WEST HAM AGREE DEAL FOR KEIBER LAMADRID AS JANUARY TRANSFER WINDOW EXPLODES
With Crysencio Summerville back in the goals, West Ham pivots from Schjelderup to land Adama Traore and Keiber Lamadrid.
With Jarrod Bowen and El Hadji Malick Diouf already sealing their spots, West Ham United should have at least two players at the 2026 World Cup.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka looks set to join them if DR Congo can get past Jamaica or New Caledonia in March’s play-offs. There’s still a good chance Mateus Fernandes sneaks into the Portugal squad—Roberto Martinez likes what he sees in the ex-Southampton midfielder. Tomas Soucek, Callum Marshall, and Mads Hermansen are all in the mix, too.
The same goes for Crysencio Summerville.
Suriname are hoping Summerville, born in the Netherlands, pulls a Wan-Bissaka and switches his international allegiance. His recent form for West Ham—two goals in two games after a long dry spell—has only made coach Henk ten Cate more determined to win him over. Summerville’s resurgence might even impact another winger with uncertain World Cup plans: Andreas Schjelderup, the young Norwegian at Benfica.
Norway boss Stale Solbakken would love to see Schjelderup join West Ham. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the club spoke with him earlier in January. Schjelderup hasn’t had much luck getting minutes under Mourinho at Benfica, and Solbakken wants that to change fast.
“Schjelderup also has to change clubs,” Solbakken told NRK. “He’s in a tough spot, so I expect they’ll sort it out soon. Things aren’t great for him at Benfica.”
Those West Ham rumours about Schjelderup surfaced before Summerville finally ended his 14-month goal drought against QPR in the FA Cup. Summerville was brilliant in the win over Tottenham on Saturday, even if Nuno Espirito Santo still wants more from his £30 million signing.
Since Summerville’s return to form, talk around Schjelderup and West Ham has gone quiet. Parma in Serie A are now being mentioned as Schjelderup’s likely destination.
Meanwhile, Oscar Bobb—another of Solbakken’s attacking options—is expected to leave Manchester City for Fulham in a £35 million move. That might clear the way for Adama Traore to leave Fulham, and West Ham are definitely still interested. Talks between those clubs are ongoing.
West Ham are also set to bring in Keiber Lamadrid from Deportivo La Guaira, another left winger like Summerville and Schjelderup. Lamadrid will likely start with the Under-21s.
“With Schjelderup and Bobb, it’s obvious they need a good talk with their clubs,” Solbakken said. His forward line is already stacked: Erling Haaland, Alexander Sorloth, Jorgen Strand-Larsen, and Antonio Nusa.
“We have a good relationship with City and trust what they tell Bobb. I’m confident he and Pep Guardiola will sort things out.”
West Ham did ask about Wolves’ target man Strand-Larsen right after New Year’s, but that was before they signed Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe for a combined £44 million—apparently less than Wolves wanted for Strand-Larsen.
Former technical director Tim Steidten even tried to bring RB Leipzig’s Antonio Nusa to London.
“I’m going with Antonio Nusa,” Steidten told Sky Germany recently. “Honestly, I really wanted to bring him to West Ham.
“When he’s fit, his potential is huge. He’s an outstanding player.”
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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