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    West Ham ‘join Aston Villa in race for Marseille’s ex-Arsenal star Matteo Guendouzi in shock January transfer’

    WEST HAM are reportedly interested in signing Matteo Guendouzi from Marseille.The former Arsenal man has become a top midfielder since his return to France in 2021.
    West Ham are reportedly in the running to sign Matteo GuendouziCredit: AFP
    The 23-year-old’s performances have caught the eye of the Hammers who have joined Aston Villa in the race to sign him, according to Mathieu Grégoire as per L’Équipe.
    He has been called up to the France national team and featured in the side’s recent World Cup run.
    Guendouzi is viewed as Aston Villa’s “priority signing” as Unai Emery looks to make his mark.
    However West Ham’s interest comes after the recent poor form from Tomas Soucek and Lucas Paqueta.
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    Soucek has not been as impressive in recent months as he once was and Paqueta is still adapting to the Premier League.
    And Grégoire has revealed that the clubs are readying their offers.
    He said: “Regarding Guendouzi, as we know, English clubs like Aston Villa and West Ham are ready to make big offers, but current;y, we’re not at that point.
    The ex-Gunner has experience in the Premier League, which could be one reason behind the interest in him as he would need less time to adapt.
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    During his time at the Emirates Stadium, he made 82 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners.
    In this whole time, he managed to score one goal and assist five more.
    However, since joining Marseille he has bagged nine goals and 18 assists in 81 appearances. More

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    West Ham icon Michail Antonio being lined up for shock MLS January transfer exit after falling down pecking order

    MICHAIL ANTONIO has been linked with a late January move to the MLS.However, SunSport understands West Ham remain adamant the striker is NOT for sale as they attempt to cope with an injury crisis.
    Michail Antonio is attracting interest from teams in the MLSCredit: Getty
    Antonio, 32, has made just nine Premier League starts this campaign following the £30.5million summer arrival of Gianluca Scamacca.
    And the £15m signing of Danny Ings this month has pushed the Jamaica international down the pecking order even further.
    After seven years with the Hammers, Antonio has been linked with moves away to Prem rivals Chelsea and Wolves.
    SunSport believe the player’s name has also been circulating around several teams in the United States.
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    If he was to leave, boss David Moyes would rather he did not join a side currently battling with West Ham at the bottom of the league.
    But with both Scamacca and Ings struggling with knee injuries, it is incredibly unlikely the Irons will let Antonio go this month.
    West Ham have only scored 17 goals in 20 top-flight games so far this season, with Antonio notching just two of those.
    His contract expires in 2024 and there is also an option for a one-year extension.
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    Moyes’ men face a testing month ahead, with Derby in the FA Cup fourth round on Monday before clashes with top-four hopefuls Newcastle, Chelsea and Tottenham.
    The Scot was on the brink of the sack before a timely 2-0 victory over Everton last weekend ended a run of seven Prem matches without a win.
    But another poor run could put him in hot water once more. More

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    Arsenal facing battle with Real Madrid in Declan Rice transfer… but West Ham star ‘has already given Gunners his word’

    REAL MADRID are reportedly interested in signing West Ham midfielder Declan Rice.But Arsenal are still understood to be the frontrunners to sign the England international, with the 24-year-old having already “given his word” to the Gunners.
    Declan Rice is set to leave West Ham at the end of the seasonCredit: Alamy
    Rice will enter the final year of his contract this summer amid interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
    Arsenal and Chelsea are leading the way in their pursuit of the Hammers captain – who is valued at £80million.
    Man Utd have also been linked with him despite signing Casemiro in the summer.
    El Nacional are reporting that the player has told Arsenal he will join them at the end of the season.
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    That is despite Real Madrid president Florentino Perez being a long-time admirer of the midfielder.
    The Los Blancos chief considered a bid for Rice in the past, but ultimately decided against doing so as the England man was deemed not for sale.

    Now he is expected to leave in the summer given both his contract situation and the fact that West Ham are struggling at the wrong end of the Premier League table.
    However, it has been claimed that Real Madrid will not try to sign Rice while Carlo Ancelotti is still manager.
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    And with no sign of the Italian’s imminent departure, the Spanish giants are expected to take a backseat for the time being.
    Rice has played more than 200 games for West Ham, contributing 11 goals and 12 assists.
    He has also already racked up 39 caps for England, scoring twice.
    He is known to have been a boyhood Chelsea fan, with his goof friend Mason Mount also already at the club.
    But Arsenal’s recent interest has thrown a spanner in the works when it comes to his future. More

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    Female pitch invader who hugged Harry Redknapp during his West Ham days revealed to be his wife Sandra

    HARRY REDKNAPP’S legendary marriage to Sandra had its unexpected Upton downs – on a football pitch half a century ago.An astonishing clip reveals she was one of two women who invaded the pitch to hug him when he was playing for West Ham.
    Then-Hammer Harry Redknapp was embraced by both women on the pitchCredit: YouTube
    The female duo then leg it off as they evade security staffCredit: YouTube
    Harry says being married to Sandra is like winning the lotteryCredit: The Mega Agency
    For the ex-Hammers and Tottenham manager it was a unique game of three halfs – the first, second and his better half.
    Local lad Harry was then an Upton Park midfielder.
    Two young women in jumpers, their arms flailing around, run up to him just outside the penalty box, before they quickly embrace him.
    Harry gently brushed them off before they put on a winger’s type spurt to evade security staff and dive over the perimeter and into the crowd.
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    Amazingly, one of their two male pursuers can be seen disappearing over the short wall too – head first – as he tried to grab them but instead ended up with his feet dangling high in the air behind him.
    A policeman then joined in the ungainly hunt for Sandra.
    It’s thought the game was near the end of Harry’s 1965-1972 playing stint with his first club.
    A TikToker posted the clip with the words: “Things I found out today: One of the pitch invaders was Harry’s wife Sally.”
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    But in fact their son Jamie has previously outed the unusual twist on their rock-solid romance.
    The ex-Liverpool midfield star posted on Instagram: “Sandra just couldn’t keep her hands off Harry even in the early days.
    “I’m pleased to say she improved her running action”.  
    The couple’s enduring love affair came to national attention when Harry pined for her in the jungle on his way to winning “I’m a Celebrity” five years ago.
    They first met aged 17 at their local, the Two Puddings pub, in Barking, East London in 1963 .
    And they were married just as close to home, at Barking Abbey on June 30 1967.
    He told jungle camp-mates in 2018: “Even when I’m out I ring her 10 times a day.
    “She’s my life. I’m a bit scared, getting a bit older. I love her too much, if anything happened it would just kill me.
    “We just get on so well, I only want to be with her. I can never wait to see her. Jamie says ‘you’ve won the lottery’.” More

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    Declan Rice reveals reason behind bizarre No41 shirt number at West Ham as Arsenal look to seal summer transfer

    WEST HAM midfielder Declan Rice plans to stick with the No41 shirt throughout his career.That is despite it being randomly handed to him when he was in the Hammers’ academy.
    Declan Rice has made the No41 shirt his own at West HamCredit: Getty
    The England international, 24, is being heavily linked with a move to Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United in the summer.
    But he is expected to remain the No41 wherever he ends up at the end of the season.
    Last year, in an interview with Gary Neville on The Overlap, he said: “It was just the number I was given in the academy by the kitman.
    “When you are in the Under-23s there are the first team squad numbers and then it gets to the higher numbers and I was given 41 when I went to Seattle on my first trip with the first-team. I was just given 41 and it has stayed with me since.
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    “And to be honest with you – I have been having these conversations with my dad – regardless of what happens in my career I may stay with 41.
    “I just think Rice 41 has a nice ring to it and obviously I have grown up playing in it and I am a bit superstitious with things like that.
    “I don’t know if I change to a new number if it will hamper my performances, I don’t know!
    “Sometimes I think about things like that.”
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    When quizzed on whether the No7 would suit him, he then added: “Seven dog? Nah, not seven dog, no way.
    “Either four or six, I think those are the standard numbers.”
    Rice has been valued at £80m, with Arsenal hoping to fend off interest from Chelsea and Man Utd.
    He hinted during the World Cup that his time at West Ham could be up.
    When asked if he is hungry to win titles at club level, he said: “Yeah, 100 per cent. For the last two or three years I’ve been saying that.
    “I’ve been consistently playing well for my club. I want to win trophies for my club.
    “You only get one career and you want to look back at what you’ve won and play in the biggest games.
    “I am really ambitious and I want that.” More

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    West Ham missed out on Youssef En-Nesyri transfer because Moroccan star ‘wants nothing to do with the cold of London’

    WEST HAM were rejected by Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri as he did not want to live in the London cold, according to reports.The Moroccan has been heavily linked with a transfer this month.
    Youssef En-Nesyri was put off West Ham by London’s cold weatherCredit: Getty
    The Hammers wanted to bring him to the Premier League and were reportedly willing to match Sevilla’s £17.5million asking price.
    But En-Nesryi turned down the move as he was put off by the cold climate in London, report Estadio Deportivo.
    He is used to living in warmer conditions and is interested in moving to Nice.
    The Ligue Un club are keen to do a deal with Sevilla but are believed to be unwilling to match their valuation of the forward.
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    En-Nesryi’s rejection led West Ham to look at alternative targets and they landed Danny Ings from Aston Villa this week.
    The Hammers paid £15m to sign the former Liverpool hitman, who made his debut from the bench in the 2-0 win over Everton.
    Ings will compete for a place in the side along with Michail Antonio and summer signing Gianluca Scamacca.
    David Moyes also wants to improve the defence after selling Craig Dawson to Wolves.
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    The club targeted Harry Maguire but Manchester United reportedly turned down a loan offer.
    Dundee United wonderkid Rory MacLeod has also been linked with a £4million move to the London Stadium. More

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    Arsenal boost in Declan Rice transfer hunt with West Ham star keen to work with Mikel Arteta despite Chelsea link

    ARSENAL’S chances of signing Declan Rice have been boosted as the player is reportedly keen on the switch.The midfielder could leave West Ham in the summer in search of Champions League football.
    Declan Rice is said to be keen on working with Mikel ArtetaCredit: Getty
    There is no shortage of interest in Rice with Chelsea and Manchester United believed to be long-term suitors.
    But Arsenal may be the frontrunner to land the England star as Rice is keen to work with Mikel Arteta, report The Guardian.
    The Gunners boss has reportedly even started planning for where the West Ham captain would fit into his team.
    West Ham could demand around £100million to let Rice leave.
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    But Arsenal are said to be saving for the summer after missing out on Mykailo Mudryk and signing £27m Leandro Trossard instead.
    Rice is Arsenal’s top transfer target and the league leaders are prepared to spend £80m to lure him across London.
    The 24-year-old is out of contract in 2024 and has rejected three offers of a new deal from the Hammers.
    United were tempted to move for Rice last summer.
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    However, they were put off the East London club’s £150m asking price and opted for Casemiro from Real Madrid.
    But they could try to sign him again next summer amid interest from Chelsea. More

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    Craig Dawson completes £3m Wolves transfer from West Ham as defender joins his FOURTH Premier League club

    CRAIG DAWSON has completed a £3million move to Wolves from West Ham.The defender, 32, will play for his fourth Prem club after previous stints at West Brom and Watford.
    Craig Dawson has completed a move to WolvesCredit: Getty
    The 32-year-old wanted to move to Molineux last summerCredit: Getty
    The experienced centre-back leaves London Stadium after 87 appearances in three seasons with the Hammers.
    He helped David Moyes’ side to last season’s Europa League semi-finals – playing every minute in the knockout rounds.
    Upon getting his man, Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs told the club’s official website: “Everyone will be aware it’s a signing we tried to do last window and it fell through in the end because the replacement West Ham were looking at fell through.
    “Craig’s wanted to come here for the last six months, so it’s something we’ve kept warm and kept in touch on.
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    “His family are in the north of England, so for him it’s great to get closer to them.
    “He’s a player we’ve wanted for a while, so it was great to get it done, even if it’s six months later than we wanted, but it’s good to get here now.”
    Hobbs then added: “In my first interview, I talked about players who know the league are important.
    “Personalities are important. We lost a few leaders in the summer with John [Ruddy], Conor [Coady] and Romain [Saiss].
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    “We’re bringing another leader into the group, which is always a positive, but if you look at our centre-backs, they’re all relatively young, not just in age, but also the number of games they’ve played in English league football, let alone the Premier League.
    “The amount of games Craig has played, he can be a foil for those guys on and off the pitch.
    “He’s going to be a very good player for our squad and will be someone our young centre-halves will learn a lot from and will help develop those players.”
    Dawson helped West ham knock Sevilla, then managed by Julen Lopetegui, out of Europe last term.
    He will help bolster Wolves’ survival bid, with the Molineux club still embroiled in a tussle at the bottom of the table.
    Lopetegui’s men currently sit 17th in the Prem, only out of the relegation zone on goal difference.
    Dawson is Wolves’ third signing of a busy January window.
    They previously recruited former Southampton and Fulham midfielder Mario Lemina form Nice, and Spanish international Pablo Sarabia from Paris Saint-Germain.
    Dawson made 87 appearances for West HamCredit: AFP More