Sunday News (includes West Ham)

[Alan]

BBC

Chelsea are monitoring Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali with a view to making a summer move for the 25-year-old Italy international. (Football Insider), external

Napoli remain interested in Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, 20, but will only be able to sign the England international if Dutch winger Noa Lang, 26, leaves the Italian club. (La Gazzetta dello Sport, via Football Italia), external

Real Madrid continue to monitor Spain midfielder Rodri but won't move for the 29-year-old until the summer when he enters the final year of his contract at Manchester City. (Marca - in Spanish), external

Chelsea are lining up a 150m euros (£130.6m) bid for England and Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers, 23. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

Aston Villa are interested in Egypt winger Omar Marmoush, 26, who has been struggling for regular game time at Manchester City. (Teamtalk), external

English defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, 20, is set to travel to Cologne to complete a loan move from Manchester City. (Sun), external

Fulham have had a 20m euros (£17.4m) bid for French midfielder Arthur Atta, 22, rejected by Italian club Udinese. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Barcelona are leading the chase for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, who is out of contract in the summer, while AC Milan and Bayern Munich are also keeping an eye on the 25-year-old Serbia international's situation. (La Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external

Manchester City are in the race for Troyes' Mathys Detourbet, 18, but face competition from Roma and Monaco. (L'Equipe - in French), external

Manchester United's English defender Harry Amass, 18, could cut short his loan deal at Sheffield Wednesday to join Stoke for the rest of the season. (Sun), external

Liverpool have joined Manchester United and Tottenham in the race to sign Brighton's 22-year-old Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba. (CaughtOffside), external

However, Liverpool have dropped their interest in Newcastle United defender Sven Botman due to concerns around the 25-year-old Dutchman's persistent injury troubles. (Chronicle), external

Tottenham are keeping tabs on 23-year-old Club Brugge and Greece winger Christos Tzolis. (Teamtalk), external

Eintracht Frankfurt will pay 1.5m euros (£1.3m) to sign 23-year-old French striker Arnaud Kalimuendo on loan from Nottingham Forest and the deal will include an option to buy at around 27m euros (£23.5m). (Florian Plettenberg), external

Lazio midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, 26, is wanted by two Premier League clubs but Fenerbache have made the first move by offering 27m euros (£23.5m) for the France international. (L'Equipe - in French), external

Roma want to revamp their forward line over the next two windows and Liverpool's 28-year-old Italy winger Federico Chiesa is among their targets. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian), external

Championship leaders Coventry City are interested in Crystal Palace's 20-year-old winger Romain Esse, and Brennan Johnson's £35m arrival from Tottenham could make the Englishman's exit more feasible. (Mail)




Sky Paper Talk

Premier League

Chelsea players expect Liam Rosenior to be named their new head coach after being given indications he is the favourite to succeed Enzo Maresca - Sunday Telegraph

Slaven Bilic is willing to return to former club West Ham mid-season if the Hammers decide to sack Nuno Espirito Santo - Sun on Sunday

Napoli remain interested in Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, 20, but will only be able to sign the England international if Dutch winger Noa Lang leaves - Gazzetta dello Sport

Man Utd are hoping to send Toby Collyer back out on loan in January - despite the current selection crisis - Sun on Sunday
EFL

Manchester United's English defender Harry Amass, 18, could cut short his loan deal at Sheffield Wednesday to join Stoke for the rest of the season - Sun on Sunday
European football

Borussia Dortmund are expected to offer their full backing to Jobe Bellingham despite his difficult start to life in Germany following his summer move - Mail on Sunday

Manchester City starlet Jahmai Simpson-Pusey will fly to Germany on Sunday to join Cologne on loan - Scottish Sun

Barcelona are leading the race for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, who is out of contract in the summer - Gazzetta dello Sport
Cricket

The ECB is ready to explore ways to prevent Australia's leading Test players preparing for an away Ashes series with stints in the County Championship - Sunday Times





Guardian

Wolves thrash sorry West Ham to claim first Premier League win of the season

Will Unwin at Molineux

This was the latest West Ham humiliation of the season, and possibly Nuno Espírito Santo’s last. They became the first team to lose to Wolves at the 20th time of asking, allowing the Midlands club to double their points tally in the process and bring hope of not being the worst team in Premier League history, while leaving the Hammers four points adrift of the last safe position.

Former Wolves head coach Nuno has already been sacked once this season and a ninth game without victory will increase the pressure on a man who was more popular with the home fans, who celebrated first-half goals from Jhon Arias, Hwang Hee-chan and Mateus Mané, than the away end at Molineux. West Ham failed to get a shot on target against a team without a clean sheet prior to Saturday, who had secured three draws and nothing else in 19 matches, to put them in danger of falling below Derby’s record low of 11 points, although if the Hammers continue to play like this they might finish only three better off.

“This is a day for the fans,” Rob Edwards said. “It was for the fans who have had such a difficult time. I know it’s only one win but that is for them. They need to be able to enjoy it. I feel like they did. The players are with us and working hard and you can see that. So it was a good day today.”

Fewer than four minutes into Wolves’ new year, they were able to give the impression of finding resolution. Hwang had already offered a glimpse of a revitalised man with a 50-yard run and he backed it up with an assist, thanks to good combination play with Mané, pulling the ball back to an untracked Arias to slide home from close range, to give Wolves a home lead for the first time since 5 October.

This was the hosts’ best chance of victory, against a side who arrived woefully out of form. To further hinder the visitors, they were without the injured Lucas Paquetá, their most creative player. Confused by being ahead, Wolves did everything to protect it, putting 11 men behind the ball from an early stage.

West Ham were generous guests, bringing plenty of gifts with them. First the former Wolves captain Max Kilman failed to make a simple clearance from a cross, allowing Mané to step in, only to be brought down by Soungoutou Magassa inside the box. The 18-year-old former Rochdale youngster was proving the most influential man in gold. Hwang stepped up to double the lead. Chants of “We’re going to win the league” rang around Molineux, while the away end pondered a return visit next season.

West Ham were unable to stop Mané, a fearless youth among trepidatious adults, who turned exquisitely and cut in from the left before driving towards the box and thrashing a low shot into the corner from 18 yards for his first senior goal as a professional. Mané has benefited from Wolves’ shortcomings and rewarded Edwards with an instrumental performance in his first victory as head coach.

“He’s topped off his performance by a brilliant goal,” Edwards said. “He’s got another really brave performance, another selfless performance. He’s 18, but he’s almost like a little bit of a leader in there as well, because I think it’s infectious, I think he’s rubbing off on people, his energy, his enthusiasm. He’s a really bright talent and someone that we should be really excited about, but at the same time we just want to try and look after him. He’s got to keep his feet on the floor, which I know he will do. He’s got a good head on his shoulders.”

With nothing to lose, except his employment, Nuno made a double substitution at half-time and changed the formation to a more attacking 3-4-3. Jarrod Bowen was muted, apart from a misdirected overhead kick, meaning Crysencio Summerville was tasked with providing much-needed threat but he struggled, too.

A sense of nervousness still clouded Wolves’ judgment, unsure whether to smash the ball clear or play out from the back. Decisions were overthought needlessly, inviting pressure but they need not have worried against such meek opponents. West Ham’s own failings were apparent, as they were unable to produce anything meaningful in the final third.

Wolves were the only side who looked capable of scoring and West Ham will be relieved the embarrassment was not greater. They host 17th-placed Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, the fixture critical in the battle for survival. On this evidence, West Ham should be afraid.

[Mex Martillo]

Thanks Alan.

 

[With Kind Regards]

Thanks Alan.