Friday News (includes West Ham)

[Alan]

BBC

Bayern Munich have enquired about 24-year-old Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson, who Chelsea value at £48m, and is also a target for Newcastle United. (Sky Sports Germany), external

Newcastle striker Alexander Isak will not play for the club in pre-season games against Espanyol and Atletico Madrid this weekend amid uncertainty about his future and interest from Liverpool. (Mail - subscription required), external

AC Milan are interested in taking Rasmus Hojlund from Manchester United. The 22-year-old is available for about £30m but Milan are keen on a loan move. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external

Tottenham have had a £30m bid for Nico Paz turned down by Como, who value the 20-year-old Argentina attacking midfielder at £52m. (Sky Sports Italia), external

Aston Villa have rejected an £18m offer from Everton for Scotland midfielder John McGinn, 30, who is also attracting interest from Newcastle. (Sky Sports News), external

Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr are ready to meet Brentford's asking price for 28-year-old DR Congo forward Yoane Wissa, who is also a target for Newcastle and Tottenham. (L'Equipe - in French), external

Spain defender Inigo Martinez, 34, is set to cancel his contract with Barcelona and move on a free transfer to Al-Nassr. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish), external

Manchester City have turned down an offer from Roma for Argentine midfielder Claudio Echeverri, 19, as they want to loan him to Girona, who are under the City Football Group umbrella. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external

Preston North End are close to completing a loan move for Tottenham's 21-year-old English attacking midfielder Alfie Devine. (Lancashire Post), external

Coventry City want £15m for their Dutch right-back Milan van Ewijk. Wolves and Wolfsburg are among the clubs keen on signing the 24-year-old. (Coventry Telegraph), external

Southampton have failed in an approach for Coventry's 24-year-old midfielder Jack Rudoni, but might come back with another offer. (The Sun, external)

Striker Joe Gelhardt, 23, will return to Hull City on a season-long loan from Leeds after helping the Tigers stay up during a loan spell last season. (Hull Live, external)

Middlesbrough and Oxford United are vying for Luton Town striker Cauley Woodrow, 30, who spent time on loan at Blackburn last season. (SportsBoom, external)

The Hatters have seen two bids for 20-year-old Gillingham forward Joe Gbode turned down. (Pete O'Rourke, external)

Wigan are keen on signing 33-year-old free-agent midfielder Jeff Hendrick, who has won 79 caps for the Republic of Ireland, after the former Newcastle and Burnley man's short-term deal at Derby came to an end. (SportsBoom, external)

Preston North End are close to completing a loan move for Tottenham's 21-year-old English attacking midfielder Alfie Devine. (Lancashire Post), external

Coventry City want £15m for their Dutch right-back Milan van Ewijk. Wolves and Wolfsburg are among the clubs keen on signing the 24-year-old. (Coventry Telegraph)




Sky Paper Talk

DAILY MAIL

Newcastle really like Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen and an approach cannot be ruled out. However, Wolves could demand a fee in the region of £60m.

Newcastle's chances of securing Brentford striker Yoane Wissa have been boosted as the Bees eye a move for Bournemouth's Dango Ouattara.

Barcelona have stripped goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen of the club captaincy after opening disciplinary proceedings into their No 1, as the extraordinary rift between the LaLiga giants and the German deepens.

THE INDEPENDENT

Liverpool have drawn up a forward shortlist including Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola.

THE TIMES

Arsenal are planning on approaching Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze and must wait to see if Real Madrid winger Rodrygo can leave on loan.

THE ATHLETIC

Initial assessments indicate the ankle injury Morgan Rogers picked up in Aston Villa's 4-0 win against Roma is not thought to be serious.

Aston Villa are planning to discuss a new contract with captain John McGinn amid interest from other Premier League clubs.



Guardian Rumour mill

Taha Hashim

Farewell, Benjamin Sesko. The Slovene has been churned through the Mill but is finally moving past the tittle-tattle to something more concrete. He’s on the way to Manchester United, such a great, welcoming place in recent years for developing forwards. Godspeed. What does this mean for Newcastle, who were in for him too and are in dire need of anyone, anyone, to walk through the door? They continue to be linked with Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, while the Daily Mail says Wolves’ Jørgen Strand Larsen is in their thoughts, too.

Uncertainty lingers over their prized possession, Alexander Isak, denied the joys of the grill but, claims the Times, still desired by Liverpool – even after their £110m offer was rejected. With Sesko the new leading man at Old Trafford, Rasmus Højlund’s future comes into question; Milan could be the answer, potentially taking the former Atalanta striker back to Serie A. Chelsea are developing a habit for United wingers: Jadon Sancho on loan last year, Alejandro Garnacho this time round, with perhaps more permanence. The Argentinian international has apparently been given a price tag of £50m.

Bournemouth have had their impressive backline picked apart by the big boys. Illia Zabarnyi finds himself on the way to Paris Saint-Germain after the departures of Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid and Milos Kerkez to Liverpool, as well as the end of Kepa Arrizabalaga’s loan. But the French connection goes both ways. Lille’s Bafodé Diakité is getting lined up for a move to the south coast. Bournemouth are also having to deal with interest in their forward line; Dango Ouattara has reportedly caught the attention of Brentford after seven goals and four assists in the league last season. Tottenham, shorn of the services of James Maddison for the near future after his anterior cruciate ligament injury, are said to like the look of the Como midfielder Nico Paz, though the Cesc Fàbregas-run outfit like him exactly where he is.

Ademola Lookman has made clear he wants out of Atalanta after “many months of broken promises”, with Inter launching bids for the London-born forward. But how about a return to the capital? Some are chucking Arsenal’s name into the mix of interested parties. John McGinn was mentioned on these pages on Thursday as an option for Newcastle – anyone, please, anyone – but the Athletic says Aston Villa are ready to talk about a new deal for their skipper.






All Nigeria Soccer

West Ham confirm 2025–2026 squad number for Nigeria-eligible wing-back

Premier League side West Ham United have announced the men’s first-team squad numbers for the 2025–26 season, with Nigerian-eligible defender Emeka Adiele among the development squad players handed a number.

The 18-year-old's inclusion suggests he is in contention to make his senior debut for the Hammers in the forthcoming campaign.

Adiele wore the number 74 shirt in last season's EFL Trophy fixtures against Reading, Newport County and Cheltenham Town.

For the upcoming season, he has switched to the number 69 jersey.

The dual-national wing-back trained with West Ham's senior squad during pre-season and was part of the travelling party for their opening friendly against Swiss side Grasshopper.

A product of the club's academy, Adiele has been with West Ham since the U9 level, progressing through the ranks before signing his first professional contract on July 31, 2024 – the same day he turned 17.

In his first year as a scholar, he tallied nine goal contributions (four goals, five assists) in 20 U18 Premier League appearances.

Since stepping up to Premier League 2 level, he has been directly involved in four goals across 15 matches.

Adiele has represented England at U17 and U18 level, but remains eligible to turn out for Nigeria’s Flying Eagles as all his caps for the Young Lions came in friendly matches.

[With Kind Regards]

Thanks Alan.