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According to the Express and Star, Wolves star Joao Moutinho is now edging closer to putting pen to paper on a new deal at the Molineux.

The Lowdown: Moutinho’s contract expiration

The Portugal international first arrived in the Premier League when he joined Wanderers in a £5m move from Monaco in 2018, and has gone on to become a fan favourite at the club, making 176 appearances to date.

The 35-year-old will be out of contract this month when his current agreement expires at the end of June, but despite previous interest from AS Roma, the Midlands outfit now appear confident that the midfielder will commit his future to the club after a positive update.

The Latest: Wolves in talks over new deal

In a new article published by the Express and Star, it’s claimed that Wolves have been ‘in talks’ with Moutinho ever since the season ended, with the maestro now ‘edging closer’ to signing a new contract.

The source further states that even though there was an initial ‘sticking point’ over the length of deal during negotiations, it’s now believed that ‘both parties’ are very close to reaching an agreement.

It’s reported that Bruno Lage is ‘keen to keep’ the 145-cap international, whose representatives have ‘worked on the deal’ during the player’s time away with his country over the last two weeks.

The Verdict: European ambitions

Given the fact that Wolves are currently in talks to sign Joao Palhinha from Sporting CP, this just shows that the boss views the midfield area as a summer priority, especially if Ruben Neves leaves.

Lage clearly sees the £100k-per-week gem as an integral part of his starting XI after proving to be a regular feature for Wanderers last season, playing 46 times across all competitions, and so will want to do everything within his power to retain his services for the next campaign and beyond.

Moutinho, who was once hailed as Portugal’s “player of the decade” after Cristiano Ronaldo by World Soccer Mag Portugal correspondent Tom Kundert, will undoubtedly be a big part of Wolves’ plans in 2022/23 and could play a pivotal role in trying to help his club regain that all-important place in Europe.

In other news… Wolves are reportedly in negotiations to sign an exciting new striker.

Newcastle United avoided falling through the Premier League trap door in the 2021/22 campaign as they achieved a comfortable midtable finish in the top-flight.

Eddie Howe led the team out of trouble after staring relegation in the face in the first half of the season and will now be looking to push on next term.

Dan Ashworth has been appointed as the club’s sporting director and the pair will now be working with each other to improve the squad in the coming months.

One player the club have been linked with a move for is Sassuolo striker Gianluca Scamacca and the club must ensure that they can strike a deal for him.

Andy Carroll 2.0

The 6 foot 4 Italian can be the new Carroll – 6 foot 3 – for Newcastle as he is a well-rounded centre-forward who can be the focal point of Howe’s attack next season.

Throughout his time in the Premier League, the former Toon striker has scored 24 goals with his left foot, 24 with his head and six with his right. This shows the level of versatility he has in front of goal as he offers a threat on the floor and in the air.

In his short career to date, Scamacca – who reportedly rejected a £35m move to Arsenal – has scored 12 headers, 19 with his right foot and two free-kicks

Ex-Italy U21 coach Luigi Di Biagio previously commented on his all-round game, saying:

“He can become a very high-level centre-forward.

“He has the technique of a 1.75 m tall player and the physicality of a 1.95 m tall player, like him. And then he is complete: right foot, left, head, he attacks from deep, but also plays on the edge for his teammates.”

These comments, along with their respective statistics, suggest that the Italian centre-forward can be the new Carroll at St. James’ Park.

His goalscoring record in the Serie A also proves that he can score goals on a regular basis, along with being a complete player. He scored 16 goals in 25 league starts for Sassuolo and this shows that he can be a huge signing for Howe.

Scamacca is a prolific scorer and can lead the line for the Magpies in the Premier League next season, much like Carroll did prior to his move to Liverpool.

Therefore, Howe and Ashworth must work hard to complete a deal for the number nine so that he can showcase his goalscoring talents whilst playing in black and white next season.

AND in other news, Howe can axe £25m NUFC flop by signing “frightening” £94m predator who’s “the future”…

Aston Villa will step up their efforts to recruit a new left-back after sealing the departure of Matt Targett.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from The Mirror, who claimed that the Englishman’s reported £15m departure from the club will see that fee put towards recruiting a young, up-and-coming player who can develop as an understudy to Lucas Digne.

The club reportedly want to provide competition for the Frenchman, who has been entrusted with a starting role ever since his move from Everton in the winter transfer window.

Anderlecht full-back Gomez is rated at around £9m by Transfermarkt.

Better than Digne?

Gerrard’s ideology of signing a bright prospect like Gomez, rather than sitting on the sum received for Targett, is an astute one, made even greater by the level of competition that the 21-year-old Spaniard will hope to bring to Villa Park.

Gomez, who has been dubbed a “starlet” by Andrew Gaffney, was not given a chance at Dortmund, making just three appearances at Signal Iduna Park before departing for Vincent Kompany’s Anderlecht after a loan spell at Huesca.

The Barcelona youth product has found his feet in the Belgian top flight, chipping in with 12 assists in 34 appearances throughout his maiden Jupiler Pro League campaign.

Operating throughout Kompany’s 4-4-2 system as an offensive left-back, he has gathered more goal returns in the league this season than Digne has managed throughout the last two Premier League campaigns.

With 65 chances created, Gomez surpasses Digne’s squad-topping 52 chances at Villa, with the Spaniard’s 15 big chances created almost double that of Villa’s top ‘big chance’ creator Emi Buendia, with eight this season.

As a creative defensive asset this season, he can count himself as one of the best in Europe. As such, Gerrard would be quite right to reinvest in a prospect like Gomez, who can provide some very stiff competition for 28-year-old Digne.

In other news: Gerrard must pounce on Villa swoop for £263k-p/w “stallion” who supporters would love 

West Ham United are reportedly edging ever closer to announcing the signing of Rennes defender Nayef Aguerd, according to respected source ExWHUemployee.

What’s the word?

Speaking on the West Ham Way podcast, the club insider has revealed that the deal to bring the centre-back to the London Stadium is nearing completion, with the Morocco international believed to have gone as far as to pose for photos with a Hammers shirt.

While the transfer guru stated that the deal is not yet totally done, he believes that the 26-year-old is all but certain to be at the club next season (quotes via West Ham Zone): “I’ve spoken to a couple of people in the club who have all confirmed it [Aguerd signing].

“There were even photos taken of him with the shirt, so unless things have dramatically changed and this doesn’t happen, because I don’t believe it’s a done deal, but I would be surprised if he doesn’t sign. It may be even announced on the day that the kits are launched, whenever that is.”

This follows a report last week that outlined that the east Londoners were ‘holding talks’ regarding a permanent switch, while the Telegraph’s latest update suggested that the club are ‘increasingly confident’ of securing the £13m move.

Supporters buzzing

That news will no doubt be music to the ears of Irons’ supporters, with David Moyes’ side having been in desperate need of new additions to help bolster the backline, with injuries hampering their progress in 2022 as the Scotsman was at times forced to name a makeshift backline.

That included having to start full-back, Aaron Cresswell, in the heart of the defence on occasion, while throughout the campaign the club had been far too reliant on the defensive pair of Craig Dawson and Kurt Zouma, following Angelo Ogbonna’s lengthy stint out with a serious knee injury.

With Frenchman Issa Diop also heavily linked with an exit after falling out of favour in recent seasons, the need for new recruits has heightened even further, with the aforementioned Aguerd set to provide real quality and at a relative bargain price to boot.

The most recent campaign saw the £10.8m-rated gem help the Ligue outfit to a fourth-place finish, having averaged four clearances, 0.9 tackles and 0.8 interceptions per game in his 31 league starts, keeping an impressive 13 clean sheets in that time and winning 62% of his total duels.

Not just a sound defensive presence, the £8.9k-per-week ace also has the quality in possession to make him a real force to be reckoned with in the Premier League, ranking in the top 10% for attempted passes and in the top 16% for pass completion among those in his position across Europe’s five big leagues.

Such impressive form has seen him compared to Liverpool’s influential rock, Virgil van Dijk, with the pair sharing a number of statistical and stylistic similarities, as per FBref.

That comparison alone will no doubt have caught the attention of Hammers’ supporters, although the former Dijon man has also been the subject of praise for his displays in France, having been dubbed a “cerebral person” by ex-Rennes boss Julien Stephen for his footballing intelligence.

The longer-term concern will be whether he can translate that form to the English top-flight, although at present the West Ham faithful simply have good reason to be getting excited.

IN other news, “Another target…”: Ex drops big WHU summer transfer claim that supporters will love

After a phenomenal week, it appears Tottenham Hotspur supporters have been boosted further after more ‘great news’ out of the club.

The Lowdown: Excellent last seven days…

After manager Antonio Conte guided Spurs to a top four Premier League finish, securing the riches of Champions League qualification in the process, the Lilywhites were then handed a major financial boost.

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The north-Londoners announced a £150 million equity increase which can be used for both transfer fees and player salaries, as explained by BBC reporter Simon Stone.

Conte could now be set for big backing this summer with Alasdair Gold also explaining that the ‘bulk’ of Tottenham’s new £150m will be ploughed straight into the Italian’s transfer kitty.

There were murmurs surrounding whether the ex-Chelsea boss would even stay for 2022/2023, but as backed by reliable reporters Charlie Eccleshare of The Athletic and Matt Law of The Telegraph, Levy has been handed a further boost by a big Conte update.

The Latest: Conte set to stay…

The 52-year-old, as explained by both reporters, is set to remain in what is more ‘great news for Tottenham’ after a brilliant week.

Eccleshare explained:

“Conte staying at #THFC. What a week it’s been for Spurs! Hard to remember anything quite like it.” – Eccleshare (via Twitter).

Law, after giving his own update the former Inter manager is staying, also gave his take – stating (via Twitter):

“This is not only great news for Tottenham but also great news for the PL. Conte is right up there with Guardiola, Klopp and Tuchel as one of the best managers in the world and he is box office for fans and journalists.”

The Verdict: Huge…

Conte guided Spurs to a previously unthought of place among Europe’s elite for next season, gifting the club a major pull in the transfer market alongside their financial windfall.

It comes as no surprise the Serie A winner was linked with a move to Paris-Saint Germain given his proven CV as a serial-winning manager, so this news Tottenham have him for at least one more year comes as an incredible uplift.

In other news: ‘Tremendous’, ‘Peak of his powers’ – Sky pundit thrilled as Spurs eye ‘superstar’ striker move..find out more here.

Brenden Aaronson will undergo his Leeds United medical imminently ahead of his summer move to Elland Road, according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.

The Lowdown: Aaronson deal on the brink

The American has been a long-time target for the Whites and was even the subject of two bids from Marcelo Bielsa and Victor Orta back in January.

Unsurprisingly, with Jesse Marsch working alongside him during their time together at RB Salzburg, the Whites’ interest hasn’t waned with the change of manager.

Aaronson scored twice in eight Champions League appearances for Salzburg this season, as well as averaging 1.6 key passes per game in the competition, and on Monday, it emerged that a deal to sign the 21-year-old is now close, following Leeds’ Premier League survival being secured on Sunday.

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The Latest: Medical imminent

Taking to Twitter on Monday evening, Sky Germany reporter Plettenberg claimed that Aaronson would have his Whites medical in the near future, with everything else agreed:

“Update #Aaronson: There is a total agreement with #LUFC and between the clubs. Everything is clear but no signing yet. Medical soon. Total transfer between €28-30m. He is one of the desired players of the clubs. Great transfer.”

The Verdict: Fantastic summer signing

Aaronson has seemingly been a primary target for a long time, so getting this deal over the line is huge, further highlighting the importance of staying in the Premier League.

The USA international should bring a huge amount of quality with him to Leeds’ midfield, providing more end product than the current crop, following 13 goals and 15 assists in 65 matches for Salzburg.

At 22, he is someone who can mature into a star figure at Elland Road during the Marsch era, excelling alongside his compatriot and helping take the Whites up another gear.

In other news, Leeds are eyeing up a second signing after Aaronson. Find out who it is here.

The opener is in line for a Test debut in Perth next week after a prolific year with the bat

Andrew McGlashan25-Nov-2022So, is Tagenarine going to play the first Test against Australia?
It would be a huge surprise if he doesn’t, having made 119 against a strong Prime Minister’s XI attack in Canberra to continue a prolific year. He had made just 4 in his one outing against NSW/ACT XI last week, after missing the first innings because of illness. But on Thursday, he faced 293 balls before falling to the final delivery of the second day when he top-edged a pull against Joel Paris. The PM’s line-up included Test seamer Michael Neser as well as Mark Steketee, who has been in Australia squads. Todd Murphy, the young offspinner, and left-armer Ashton Agar bowled 41 overs between them, which is likely to be more spin than Chanderpaul will face in Perth, but should put him good stead for the challenge of Nathan Lyon. A vacancy for Kraigg Brathwaite’s partner has come up at the top of the order following the anti-doping ban handed to John Campbell.Related

• Kraigg Brathwaite wants West Indies 'to bat 100 overs' as fiery Perth surface beckons

• Australia look to shut out the noise as West Indies face 25 years of history against them

• Holder urges West Indies quicks to not get 'carried away seeing carry and bounce' in Perth

• Green gung-ho about IPL 2023 but hectic calendar will make it tough, warns Warner

• Brathwaite hopes to 'do good things together' with Tagenarine

He’s 26, so not really young for a debutant…
He’s waited a little while for this opportunity, but he effectively lost two years of his career because of Covid and did not play a match from March 2020 until February 2022. Before that gap, he had shown glimpses of his potential with a maiden first-class hundred against Barbados in 2018, and then another against Windward Islands in 2019, which at a marathon 484 deliveries is his longest first-class innings to date in terms of balls faced. From early on, he had shown the ability to bat time, facing more than 150 deliveries in an innings three times in his first two seasons. However, it’s been this year where things have really taken off: in 2022, he has an average of 89.50 including four centuries.He and his dad played together, right?
Indeed they did, 11 times in first-class cricket. The first came in 2013 against Trinidad and Tobago [Tagenarine made 42 in the first innings, Shivnarine 108 in the second], and the last in 2018, which is when Tagenarine made his maiden first-class hundred.What has his route to the Test side been?
He played in the 2014 Under-19 World Cup in the UAE, where he made 293 runs. That team also featured Nicholas Pooran, Fabian Allen, Shimron Hetmyer and Brandon King. After that, he bided his time in first-class cricket before the Covid-enforced break. Earlier this year, he was rewarded for his impressive domestic form with a West Indies A call-up to face Bangladesh A where he made an unbeaten 109 in the second four-day match.Does he bat like his dad?
Make your own mind up…

Meet the Chanderpauls #PMXIvWI #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/hSOJfFZSre

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 24, 2022

What Shivnarine said
“He’s been knocking at the door since before Covid… two-and-a-half years passed with no cricket behind, then he started to get some cricket back. He started the first-class season without many runs, then he came to Florida and did some work with me. When he got back, he got a couple of hundreds and now he’s got selected to come here. Knowing the attack Australia has – these guys are relentless – if he can come here and do well, it will be a start to his career.”I try to help him sometimes but he’s a little bent in his ways. He’ll seek me out for some help but then there’s a lot of times, like any kid, when you message him but he doesn’t message back. Unless he wants something! I’ll message [while] watching the game whenever he’s playing, I’ve seen what he’s doing, if he’s doing something he’s not supposed to be doing then I’ll message and say ‘this is what I’m seeing’ and he’ll not message back for two months after.”What Tagenarine said
“I try and be myself. I can’t be him, so I can only be myself. Fingers crossed… I’ll try to get some runs if I’m selected.”And here’s a fun fact
Tagenarine has a movie credit to his name. He was plucked to play Larry Gomes in the film about India’s famous World Cup triumph.”Being a part of was a great opportunity that I stumbled upon while playing four-day cricket in St Lucia in 2018,” Tagenarine told last year. “During a practice session a scout came to the ground and asked who wanted to try out for the film. To my surprise a few months later I received a call that I had been chosen to play the part of Larry Gomes.”Lastly, but most importantly, does he mark his guard with a bail?
“Sometimes,” Shivnarine said.

Kylian Mbappe has cheekily hinted that his France teammate Dayot Upamecano could find “better teams” than Bayern Munich in a playful invitation to join him at Real Madrid. The defender is out of contract in 2026, and talks with Bayern remain unresolved. With Los Blancos searching for a long-term defensive anchor, Mbappe’s comments have reignited talk of a blockbuster French reunion in Madrid.

• Madrid circle as Upamecano faces uncertain Bayern future

  Madrid’s pursuit of a new central defender has taken a familiar turn, straight into the heart of France’s national team setup. Last week reports emerged in Spain that Los Blancos have held preliminary talks with the representatives of Upamecano, who could be available on a free transfer in 2026 if Bayern fail to secure a renewal.

  The 27-year-old centre-back has become one of Vincent Kompany’s key players at Bayern, forming a formidable partnership in defence and featuring heavily across competitions. However, with Madrid exploring options due to long-term fitness concerns around David Alaba and Eder Militao, Upamecano’s name remains high on their shortlist. 

  Adding intrigue to the speculation, Mbappe was quizzed about his compatriot’s situation ahead of France’s World Cup qualifiers and couldn’t resist a mischievous comment about Bayern’s place in football’s pecking order.

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  ‘There are better clubs’ – Mbappe praises Upamecano but drops Madrid hint

  Mbappe, speaking at a press conference, was full of admiration for Upamecano’s recent form but couldn’t help letting a playful smile slip when asked whether his teammate should stay in Munich.

  “He’s doing very well, he’s very confident, full of self-assurance. He’s in the debate about who is the best defender in the world,” Mbappe said. “For me, he’s one of those dominant defenders. He’s capable of keeping up with the forwards, of winning duels. He’s a tactical asset.”

  With a grin, Mbappe added a line that quickly caught fire: “He’s at a big club, Bayern, there’s not much better… But there are better ones [smiles]. I’m not going to say anything, I’m not going to get into that debate, out of respect for his club and for him, because I know that if I say something he’ll be under more pressure. But when you talk about a player of this calibre, all the clubs will be on the lookout to sign him.”

• Upamecano stays calm amid Madrid links

  In response to mounting speculation, the former RB Leipzig has remained composed and avoided fueling transfer talk. Speaking to recently, Upamecano said he’s letting his representatives handle discussions while focusing on the season ahead.

  "My agent is taking care of it. We will make the right decision. I am receiving good advice," he said. "I am focused on this season and my goals with the club and the national team. I don't have the headspace for it."

  At the same time, he expressed appreciation for the growing interest in his future: “I'm completely relaxed. I'm under contract with Bayern. I have goals. But I'm very grateful when clubs are interested in me.”

  Upamecano’s agent Moussa Sissoko, who also represents Ousmane Dembele, is known for his strong negotiating stance and close connections within French football circles. His involvement adds another layer to the ongoing situation, especially with the Bavarians pushing for an extension to avoid losing the defender at his peak.

  For Madrid, the potential arrival of a French international with Champions League pedigree and a strong relationship with Mbappe fits perfectly within Florentino Perez’s recruitment model.

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  Next moves: Contract talks or free transfer showdown?

  Bayern remain confident of keeping Upamecano, but there’s a growing sense within the club that delaying negotiations could prove costly. The Bavarian giants have already seen several key players depart on free transfers in recent seasons – a scenario they are determined to avoid repeating with one of their most reliable defenders.

  Club president Herbert Hainer confirmed that discussions with the player’s representatives are already underway, expressing optimism about a positive outcome. “We are in the process of speaking with Upamecano. I believe he feels comfortable in Munich. It's obviously an important decision for him as well. In principle, he likes it very much at Bayern. We would like to keep him. I am cautiously optimistic.”

  While Madrid continue to monitor developments quietly from afar, Bayern’s leadership remain united in their stance that Upamecano is central to their long-term plans. For now, both camps are handling matters with professionalism, Mbappe’s teasing remarks aside but with Les Blues stars regularly linking up on and off the pitch, speculation around a future Madrid move is unlikely to fade anytime soon.

Everton now reportedly want to sign Nicolas Jackson in an attempt to solve their goalscoring problems and take full advantage of Bayern Munich’s £70m decision.

The Toffees are so nearly the side that David Moyes needs. They welcomed the likes of Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Tyler Dibling in the summer to inject some much-needed creative spark. In many ways, it was almost the perfect summer transfer window for the Friedkin Group.

All the American owners are waiting for now is Thierno Barry. The summer arrival is yet to score a single goal in 11 appearances since taking his place among Everton’s most expensive ever signings and is in danger of becoming a transfer flop. At a time when Beto is also struggling, the Toffees need their £27m star to start performing.

The numbers don’t make for pretty reading. Beto’s underperformance can be highlighted by looking at his expected goals. The forward can’t complain about service and has had good enough chances to reach at least three goals compared to the reality of his one strike.

Barry, meanwhile, needs more opportunities. Moyes has handed the former Villarreal forward just 252 minutes of Premier League action so far this season and, in contrast to Beto, he has recorded just 0.5 expected goals. Whilst Beto hasn’t been clinical enough, Everton aren’t creating enough chances for Barry.

The truth is that neither striker may get the opportunity to solve the Toffees’ problem in the near future. Names such as Ivan Toney have already been mentioned as reported targets come 2026 and he’s now joined on Everton’s shortlist by a £70m man. One way or another, those in Merseyside look destined to welcome another forward.

Everton now targeting Nicolas Jackson swoop

As reported by Football Insider, Everton now want to sign Nicolas Jackson by taking full advantage of Bayern Munich’s decision to opt out of triggering their £70m buy clause.

Not just Grealish: £30k-p/w Everton gem can be England's World Cup wildcard

Everton have a whole host of English players gunning for a seat on the plane next summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 31, 2025

The forward’s loan spell at the German club will become permanent if he starts 40 games, but Bayern chief Uli Hoeness confirmed at the start of the season that Jackson is incredibly unlikely to reach that number.

What that does is swing the door open for Everton to make their move when the 24-year-old returns to Chelsea next summer.

Those at the Hill Dickinson Stadium should not share the same reservations as Bayern Munich about signing Jackson, either. He is still very much a player full of potential and someone who knows how to find the back of the net in the Premier League, having scored 10 goals last season and 14 in the campaign prior.

Described as “fantastic” by Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca last season, Everton should jump at the chance to sign Jackson next year.

How Richarlison feels about returning to Everton in January

British taxpayers will have to foot a bill to the tune of £2 million (€2.27m/$2.62m) if West Ham United are relegated from the Premier League this season. The Hammers are currently 19th in the league table after enduring a torrid season which is yet to pick up following the appointment of manager Nuno Espirito Santo as Graham Potter's successor.

• Nuno replaced Potter at West Ham helm following poor start to season

  Nuno was handed the reins at West Ham at the end of September after former head coach Potter was dismissed. The 50-year-old, who has since taken charge of Sweden, was sacked after only eight months at the helm following a start to the 2025-26 season which saw the club lose four of their first five league games. 

  West Ham suffered defeats against Sunderland, Chelsea, Tottenham and Crystal Palace, though they did register a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, in what turned out to be Nuno’s final game in charge at the City Ground. The Portuguese guided Forest to seventh in 2024-25 – their highest finish since the 1994-95 campaign – but was dismissed after just three league games this season. Nuno had previously revealed his relationship had "changed" with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, amid his frustration over the club’s summer transfer activity.

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  Captain Bowen admitted club are 'in trouble' following Leeds defeat

  Nuno’s appointment is yet to lead to an upturn in form, with West Ham failing to win any of their first four games under his stewardship. After earning an impressive 1-1 draw at Everton on 29 September, the east Londoners have since suffered three successive league defeats against Arsenal, Brentford and Leeds United.

  Speaking after their latest reverse against Leeds, West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen admitted the club are "in trouble now", telling after the game: "A dressing room when you're second bottom of the league is low. The only way this will change is if we step up and show some fight.

  "We need more of that. It's easy to hide and be scared almost. It's easier said and harder to do sometimes. You have to face up to the reality of where we are and we're in trouble now.

  "We've talked as a group, but it's down to the players as well. We speak to each other, but there's only so much. It's got to come from within. We haven't been great at home, but now is the time to roll your sleeves up."

• Taxpayer will feel brunt if West Ham are relegated

  With West Ham continuing to struggle, a new report in claims the British taxpayer would have to stump up £2m if they are relegated this season. The report claims that, under the terms of their 99-year lease for playing at the London Stadium, West Ham’s annual rent of £2.5m will be halved should the club drop into the Championship.

  The report also says control of the stadium, built to host the 2012 London Olympics, was handed to the Greater London Authority, with the London Legacy Development Corporation retiring from the operating company, E20 Stadium LLP, and being replaced by GLA Holdings Ltd. However, the most recent accounts – for the year ending March 31, 2024 – highlighted an operating loss of £20.9m in public money, given that the amount of rent West Ham pay does not cover stadium operating costs.

  And with West Ham currently languishing near the bottom of the table, the report concludes by saying that, given the club’s current form, there could be further expense to the British taxpayer because of an agreement detailed in the stadium concession agreement.

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  Influential West Ham midfielder Paqueta sanctioned by FA

  The news comes after West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta was sanctioned by the Football Association (FA) for "two proven breaches" following their investigation into alleged spot-fixing. The Brazil international has subsequently been reprimanded and given a warning over his future conduct by a regulatory commission, after a hearing found he had "failed to comply with a requirement to answer questions and provide information to The FA’s investigation into breaches of the Rules." Paqueta had previously denied the two charges.

  In a statement on their official club website, West Ham said: "West Ham United acknowledges the statement published by the Football Association today, confirming that Lucas Paqueta has received a warning as to his future conduct, following two proven breaches of FA rule F3, after he was cleared of misconduct charges made against him for alleged breaches of FA rule E5. West Ham United and Lucas Paqueta are pleased that this matter is now finally closed. The Club will be making no further comment."