WEST HAM TRANSFER NEWS: WILL BETO REPLACE NICLAS FULLKRUG THIS JANUARY
West Ham eyes Everton’s Beto to replace Füllkrug. Can they beat Roma to the 27-year-old’s signature this January?
TEAMtalk reports that West Ham United is eyeing Beto as a potential addition during the January transfer window. The Everton striker hasn't been performing well, and Everton might let him go if they can find someone to take his place. West Ham won't be alone in trying to get him, though, as AS Roma from Serie A is also interested.
Both Everton and West Ham United have struggled with their strikers finding the net this season. While both teams have experienced players, they haven't been very productive. West Ham is already considering changes.
West Ham might be moving Niclas Fullkrug out, with the German attacker possibly going to AC Milan. If that happens, West Ham will need a replacement, and names like Josh Sargent from Norwich City have been mentioned.
Other players like Endrick, Joshua Zirkzee, and Promise David have been linked before, but they aren't expected to join West Ham in January. Now, West Ham is looking at Beto. Everton might consider selling the struggling 27-year-old striker if they can bring in someone new.
This could benefit both clubs, but West Ham faces competition from Serie A. A return to Italy might appeal to Beto, as he hasn't had a great run in the Premier League since joining Everton.
Can West Ham sign Beto?
West Ham could have a shot at signing Beto if they can persuade him to stay in England. Right now, they seem to be in the lead. However, the Friedkin Group, which owns Everton, might have other ideas. They are thinking about a swap deal with their other club, AS Roma, where Beto would go to Roma and Artem Dovbyk would come to England.
AS Roma is interested and sees Beto as another option if they can't get their main target, Zirkzee. It's still up in the air whether the Friedkin Group can arrange a deal for Beto or if West Ham will win the race for the Everton striker.
HOW JAMES MADDISON’S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SIGNALS A SHOCK SEASON RETURN
James Maddison returns to individual training as Igor Tudor prepares Tottenham for a vital relegation battle with Forest.
Ahead of Tottenham’s match against Nottingham Forest, manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when James Maddison might return from injury. It’s a crucial moment for Spurs as they prepare to host Forest in what could be the defining 90 minutes of Tudor’s time at the club and quite possibly a key fixture that will shape the season for both teams.
Currently separated by just one point, Tottenham and Forest are locked in a battle against relegation. A win would push Spurs four points clear of the drop zone, while a loss might drag them into the bottom three. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Tudor’s side heads into this game with renewed energy, surprisingly positive given the mood just two weeks ago. The draw at Anfield broke a six-game losing streak, and their recent 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid, though not enough to overturn the aggregate score, brought back a sense of belief. Young players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressed, while Mathys Tel kept the opposition on their toes. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric in a way fans haven’t felt for months. While the Champions League hopes are dashed, that performance has injected valuable momentum into Spurs’ survival fight.
There’s also some hopeful news on the injury front. Dominic Solanke, who missed the Atlético leg with a hip issue, might be available. His physical presence adds a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack, which Tudor will surely be glad to have.
But the most promising update came from Tudor’s comments about Maddison. The creative midfielder, sidelined since August after rupturing his ACL in a preseason friendly, has begun some individual training, spotted alongside Palhinha. Recoveries from ACL injuries are never straightforward, and the team won’t rush him back. With only seven league games left after Sunday, there’s a narrow window for his return. Still, even the possibility of Maddison getting back on the pitch—someone who can change a game with a moment of skill or a precise pass—offers a much-needed morale boost.
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on Forest.
WHY BORUSSIA DORTMUND EXPECT JADON SANCHO TO SIGN FOR FREE
Unai Emery praises Jadon Sancho despite poor stats, while Dortmund free up £21m in wages to lure him back to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund really want Jadon Sancho back, and they’re hoping to get him for free from Manchester United. Sancho’s contract runs out this summer, and honestly, no one expects United to offer him a new one.
Right now, Sancho’s on loan at Aston Villa. It’s his third spell away from Old Trafford since United signed him for £73 million in 2021. His move to Villa was just a loan with no option to buy.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has hinted he might keep Sancho, but Dortmund aren’t sitting around. The Times says Dortmund didn’t chase wingers last summer because Nico Kovac liked the 3-4-2-1 formation, but now the boss has changed his mind and wants Sancho back.
If Sancho comes back, he'll need to take a hefty pay cut from his £300,000-a-week salary. Still, Dortmund’s where he made his name after moving from Manchester City in 2017.
Dortmund have room in the budget this summer; they let the contracts of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan run out. That saves them about £21 million a year, and they’re optimistic they can lure Sancho, who’s allowed to strike pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Sancho actually spent half of the 2024 season back at Dortmund after Erik ten Hag froze him out at United. He helped them reach the Champions League final, but nothing permanent came of it.
Something similar happened during his loan to Chelsea last season. The club even paid a £5 million penalty just to avoid having to sign him outright. Villa picked him up right at the transfer deadline in September, but, once again, he’s struggled.
So far, Sancho’s got one goal and one assist in 29 games across all competitions. Still, Emery thinks there’s more to come.
When asked in February about signing Sancho for good, Emery said, “Not yet, but he’s a fantastic player. Hopefully, he can help us by improving within our system, like he is doing.
“He’ll need a new contract; maybe it’s here. If he plays his best football, we’ll want him. But other teams will be interested, too.”
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