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West Ham United are in ongoing talks with the agent of a colossal centre-back, as chairman David Sullivan and technical director Tim Steidten attempt to back incoming new manager Graham Potter in the January transfer market.

West Ham poised to appoint Graham Potter to replace Julen Lopetegui

Despite a brief lapse in negotiations, where Potter held out for a longer-term contract, as opposed to a short-term deal until the end of the Premier League season (Jacob Steinberg), the Englishman now looks set to replace Julen Lopetegui as manager of the club.

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Lopetegui had been flirting with the sack for quite some time and briefly bought himself an extended period in the Hammers dugout after a 2-1 ‘El Sackico’ win over Wolves, but the 58-year-old’s time has now come as West Ham plan to replace him with Potter.

Fulham (home)

January 14

Crystal Palace (home)

January 18

Aston Villa (away)

January 26

Chelsea (away)

February 3

Brentford (home)

February 15

The east Londoners cancelled a scheduled manager’s press conference on Wednesday morning, with Sullivan meeting Potter and holding talks over the last 48 hours as West Ham decided on the ex-Chelsea boss’ appointment, just six months after landing on Lopetegui to succeed David Moyes.

Lopetegui’s exit, now confirmed by the club, comes after the Spaniard guided them to just six wins from a possible 20 in the Premier League, leaving them 14th in the table, despite serious expenditure in the summer transfer window.

In that time, West Ham also leaked a woeful 39 top-flight goals. Only relegation-threatened Wolves, Leicester City and Southampton have conceded more than the Irons this season, which makes for grim reading and something Potter will want to address pretty quickly.

While a lot of the talk has centered around West Ham potentially signing a new striker in January, there are also major defensive concerns which need to be addressed.

West Ham in ongoing talks with Senou Coulibaly via agent

According to Africa Foot, via Sport Witness, Sullivan and Steidten have turned to a relatively low-profile option to reinforce their backline.

Indeed, it is believed AC Omonia’s Senou Coulibaly has emerged as a transfer target for West Ham, with the club potentially looking to hand Potter the best possible chance of resurrecting their form over the second half of 24/25.

AF claim that West Ham are in ongoing talks with Coulibaly’s agent, potentially looking to sign him in January. The Malian is also attracting interest from London rivals Tottenham, who particularly appreciate the 6 foot 4 defender’s ability.

Coulibaly is dubbed a standout player of the Cypriot first division and has impressed in the Europa Conference League for Omonia this season, which has apparently turned a few heads in the English capital.

The 30-year-old would be an out-of-the-box potential signing for Potter, but a very low cost one considering his deal is currently set to expire in May (with the option of a further year).

After the first of three international breaks before Christmas, the Premier League is finally back this weekend.

West Ham United are set to take on London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who, aside from the last game against Bournemouth, have looked good under new manager Thomas Frank.

The Hammers, on the other hand, have looked terrible in three of their four games this season, and as a result, there is considerable pressure on Graham Potter.

One of the men who has been linked with the job is Frank Lampard, but if West Ham really want to improve, they should consider another young manager with a more impressive CV.

Lampard's Premier League record

It should be noted that with two wins and two draws to his name this season, Lampard appears to be doing a decent enough job with Coventry City.

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However, challenging for the play-off spots in the Championship is a very different task to getting the most out of a side in the Premier League, and unfortunately, the 47-year-old has not done particularly well in the top-flight.

For example, while he had a decent first season in charge of Chelsea, in which he led them to a fourth-place finish, he struggled to replicate that success in his second campaign and was eventually fired in January, with the side in ninth place.

Moreover, Thomas Tuchel, who was brought in to replace him, then led the team to Champions League glory the same season, suggesting the problems were not with the squad.

He found his way to the Everton dugout a year later, and once again, while he managed to succeed in his first season, keeping the club up with a final-day win, he was sacked the following year during a run in which the team won one game in 12.

Now, it has been over two years since he last took a job in the Premier League, and there is every chance he’s improved as a manager. Still, given the feeling around the club and the stature of the job, it feels like hiring Lampard would be a terrible decision by West Ham.

Especially when there is another manager on the market who has a much more impressive CV.

The manager West Ham should hire instead of Lampard

While there are several managers on the market at the moment, from Marco Rose to Xavi, West Ham should be looking to hire Edin Terzić.

The former Borussia Dortmund coach is the perfect combination of someone young and, therefore, willing to help build up a project, while also already having some impressive experience.

Moreover, before becoming a head coach, he spent four years as Slaven Bilić’s assistant, two of which were spent at West Ham, helping the Croatian achieve some impressive victories, including one away to Liverpool and another against Manchester City.

However, it was when the German was appointed as Dortmund’s interim manager from December 2020 to June 2021 following the departure of Lucien Favre, that he first started to turn heads around Europe.

Of the 32 games he oversaw, the team won 20, drew four, and lost just eight; moreover, they produced a healthy goal difference and won the DFB Pokal, which would be impressive for any seasoned coach.

He was once again appointed as manager following Rose’s departure at the end of the 21/22 season, but permanently this time, and rather surprisingly, led the club on a title charge that saw them lose out to Bayern Munich on the final day due to goal difference.

As if that wasn’t enough, the 42-year-old was able to gather his side, and on top of securing Champions League qualification the following season, he also led the team to their first final in the competition since 2013, losing by 2-0 despite looking the better side for much of the game.

Games

128

Wins

75

Losses

29

Draws

24

Points per Game

1.95

Goals For

267

Goals Against

153

In all, the “incredible” German, as dubbed by former Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, has overseen 128 matches in his managerial career, winning 75, drawing 24 and losing just 29, which comes out to a points per game average of 1.95, compared to Lampard’s 1.51 and Potter’s 1.50.

Ultimately, while there is always a risk in changing managers, Terzic proved he has what it takes to lead big clubs during his time at Dortmund, and as things are going so poorly at the moment, West Ham should take the risk and bring him in.

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The experienced allrounder helped West Indies break their losing streak in the format with a superb performance with the bat and ball in the second T20I against Pakistan

Vishal Dikshit03-Aug-2025West Indies had nothing going for them coming into this second T20I on a balmy evening in Lauderhill. They had won just two of their last 19 completed T20Is, which included the forgettable 5-0 loss to Australia at home. They had put down multiple catches in the first T20I. Rovman Powell joined Brandon King, Evin Lewis and Shimron Hetmyer on the injury list, Andre Russell and Nicholas Pooran had recently said their goodbyes, and the three-match series was on the line.If not for a comprehensive team effort, West Indies were looking for something, a semblance of a spark, any individual brilliance to turn things around amid the mounting pressure in the build-up to the T20 World Cup next year. It came, the individual brilliance, and from one of the oldest members in the squad.At the age of 33, a body that has been through the rigours of 12 years of international cricket as a pace-bowling allrounder, participation in nine T20 leagues around the world and a shoulder rehab not too long ago among other injuries, Jason Holder became West Indies’ highest wicket-taker in the format, took stunning figures of 4 for 19, pouched two sharp catches, and hit the winning runs when West Indies had lost all their batting steam and needed three to win off one.Related

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• Holder's 4 for 19 and last-ball heroics keep series alive

What was Holder going to remember the most from this day? “Just getting over the line, to be honest,” he said on being named the Player of the Match. “As I said before, it’s been a tough couple of weeks for us. We just needed a win. We brought it down to the very end, unfortunately. But fortunately, we still got over the line.”The most pressure-cooker situation of those must have been when he got the strike back against Shaheen Shah Afridi in the last over of the chase with six to get from three balls. Holder had Shamar Joseph at the other end, and still, inexplicably, took a single when he couldn’t put away a low full toss. Shamar, for his part, gave the strike back and it all came down to Holder to hit four runs off the last ball to keep the series alive. He shuffled away to off, Afridi bowled the full delivery well wide of him outside off and the wide signal eased Holder’s nerves a little. Next delivery, Holder covered the stumps and this time when Afridi aimed for the stumps, Holder swiped it away behind square for four.The ball had barely left the 30-yard circle and you could hear Holder’s shriek of celebration on the stump mic before the camera turned to him with his arms aloft, accompanied by a roar of celebration. Holder explained what their chasing strategy was when he was batting with Romario Shepherd and they needed 36 from 18.”I told Romario when we were batting, we needed at least four sixes with the scenario that was posed to us. We got three. We fell probably one short, but we still got over the line. That was our target. Just keeping wickets in hand, obviously, but still trying to hit our strong areas and find the boundary.Jason Holder’s last-ball heroics took West Indies over the line•AFP/Getty Images

“We are powerful players and we know we can find the boundary. But credit to the Pakistani bowlers as well. I thought they bowled really well.”Earlier in the day, Holder had also given West Indies an early lift that also pegged him higher in the record books. Sharing the new ball with Akeal Hosein, Holder struck with his sixth ball when he had the in-form Saim Ayub edge behind and it took him level with the T20 legend Dwayne Bravo on the list of most wickets for West Indies in T20Is. On his third ball after what he later called “just a statistic,” Holder had Sahibzada Farhan, the other opener, slicing to deep point for 3. Even when he wasn’t bowling, the ball found it hard to stay away from Holder.When Mohammad Haris went across the line against Hosein in the next over and failed to get the distance for a six, Holder ran back from mid-on, as much as he could, and stretched his long arms with his bucket hands to grab the ball in the nick of time. Pakistan were now three down early and Holder had played a hand in each of those wickets. But Pakistan were not done yet, and hardly did they know that neither was Holder.Captain Salman Agha and their young basher Hasan Nawaz had put together a quick stand of 60 in just over six overs to power Pakistan past 100, when Holder was brought back. Hasan had just pumped three consecutive sixes in the 15th over, but Holder, who had shown his wares in the middle and death overs in the PSL a few months ago, got Hasan in a tangle, completed the return catch and followed it with his fourth wicket in his last over.”I love playing for West Indies, to be honest,” Holder said. “One of my things is to leave West Indies cricket better than they came and found it. I still think there’s a lot of work to be done. We haven’t done justice to our potential over the last couple of weeks, maybe the last couple of years. We’ve had a fair bit of criticism, which at times is warranted, but we know that winning can be a lot better. We’ve just got to put it together more often than not.”I think [lack of] consistency has definitely plagued us, but we’ve seen that over the years that we can do it. For me, it’s just to have that burning desire to make a change, to make a difference. So I keep putting in my best effort when I get a chance with the West Indies.”

توجه نجم فريق برشلونة، لامين يامال، بطلب خاص إلى إدارة النادي الإسباني فيما يخص مباراة كأس فيناليسيما المرتقبة، العام المقبل، بين منتخبي إسبانيا والأرجنتين.

وتُقام مباراة كأس فيناليسيما بين بطل أوروبا، أي إسبانيا، وبطل كوبا أمريكا، أي الأرجنتين، في شهر مارس المقبل، حيث من المتوقع أن يكون في يوم 27، حيث لم يُعلن بشكل رسمي حتى الآن.

وذكرت صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية أن لامين يامال أبلغ برشلونة برغبته في المشاركة في مباراة كأس فيناليسيما، حيث يأمل عودة العلاقات بين النادي والاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم بحلول ذلك الوقت، حسب مصادر مقربة من اللاعب.

اقرأ أيضًا.. بيدري: كنت سأضم هذا اللاعب لـ برشلونة.. وسأعتزل في النادي إن لم يطردوني

وأوضحت أن مصادر مقربة من اللاعب قالت إن لامين يامال يشعر بكونه عالقًا في خلاف لا علاقة له به، حيث إنه ببساطة يريد التعافي في أسرع وقت ممكن وتقديم أفضل ما لديه في عام بالغ الأهمية نظرًا للتحديات التي يواجهها مع برشلونة وكأس العالم، والتي قد تدفعه نحو النجومية على الصعيد العالمي.

كان الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم قد أصدر بيانًا قويًا، يوم الإثنين الماضي، للإعلان عن دهشته واستيائه بسبب خضوع لامين يامال لعلاج خاص بإصابة العانة، بموافقة برشلونة، دون مشاورتهم، مما أدى إلى استبعاده من المعسكر الدولي بمجرد انطلاقه.

وأفادت المصادر نفسها أن لامين يامال يدرك كون برشلونة ناديه، ولكنه أظهر نفسه للعالم في بطولة أمم أوروبا، حيث هناك إدراك بأهمية المباريات الدولية في مسيرة اللاعبين، بما فيهم هو نفسه.

ويشعر لامين يامال بالانزعاج بسبب أن كل ذلك الجدل الدائر، بين برشلونة والاتحاد الإسباني، نتج عن إصابته.

Manchester United’s summer rebuild continues at pace as they search for the final pieces to complement Ruben Amorim’s evolving side.

Having already spent in excess of £200m on Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Šeško, United have shown clear intent to strengthen in attack.

Yet despite the influx of firepower, questions remain over midfield balance – particularly in terms of athleticism, ball progression and controlling matches against top opposition.

Amorim has made no secret of his desire for an additional central midfielder capable of dictating tempo while also providing physicality.

Amorim's midfielder of choice

Brighton’s Carlos Baleba was initially earmarked as the prime candidate, but with the Seagulls demanding £100m, United have turned to other options.

Sevilla’s Lucien Agoumé is also on the radar, but the most intriguing development concerns a young English midfielder whose calmness and intelligence on the ball has already drawn comparisons with Michael Carrick.

That comparison is telling. Carrick was never the most dynamic in terms of pace or power, but his ability to anticipate danger, dictate tempo and distribute with precision underpinned Manchester United’s dominance during his time at Old Trafford.

Amorim’s side currently lack that kind of conductor, and the search to fill the role has led them towards one of the Premier League’s most exciting emerging talents.

According to reports, via the Daily Mirror, Manchester United are among a host of clubs interested in signing Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton.

The 21-year-old has made a rapid rise since leaving Blackburn Rovers and has quickly established himself as a key figure at Selhurst Park.

Wharton’s composure in possession and ability to dictate rhythm have earned him plaudits from across the game.

Palace content creator HLTCO recently described him as a “truly special talent,” while his mature displays have already secured him three England caps and a place in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad.

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After losing Eberechi Eze in a £60m deal to Arsenal, any move for Wharton is expected to cost £100m.

Manchester United are not alone in their pursuit. Real Madrid, Manchester City and Liverpool are also tracking his progress, a reflection of the scale of his potential.

The competition means this would be a complex transfer to complete – particularly for a club still finding its feet under Amorim.

Wharton's profile and the Carrick comparison

What makes Wharton so appealing to Manchester United is not only his technical quality but also the style of player he represents.

Unlike the archetypal modern holding midfielder defined by athleticism and pressing intensity, Wharton operates with intelligence, positional awareness and an assured passing range.

That profile naturally recalls Carrick, who joined United in 2006 and went on to form a formidable midfield partnership with Paul Scholes.

Carrick’s value lay in his vision, distribution and ability to anticipate play rather than raw physicality.

He dictated matches through composure and passing variety, and Wharton is beginning to show signs of a similar profile.

Statistically, the Palace man already ranks impressively among his positional peers.

According to FBref, last season he was in the 91st percentile compared to positionally similar players for both key passes (1.78 per 90) and progressive passes (7.31 per 90), while also hitting the 93rd percentile for shot-creating actions (4.03 per 90).

His defensive contribution is equally notable, with 96th-percentile numbers for ball recoveries (6.97 per 90) and 93rd percentile for completed challenges against dribblers (3.00 per 90).

These figures highlight his ability to influence matches at both ends of the pitch.

Matches Played

20

Starts

16

Assists

2

Progressive Carries

14

Progressive Passes

107

Pass Completion Rate

75.6%

Recycling possession, breaking up attacks, and advancing the ball into dangerous areas.

It is this blend of composure and progression that makes him stand out in a Premier League environment where many holding midfielders are primarily destructive.

The challenge for United would be extracting Wharton from Palace at a fee that reflects both his current impact and potential ceiling.

With Eze already gone and Wharton tied to a long contract, Palace will feel under no pressure to sell unless an extraordinary offer is made.

That said, the parallels with Carrick are significant. When Sir Alex Ferguson sanctioned the £18m deal to bring Carrick from West Ham nearly two decades ago, many questioned the outlay. In hindsight, it proved one of his most important transfers.

United’s recent midfield struggles underline why a player of Wharton’s profile could be transformative.

Amorim’s side ended last season in 15th place and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham, a campaign that exposed both a lack of control in possession and an over-reliance on moments of individual brilliance.

While Cunha, Mbeumo and Šeško should add cutting edge, without balance in midfield their contributions may be undermined.

Wharton is not a guarantee of success, nor would he single-handedly fix United’s issues. But his intelligence, progressive passing and reading of the game make him a rare commodity, and one who could grow into the type of midfield fulcrum United have lacked since Carrick’s retirement.

Whether they can persuade Palace to part with him remains to be seen.

For now, though, Wharton has already done enough to make Old Trafford dream of a midfield once again built on control and composure.

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