Tuesday News (includes West Ham)
Posted: 25 Nov 2025, 10:24
BBC
Brazil forward Vinicius Junior, 25, has told Real Madrid he does not intend to renew his contract which expires in the summer of 2027, because of a strained relationship with manager Xabi Alonso. (Athletic - subscription required), external
Liverpool, Manchester United and several other Premier League clubs are keeping a keen eye on Vinicius' situation. (Mirror), external
Liverpool have already held concrete talks over a move for Bournemouth and Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo, 25, and are aware of his £65m release clause. (Florian Plettenberg), external
Manchester United and Chelsea have both scouted RB Leipzig and Germany midfielder Assan Ouedraogo, 19. (Sky Sports Germany - in German), external
Marseille want to hold talks with Brighton about signing Denmark midfielder Matt O'Riley, 25, permanently in January. (Sky Sports), external
European giants AC Milan are plotting a spectacular move for Crystal Palace and France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, 28. (Teamtalk)
Premier League clubs are expected to queue up to sign Atletico Madrid and England midfielder Conor Gallagher in January, provided the Spanish club agree to sell or loan out the 25-year-old former Chelsea player. (Sky Sports), external
Paris St-Germain have joined Real Madrid in the race for Bayern Munich and France defender Dayot Upamecano, 27, who looks set to become a free agent at the end of the season. (Sky Sports Germany - in German), external
Wolves and Brazil midfielder Joao Gomes, 24, has had his head turned by Manchester United's interest in him and would be keen on a January move. (Teamtalk), external
Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva, 31, is likely to leave Manchester City when his contract expires at the end of the season. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Chelsea and Arsenal will fight to sign Marseille's French striker Robinio Vaz, 18, who is valued between 20 and 30m euros (£17.6m to £25.5m). (Caught Offside), external
Atletico Madrid are considering a move for Marseille forward Mason Greenwood, 24, with the Englishman valued at about £70m. (Fichajes - in Spanish)
Sky Paper Talk
European football
Vinicius Junior has told Real Madrid that he does not want to renew his contract while his relationship with head coach Xabi Alonso remains so strained - The Athletic
Liverpool, Manchester United and several other Premier League clubs are keeping a keen eye on Vinicius' situation - Daily Mirror.
The company set up to manage the failed European Super League, A22 Sports Management, has written to UEFA demanding pre-authorisation of its Unify League concept "within eight weeks" - The Athletic
Paris Saint-Germain have joined Real Madrid in the race for Bayern Munich and France defender Dayot Upamecano, 27, who looks set to become a free agent at the end of the season - Sky Germany.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Tottenham Hotspur are determined to give Thomas Frank enough time to get things right, despite fears around the club he is making life hard for himself by chopping and changing too much - The Telegraph
Liverpool have already held concrete talks over a move for Bournemouth and Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo and are aware of his £65m release clause - Sky Germany.
Manchester United and Chelsea have both scouted RB Leipzig and Germany midfielder Assan Ouedraogo - Sky Germany.
SCOTTISH FOOTBALL
Wilfried Nancy will target a stunning January move for prolific Columbus Crew striker Wessam Abou Ali as soon as he's confirmed as new Celtic boss - The Scottish Sun
Raith Rovers are closing in on the appointment of Dougie Imrie as their new manager - Daily Record
RUGBY UNION
The Rugby Football Union has been asked to provide any footage of the tunnel bust-up featuring Tom Curry and Felipe Contepomi after Argentina lodged a complaint over the England flanker - The Telegraph
Sports View
West Ham United want VfL Bochum defensive midfielder Cajetan Lenz
West Ham United are monitoring VfL Bochum defensive midfielder Cajetan Benjamin Lenz and have made contact with his agent, according to Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg.
West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo wants reinforcements at the London Stadium club for the second half of the campaign.
Lenz is one of the names on the radar of the Hammers, but they face fierce competition for his services as he has plenty of suitors keen on him.
Florian Plettenberg
@Plettigoal
EXCL | All Bundesliga sides (apart from Bayern) have concrete interest in shooting star Cajetan #Lenz of VfL Bochum. From the Premier League, West Ham are among the clubs monitoring him. #WHUFC
Makram Naceur of Nacrsports, the agent of Lenz, told me for Sky: “I can confirm that many clubs, both national and international, have made contact. However, Cajetan is fully focused on his boyhood club, VfL Bochum.”
Formal enquiries for the 19 y/o defensive midfielder are already on the table. Contract until 2029.
His agent, Makram Naceur, has revealed that the likes of West Ham have got in touch as they look to sign the 19-year-old German.
However, the teenage sensation only wants to focus on helping Bochum return to the Bundesliga following relegation from the German top-flight last term.
Things have not gone well for the club in the 2. Bundesliga as they are just three points off the relegation places after 13 games.
Lenz has continued to impress in the second division and only Bayern Munich are not interested in signing him in the Bundesliga.
West Ham will hope to pip all of them to his services but their place in the Premier League table could count against them.
The Hammers are 17th in the table after 12 games, and leaving Bochum for a club fighting relegation may not exactly appeal to Lenz.
He is not the only midfielder on their radar, and it is unknown whether he is at the top of their wishlist.
West Ham cannot afford to make any more transfer mistakes after spending much in recent transfer windows with little or nothing to show for it.
They need players capable of hitting the ground running in the Premier League, and going after those proven in the English top-flight could be better.
The Hammers have managed to improve significantly at both ends of the pitch in recent games, winning two and drawing one of their last three league games.
However, failure to properly strengthen their squad in key areas in January could come with consequences, and Nuno has to get things right.
Brazil forward Vinicius Junior, 25, has told Real Madrid he does not intend to renew his contract which expires in the summer of 2027, because of a strained relationship with manager Xabi Alonso. (Athletic - subscription required), external
Liverpool, Manchester United and several other Premier League clubs are keeping a keen eye on Vinicius' situation. (Mirror), external
Liverpool have already held concrete talks over a move for Bournemouth and Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo, 25, and are aware of his £65m release clause. (Florian Plettenberg), external
Manchester United and Chelsea have both scouted RB Leipzig and Germany midfielder Assan Ouedraogo, 19. (Sky Sports Germany - in German), external
Marseille want to hold talks with Brighton about signing Denmark midfielder Matt O'Riley, 25, permanently in January. (Sky Sports), external
European giants AC Milan are plotting a spectacular move for Crystal Palace and France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, 28. (Teamtalk)
Premier League clubs are expected to queue up to sign Atletico Madrid and England midfielder Conor Gallagher in January, provided the Spanish club agree to sell or loan out the 25-year-old former Chelsea player. (Sky Sports), external
Paris St-Germain have joined Real Madrid in the race for Bayern Munich and France defender Dayot Upamecano, 27, who looks set to become a free agent at the end of the season. (Sky Sports Germany - in German), external
Wolves and Brazil midfielder Joao Gomes, 24, has had his head turned by Manchester United's interest in him and would be keen on a January move. (Teamtalk), external
Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva, 31, is likely to leave Manchester City when his contract expires at the end of the season. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Chelsea and Arsenal will fight to sign Marseille's French striker Robinio Vaz, 18, who is valued between 20 and 30m euros (£17.6m to £25.5m). (Caught Offside), external
Atletico Madrid are considering a move for Marseille forward Mason Greenwood, 24, with the Englishman valued at about £70m. (Fichajes - in Spanish)
Sky Paper Talk
European football
Vinicius Junior has told Real Madrid that he does not want to renew his contract while his relationship with head coach Xabi Alonso remains so strained - The Athletic
Liverpool, Manchester United and several other Premier League clubs are keeping a keen eye on Vinicius' situation - Daily Mirror.
The company set up to manage the failed European Super League, A22 Sports Management, has written to UEFA demanding pre-authorisation of its Unify League concept "within eight weeks" - The Athletic
Paris Saint-Germain have joined Real Madrid in the race for Bayern Munich and France defender Dayot Upamecano, 27, who looks set to become a free agent at the end of the season - Sky Germany.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Tottenham Hotspur are determined to give Thomas Frank enough time to get things right, despite fears around the club he is making life hard for himself by chopping and changing too much - The Telegraph
Liverpool have already held concrete talks over a move for Bournemouth and Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo and are aware of his £65m release clause - Sky Germany.
Manchester United and Chelsea have both scouted RB Leipzig and Germany midfielder Assan Ouedraogo - Sky Germany.
SCOTTISH FOOTBALL
Wilfried Nancy will target a stunning January move for prolific Columbus Crew striker Wessam Abou Ali as soon as he's confirmed as new Celtic boss - The Scottish Sun
Raith Rovers are closing in on the appointment of Dougie Imrie as their new manager - Daily Record
RUGBY UNION
The Rugby Football Union has been asked to provide any footage of the tunnel bust-up featuring Tom Curry and Felipe Contepomi after Argentina lodged a complaint over the England flanker - The Telegraph
Sports View
West Ham United want VfL Bochum defensive midfielder Cajetan Lenz
West Ham United are monitoring VfL Bochum defensive midfielder Cajetan Benjamin Lenz and have made contact with his agent, according to Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg.
West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo wants reinforcements at the London Stadium club for the second half of the campaign.
Lenz is one of the names on the radar of the Hammers, but they face fierce competition for his services as he has plenty of suitors keen on him.
Florian Plettenberg
@Plettigoal
EXCL | All Bundesliga sides (apart from Bayern) have concrete interest in shooting star Cajetan #Lenz of VfL Bochum. From the Premier League, West Ham are among the clubs monitoring him. #WHUFCMakram Naceur of Nacrsports, the agent of Lenz, told me for Sky: “I can confirm that many clubs, both national and international, have made contact. However, Cajetan is fully focused on his boyhood club, VfL Bochum.”
Formal enquiries for the 19 y/o defensive midfielder are already on the table. Contract until 2029.
His agent, Makram Naceur, has revealed that the likes of West Ham have got in touch as they look to sign the 19-year-old German.
However, the teenage sensation only wants to focus on helping Bochum return to the Bundesliga following relegation from the German top-flight last term.
Things have not gone well for the club in the 2. Bundesliga as they are just three points off the relegation places after 13 games.
Lenz has continued to impress in the second division and only Bayern Munich are not interested in signing him in the Bundesliga.
West Ham will hope to pip all of them to his services but their place in the Premier League table could count against them.
The Hammers are 17th in the table after 12 games, and leaving Bochum for a club fighting relegation may not exactly appeal to Lenz.
He is not the only midfielder on their radar, and it is unknown whether he is at the top of their wishlist.
West Ham cannot afford to make any more transfer mistakes after spending much in recent transfer windows with little or nothing to show for it.
They need players capable of hitting the ground running in the Premier League, and going after those proven in the English top-flight could be better.
The Hammers have managed to improve significantly at both ends of the pitch in recent games, winning two and drawing one of their last three league games.
However, failure to properly strengthen their squad in key areas in January could come with consequences, and Nuno has to get things right.