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West Ham have decided to part company with manager Julen Lopetegui, with Graham Potter lined up to replace him.
Juventus have offered Dusan Vlahovic to Manchester United as part of a deal for Joshua Zirkzee, while Jobe Bellingham is being lined up for a £20m move to the Premier League.
Premier League Gameweek 20 results
Saturday
Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle Aston Villa 2-1 LeicesterBournemouth 1-0 EvertonCrystal Palace 1-1 ChelseaSouthampton 0-5 BrentfordMan City 4-1 West Ham Brighton 1-1 Arsenal
Sunday
Fulham 2-2 IpswichLiverpool 2-2 Man United
Monday
Wolves 0-3 Nottingham Forest
9 minutes agoBy Phil Spencer
Dean Ashton has criticised Julen Lopetegui's time at West Ham, describing him as 'a cheap appointment.
The Spanish boss is expected to be sacked as Hammers boss and replaced by Graham Potter.
He told talkSPORT Breakfast: "The writing’s been on the wall pretty much since he got appointed.
“There was a lot of excitement with the recruitment over the summer and that’s been ruined by, let’s be honest, a cheap appointment.
“It was a cheap appointment in terms of the finances to bring Lopetegui in – I’m sure he jumped at the chance but it’s gone horribly wrong.
“The person in that West Ham dugout either needs to have wonderful players and do what David Moyes did and do things on the counter attack or bring in an incredible personality and he’s neither of those.
“West Ham are in big trouble at the moment and if things don’t pick up quickly they’re very much in a relegation battle and it’s ultimately the club’s fault.”
Credit: AFPCopied
37 minutes agoBy Phil Spencer
Heung-min Son has extended his stay at Tottenham after the club triggered an option in his deal.
The Spurs skipper is now under contract until the summer of 2026 after the 12-month option was taken up.
Son joined the club in 2015 and has scored 169 goals in 431 matches for the north Londoners.
He currently sits 11th in Tottenham's list of all-time appearance makers.
The new deal also means that the South Korean star will surpass 10 years with the club.
Credit: GettyCopied
43 minutes agoBy Phil Spencer
Ben Jacobs has stated that Julen Lopetegui's exit is becoming accrimonious due to a lack of unity on West Ham's board.
Discussing the managerial search, Jacobs told talkSPORT: "Some of the other names mentioned either didn’t want to take the job now.
“Max Allegri, who was approached, there were concerns about how quickly he could acclimatise to English football.
“Perhaps at times when Julen Lopetegui has been less under threat you’ve seen so many names linked because you have David Sullivan, Tim Steidten and Karen Brady who all have different ideas and Lopetegui has perhaps stayed in the job longer because West Ham have had no unity at board level.”
Jacobs added: “It’s played out in public and Graham Potter has seemingly been photographed and that made all of the papers and made it all very public.
“I think that Lopetegui has realised for quite some time that he’s under threat and also within West Ham perhaps not got a grasp of who the actual decision makers are and the people he has to forge a relationship with.
“Tim Steidten has got an office right next to Lopetegui and that relationship is now fractured but the bottom line at West Ham is that David Sullivan seems to take the final call and West Ham are moving in the wrong direction.
“They’re leaky at the back and the games they’ve lost they’ve been hammered in and yes it’s been against top opposition but it’s not a good look when they’ve spent over the summer and are hoping to be in the same position as we’re seeing of Bournemouth, Fulham or even Nottingham Forest.
“They’ve spent enough to be European contenders and they’re dicing with relegation so it’s no surprise that Lopetegui is on the way out but it’s been handled in a way that for the manager is very public and a lot have people with have empathy because this exit is getting reasonably acrimonious and right now seems inevitable.”
Credit: RexCopied
Today, 09:30By Phil Spencer
Graham Potter remains the number one choice to replace Julen Lopetegui at West Ham.
That's according to talkSPORT correspondent Ben Jacobs who gave the latest to Jeff Stelling and Ally McCoist on Breakfast this morning.
Asked if Potter is the only contender for the job, Jacobs said: "As long as he says yes.
"Potter has been offered a short-term role - it doesn't mean he'd carry the interim title but it is to say that he'd have a contract until the end of the season initially if he accepts.
"At the moment West Ham are waiting for his answer and then you'd think that there's that chance to prove himself and get a longer term deal.
"It does create a period of instability but Potter backs himself should he choose to proceed.
"He's had many offers, including Leicester City, and chosen not to come back into the game since leaving Chelsea but at the moment we can call him the leading candidate and perhaps even the only candidate."
Credit: GettyCopied
Today, 08:49By Phil Spencer
Darren Bent believes that Jack Grealish should make a romantic return to Aston Villa with things not going to plan at Man City.
Asked if we've seen enough of him, Bent told talkSPORT Drive: "No we haven't, we saw him play a lot of games in that treble-winning season but he hasn't really got going yet.
"I understand why he made the move but he's got to get back to the point of playing week in, week out - he's 29 years old and 30 in September so he needs to be playing.
"At Aston Villa we saw the best of Jack Grealish and now that he's in and out of the team, we never see the best of him."
Asked how much of the £100m spent on him Man City would get back, Bent replied: "Half, maybe?
I know that fans are quite hurt by the fact he wanted to go and better himself, but they'd have him back."
Credit: GettyCopied
Today, 08:26By Phil Spencer
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Ethan Nwaneri will be sidelined for a few weeks through injury.
The 17-year-old was brought off at half-time during the weekend's draw with Brighton.
“Unfortunately he’s picked up an injury and is going to be out for a few weeks, it’s a muscular injury,” Mikel said in his pre-Newcastle press conference.
“He didn’t really know, he said: ‘I’m feeling something but I don’t really know, what is it?’
"He has earned the right to step up and play for us and now he starts to have some games and impact them, which he’s done in different positions as well, so I’m gutted for him because it’s going to stop that a little bit.
“But it’s another step in that development phase that he’s in, but I’m really happy with the way he is going.”
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6th Jan 2025, 22:00By Jack Cunningham
There goes the final whistle, and it's another win for Nottingham Forest.
The Tricky Trees move level on points with Arsenal and have won six straight matches.
Next up, they play Liverpool, so that will be some encounter.
Nuno Espirito Santo's side were 2-0 up against the run of play through Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood.
But the second half was much more controlled from them as they limited Wolves to nothing.
Taiwo Awoyini then came off the bench to wrap up the win.
Can anyone stop them?
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6th Jan 2025, 21:53By Jack Cunningham
WRAPPED UP!
It's six Premier League wins in a row for Nottingham Forest!
A long ball is pumped up to Callum Hudson-Odoi.
He brings it down and rolls a pass into James Ward-Prowse, who picks out another substitute in Taiwo Awoyini.
The striker has the simple task of tapping in.
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6th Jan 2025, 21:31By Jack Cunningham
It's been a busy old weekend for new England manager Thomas Tuchel.
He watched Newcastle beat Tottenham 2-1, with Valentino Livramento and Lewis Hall turning in top performances, while Anthony Gordon scored.
Tuchel then made it to Brighton to watch Ethan Nwaneri score for Arsenal in a 1-1 draw.
The German went to Anfield to watch Liverpool and Manchester United play out a thrilling 2-2 draw.
There was some mixed performances from the English players on display.
And he's now watching Nottingham Forest beat Wolves 2-0, and Callum Hudson-Odoi has been electric.
Credit: GettyCopied
6th Jan 2025, 21:04By Jack Cunningham
No changes for either side as we get underway for the second half.
Wolves managed to generate an xG of 1.82 in that first half, which the most they've managed in a half this season, while it is also the most Forest have conceded.
But none of that matters because it's 2-0 to the Tricky Trees.
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6th Jan 2025, 20:53By Jack Cunningham
That is the end of the half, and Wolves will be baffled that they are 2-0 down.
Nottingham Forest have had two chances and scored twice through Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood.
Meanwhile, the hosts have missed at least three clear chances, with Jorgen Strand Larsen particularly guilty.
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6th Jan 2025, 20:45By Jack Cunningham
BRUTAL GOAL!
It's been all Wolves, but it's that man Chris Wood with the goal.
A long ball is pumped down the left for Callum Hudson-Odoi.
He gets past Matt Doherty, who can't touch him because he has been booked.
The former Chelsea man does so well to get to the byline, and he slips the ball back to Wood.
He has the simple task of tapping it in.
Credit: GettyCopied
6th Jan 2025, 20:37By Jack Cunningham
Nottingham Forest think they should have a penalty, but it's not given!
Ola Aina drives down the right and pings a cross into the box.
Rayan Ait-Nouri is about eight yards away, and he has his arm out.
The ball clatters into it, but the referee says no.
VAR has a look, and it appears as if they will send him to the screen, but they don't.
Instead, they decide it isn't a spot kick.
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6th Jan 2025, 20:33By Jack Cunningham
I have no idea how Wolves haven's scored at least three times in this half.
After conceding to Morgan Gibbs-White, Hwang Hee-chan burst into the box, chopped inside and played a pass to Jorgen Strand Larsen.
He somehow managed to hit it straight at Murillo on the line.
Moments later, Rodrigo Gomes pinged a stunning volley at goal that Matz Sels brilliantly tipped over the bar.
And they've now just missed another glorious chance.
Again, it involved Rodrigo Gomes as he drove down the left and curled a wonderful cross into the box.
Larsen met it, but somehow managed to hit Sels rather than the back of the net.
Credit: GettyCopied
6th Jan 2025, 20:10By Jack Cunningham
BOO BOYS WELL AND TRULY SILENCED!
Morgan Gibbs-White has space to run into and feeds a pass into Anthony Elanga.
The Swedish international gets into the box and returns the ball to the former Wolves man.
He meets the pass with a cool and composed finish into the back of the net.
He then runs off, tells the home crowd to be quiet and places his hands in his ears after some brutal treatment in the opening exchanges.
Thomas Tuchel would have enjoyed that!
Credit: GettyCopied
6th Jan 2025, 20:03By Jack Cunningham
Nuno Espirito Santo is back at Wolves, and he gets a good reception from the home fans after taking them from the Championship to Europe.
And he's aiming to do the same with Nottingham Forest.
If the Tricky Trees win, they will move level on points with Arsenal , which is simply incredible.
Meanwhile, Wolves have turned things around under Vitor Pereira, winning their first two under him and drawing Tottenham 2-2.
They are back on home soil and will be looking for a win to get them further away from the drop zone.
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6th Jan 2025, 18:29By Jack Cunningham
talkSPORT understands that Tottenham are one of the clubs who have spoken to Paris Saint-Germain about Randal Kolo Muani.
The French international is being looked at by several teams around Europe, including Juventus.
Spurs are keen on bringing Muani to north London on loan.
The 26-year-old is widely seen as the best versatile forward available this month, with his game time limited.
So far this season, Muani has appeared 14 times in all competitions for PSG, but there have been only four starts.
Therefore, a temporary move away is exactly what he needs.
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6th Jan 2025, 17:12By Jack Cunningham
New Tottenham signing Antonin Kinsky could make his Spurs debut on Wednesday in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool.
This is because the goalkeeper has received his work permit, meaning he is eligible to be involved against the Reds.
Given Ange Postecoglou's side were demolished 6-3 by Liverpool not too long ago, he could have an evening of picking the ball out of the net.
However, it is also a chance for the new man to become an instant hero.
If he can help Spurs get a result, that would be an excellent start to his career in north London.
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6th Jan 2025, 16:54By Phil Spencer
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk doesn't think that transfer speculation is impacting teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The right back put in arguably his worst performance of the season last time out in a 2-2 draw against Manchester United.
Much was made of the display coming after a reported £20million offer from Real Madrid who were looking to sign the player early before he becomes a free agent in the summer.
But Van Dijk, whose contract is also up, isn't concerned.
"I am fine with it.
That is the main focus.
"In my opinion, maybe ask him, but the distraction is the game."
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6th Jan 2025, 16:26By Connor Andrews
Darren Bent has questioned if Graham Potter is making the right decision over a potential move to West Ham.
talkSPORT understands that the former Brighton and Chelsea manager is in talks with the Hammers after they made the call to part ways with Julen Lopetegui.
Potter has been out of work for almost two years after leaving Stamford Bridge, and Bent thinks one side he was linked with would've been perfect.
"When I look at Graham Potter I think of him getting linked with the Ajax job, and the way his teams play football, that screamed to me as a perfect job," Bent explained.
"They're a big club and probably should win that league, the football they play and things like that, it just felt like it was a match made in heaven but it didn't happen.
"I think he could do better than West Ham, he could do better than a side 14th in the table, but they are a big club."
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6th Jan 2025, 15:57By Connor Andrews
West Ham legend Tony Cottee has torn into West Ham's hierarchy for the appointment of Julen Lopetegui.
The former England international phoned into talkSPORT to discuss the news that Lopetegui is set to be sacked.
"They should hang their heads in shame," he said.
Yes you can blame Lopetegui...
"If you get rid of one of West Ham's most successful managers in terms of trophies then you've got to make the right appointment."
Credit: GETTYCopied
6th Jan 2025, 15:45By Connor Andrews
Following West Ham's decision to part ways with Julen Lopetegui, sporting director Tim Steidten could also follow him out the door.
talkSPORT understands that the German is facing an uncertain future after a difficult summer window.
It's believed that the former Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen man was responsible for the summer signing of Niklas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund.
The 31-year-old came in for a hefty fee of £27millon at his age and after a period injured he has just two goals in ten games and has already been linked with a move away.
The summer transfer window also saw Maximilian Kilman arrive from Wolves for £40m but not impress, while Crysencio Summerville hasn't made an impact after a £25m move from Leeds.
Credit: GettyCopied
6th Jan 2025, 15:23By Phil Spencer
West Ham have decided to part company with manager Julen Lopetegui, talkSPORT understands.
Graham Potter is back in talks to replace Lopetegui and is expected to be named as the Spaniard's replacement.
The Spanish boss was under increasing pressure following a difficult start to life in east London.
Lopetegui was appointed over the summer following the decision to part ways with David Moyes.
So far it's been a frustrating season for West Ham who sit 14th in the Premier League table.
However after losing 5-0 to Liverpool on December 29th before being beaten 4-1 by Man City, the decision has been made to make a change at the London Stadium.
Credit: AFPCopied
6th Jan 2025, 14:36By Phil Spencer
Paris Saint-Germain are interested in a move to sign Jhon Duran, talkSPORT understands.
Aston Villa could be tempted to sell if they receive an offer worth in excess of £60million.
The 21-year-old striker has struggled to nail down a starting spot in Unai Emery's plans having started just seven games in all competitions this term.
Despite that, Duran has racked up an impressive 12 goals in 26 games this season, including three goals in six games in the Champions League.
Credit: GettyCopied
6th Jan 2025, 14:21By Phil Spencer
Emmanuel Agbadou is undergoing a medical ahead of a move to Wolves, talkSPORT understands.
The Reims centre back is undergoing his medical in France.
It comes as the Premier League side close in on a deal worth £17million.
The 27-year-old Ivory Coast international has made 80 appearances for Reims, scoring three goals.
Credit: AFPCopied
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