loan to buy option at that money.

Texas Iron 6:36 Fri Oct 1
Re: Friday newspapers (includes West Ham)

Cheers...

Vexed 2:46 Fri Oct 1
Re: Friday newspapers (includes West Ham)

"and he hasn’t failed to disappoint in any of them."

Er, am I reading that correctly?


Cheers Irish son

Thanks Alan 2:39 Fri Oct 1
Re: Friday newspapers (includes West Ham)

With Kind Regards 1:38 Fri Oct 1

chim chim cha boo 2:23 Fri Oct 1
Re: Friday newspapers (includes West Ham)

Thanks Alan.

With Kind Regards 1:38 Fri Oct 1
Re: Friday newspapers (includes West Ham)

Thanks Irish 12:59 Fri Oct 1

Thanks Irish 12:59 Fri Oct 1
Re: Friday newspapers (includes West Ham)

ted fenton 12:57 Fri Oct 1

ted fenton 12:57 Fri Oct 1
Re: Friday newspapers (includes West Ham)

Thanks Alan.