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Flocking to Twitter, many West Ham United fans have erupted over big news on Vladimir Coufal.

As well as benefitting from the arrival of recruitment chief Rob Newman in a new Hammers transfer era, manager David Moyes is also eyeing a number of new contracts for his first team stars.

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Indeed, as explained by Claret & Hugh, West Ham have fresh deals for some key players in the pipeline, with Coufal, Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice linked to being offered fresh terms.

According to sources in Italy, Angelo Ogbonna could also sign a contract extension, but now some big news has emerged on Coufal’s situation specifically.

According to reporter Roshane Thomas of The Athletic, the Czech Republic star has put pen to paper on a new three-year deal with the option to extend it by a further year.

The 29-year-old was crucial to Moyes last season, averaging the joint-most tackles per game for West Ham in the Premier League and marking himself out as a real fan favourite.

Taking this into account, it’s little wonder that numerous Irons supporters have absolutely erupted on social media upon hearing of his contract extension – one even called it the “best news ever”.

Check out some of their best verdicts below.

West Ham fans erupt over big Coufal news…

“Best news of the week!”

Credit: @_samhowell

“SIUUUUUUUUUU”

Credit: @alex_cvb

“Absolutely MASSIVE news!!”

Credit: @dave_lapointe

“YESSSSSS”

Credit: @morgzwhu

“This is absolutely superb news, well done Moyes and the board 👏🏻🔥⚒ Another step in the right direction”

Credit: @MartynHobbs12

“That’s big”

Credit: @conwhufc03

“Best news you’ll see today #GSBOUT irons irons irons”

Credit: @joehalford1990

“This is the best news ever”

Credit: @StefGoodridge

In other news: Reliable reporter says West Ham fans ‘should be excited’ by another development, find out more here.

The Athletic’s Phil Hay has dropped a worrying Leeds United update on Diego Llorente after the 3-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.

What’s the story?

Marcelo Bielsa’s side fell to a disappointing loss to the Reds, with goals from Mohamed Salah, Fabinho and Sadio Mane enough to ensure that the ten-men of Leeds were left empty-handed at Elland Road in the Premier League.

Aside from the loss, one of the big concerns for Bielsa will no doubt be on Llorente’s status after the Spaniard was forced off with an injury.

And now, writing on Twitter, Hay said: “Diego Llorente went off with a muscular problem yesterday. Still being assessed. Adam Forshaw had a calf strain so wasn’t in the squad. #lufc”

Fans will be worried

Despite enduring an injury-hit debut campaign at Leeds, Llorente showed exactly why the Whites paid around £18m to sign him from Real Sociedad last September, with BBC Sport journalist Adam Pope hailing the ability and quality the defender would bring to the tbale.

He said: “Marcelo Bielsa loves versatility so Llorente’s ball-playing qualities and ability to do a job in front of the back four if required, like Brighton loanee Ben White did on occasion last season, will be a major plus.”

The centre-back emerged as a cornerstone of Leeds’ defence especially in the final few weeks of the previous campaign, starting 13 of the last 14 games in the Premier League and coming up with some big performances – not least netting a late equaliser against Liverpool.

His average match rating of 6.9 as per WhoScored, saw him rank as Leeds’ second-best centre-back after club captain Liam Cooper, while the Scot was also the only player at the club to win more headers per game than Llorente’s 2.2.

In fact, in a pre-match discussion for The Athletic, Hay talked up the kind of importance the Spaniard now has. saying: “Llorente seems like one of the keys to a good season. Fit and in form, there’s a lot to like about him both one v one and as a collective part of the defence.”

The fact that just four games into the new season, he seems to have picked up yet another niggly injury that could put him on the side-lines for the foreseeable future is sure to disrupt plans, especially when you consider Pascal Struijk is set to miss the next few games through suspension unless the club can successfully appeal it.

This latest update from Hay is a huge blow for Leeds and is sure to have fans extremely worried about the Whites going forward.

Meanwhile, Leeds are plotting a January swoop for this star…

Nottingham Forest have been handed a double injury boost ahead of their upcoming Championship fixture.

What’s the latest?

According to a report by Nottinghamshire Live, both Loic Mbe Soh and Jordi Osei-Tutu could be in contention for the visit of Cardiff City this Saturday, as both defenders have made good progress in their respective recoveries from injury.

Mbe Soh has been out of action since he picked up a groin injury in Forest’s season-opening defeat against Coventry City, while Arsenal loanee Osei-Tutu has missed the club’s last three fixtures due to a hamstring injury sustained against Blackburn Rovers.

However, the report by Nottinghamshire Live claims that Osei-Tutu’s targeted return date is Wednesday, while Mbe Soh’s is Saturday.

Hughton will be buzzing

While Chris Hughton did secure the signings of defenders Max Lowe, Mohamed Drager, Djed Spence and Rodrigo Ely in recent weeks in order to prove him with greater depth across the various positions at the back, the return of both Mbe Soh and Osei-Tutu will nevertheless have left the 62-year-old manager buzzing.

Indeed, while Mbe Soh only managed 45 minutes on the pitch against Coventry prior to his injury, the 20-year-old centre-back highly impressed for Forest, playing the ball to Brennan Johnson to create the Reds’ opening goal, as well as making one tackle, one interception and two clearances.

Meanwhile, the return of the 22-year-old versatile full-back Osei-Tutu provides Hughton with another option on either the left or right-hand side of his defence, something that will not only be extremely useful for the Forest manager in the Cardiff clash but also over the course of the club’s Championship campaign.

As such, with it looking as if the 62-year-old could have a full squad to chose from for the fixture at the City Ground on Saturday, Hughton will certainly be hoping that his side can finally pick up their first win of the Championship season against the Bluebirds.

In other news: Reliable journo sheds light on Forest’s deadline day disaster, Murphy will be gutted

Chloe Kelly has been 'flying' in training ahead of the Lionesses' clash with Italy on Tuesday, as she looks to return to the team following a knock.

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• Kelly missed Austria clash on Friday with a knock
• But set to return for England vs Italy
• Boost for Lionesses as Kirby heads home

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Kelly missed England's emphatic 7-2 win over Austria on Friday because of a knock she picked up in training. However, Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman looks set to have the winger back available for the team's second fixture of this international break.

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  WHAT WIEGMAN SAID

  Asked about Kelly's fitness in her Monday press conference, Wiegman said: "She's good. She was flying in training so hopefully that's what she will do later on this morning and be ready for tomorrow."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Kelly's return will be a boost for an England team that has just seen Fran Kirby leave the squad due to a minor injury. The Chelsea star was due to start against Austria on Friday but pulled out of the line-up in the warm-up due to irritation in her knee. Wiegman said on Monday that she wasn't expecting Kirby to have picked up "a bad injury", but that she has been sent back to her club because England didn't want to take any risks.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Only Arsenal's Victoria Pelova has registered more assists in the Women's Super League this season than Kelly, who has been in flying form at club level. The Man City star has been directly involved in nine goals in 14 WSL games to help the Cityzens sit level on points with leaders Chelsea at the top of the table.

Inter Miami are looking to make history again in 2024, with Lionel Messi “playing free”, but they are reluctant to be dragged into a play-off debate.

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• Herons won first trophy in 2023
• Chasing down four honours this season
• Off to a winning start against RSL

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Many are tipping the Herons to put themselves in contention for MLS Cup glory, having secured a historic Leagues Cup triumph last season. With eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi on their books, and the new campaign opened with a 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake, the Florida-based outfit appear ready to move through the gears.

  Watch Inter Miami with the MLS Season PassStream now

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  WHAT MARTINO SAID ABOUT MESSI

  They have never won a play-off game, following two previous visits to that stage, but head coach Tata Martino is reluctant to start making wild predictions about rewriting the history books with there so much competitive action to come. He said when asked about Inter Miami’s post-season record: “You don't have to jump the gun. It was just one game.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  While wary of getting caught up in future talk, Martino is pleased with what he is seeing in the present. He added on watching Messi rediscover a spark following an injury-hit pre-season: “If anybody had been sceptical about what this team can do, I think the first half showed them. I saw [Messi] playing free on the field. And with the same fine touch he always had. And he showed some speed too. He has a characteristic that no other player has. He grabs the ball very far from the rival goal and the feeling he gives is that he will generate something and will end in a goal situation. The play he had alone against two players at the end of the game is a sign that he is good physically and also happy to be on the pitch.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Martino went on to say of Messi’s partnership with former Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez, which is being rekindled in the United States: “I had been saying since we got back from Japan two weeks ago that we needed to have more training sessions together for them to rediscover their rhythm. In their case, they know each other well, but it takes time for them to find that connection again that they had in Barcelona.”

According to Eurosport, West Ham are now ‘considering turning their attention’ to Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic amid their desperate hunt for a new forward – with the Galacticos prepared to let him leave this summer.

The Lowdown: West Ham in long, arduous striker hunt…

Manager David Moyes has been looking to add a new striker to his ranks since the start of the January transfer window.

The Scotsman himself even confirmed that bids had been lodged in an attempt to sign a new forward – revealing that an offer had been made for Youssef En-Nesyri of Sevilla.

They have had little luck in signing a striker this window, either, with Eurosport now bringing the latest as West Ham attempt to cast their net wide and finally put an end to the search.

The Latest: West Ham now weighing Jovic swoop…

As per the outlet, Madrid are prepared to let out-of-favour forward Jovic leave this summer and West Ham are now considering a swoop for him.

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The 23-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at former club Eintracht Frankfurt, where he managed four goals in eight starts.

However, the young striker will not be in Carlo Ancelotti’s plans this season and West Ham may now revisit his situation as a result.

As explained, though, West Ham will face stiff competition for Jovic with three clubs in Germany also eager to sign him.

The Verdict: Last gamble?

Jovic was once tipped to become ‘the best striker in Europe’ (The Guardian), and even though things haven’t gone to plan for him at the Bernabeu, he could feasibly turn his career back around at West Ham.

Still young, the Serbian has already amassed an impressive 59 career goals whilst being described as ‘world class’ by former Frankfurt boss Adi Hutter as recently as January (realmadridlatestnews.com).

Depending on the potential transfer fee, with no mention of a valuation in Eurosport’s update, Jovic could be the ideal striker signing for Moyes.

In other news: ‘Yesssss’, ‘Incredible’, ‘We are blessed’…West Ham fans erupt over official club announcement, find out more here.

Nathan Ake has thanked Pep Guardiola for the way the Man City boss dealt with the death of the defender's father.

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• Ake praises Guardiola for support
• Defender's father died in 2021
• Ake has turned City career around

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ake's father tragically passed away aged 63 after a 13-year fight with prostate cancer. After the Dutchman scored in City's 6-3 Champions League win against RB Leipzig in September 2021, he learned that his dad had died during the match. Two years on, Ake has praised Guardiola for the emotional support he gave him.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Nobody can deny that Guardiola is one of the greatest managers of all time. However, critics argue that the Catalan lacks emotional connection with his players and is therefore not a good man manager. Ake's form for City has improved significantly since his father's passing, and he believes that Guardiola played a role in that.

• WHAT AKE SAID

  As reported by the Mirror, Ake said: "I’m grateful to Pep [Guardiola] for all he means to me on and off the pitch. When my father passed away, he was fantastic. If I needed things or wanted time off, I just had to tell him. He gave me all the time and space I needed."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR AKE?

  The arrival of Josko Gvardiol means that Ake is no longer the sure starter in defence he became last season. However, after penning a new four-year contract following City's treble success, he looks set to stay at the Etihad Stadium for the foreseeable future.

Chelsea have reportedly chosen Sonia Bompastor as their preferred candidate to succeed Emma Hayes, offering a contract to the Lyon boss.

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• Hayes to leave Chelsea at end of season
• Blues have offered contract to Lyon boss Bompastor
• French coach won Champions League in 2022

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Hayes is to leave Chelsea at the end of the season to become the new head coach of the United States women's national team and the Blues have been searching for her successor since that news broke back in November. Casey Stoney and Laura Harvey are among those to have been considered for the role but reports that Chelsea have decided to offer Bompastor the job. It is claimed that the club is negotiating a deal to appoint the Frenchwoman, with nothing signed and the process still ongoing.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Bompastor became head coach of Lyon following the sacking of Jean-Luc Vasseur in April 2021, stepping up from her role in the club's academy. In her first full season in charge, she led to club to its eighth Champions League title, beating then-holders Barcelona 3-1 in Turin. The 43-year-old, who has a contract until 2025, has won six trophies since in the role, with two league titles, a French Cup triumph and two Super Cup wins sitting alongside that UWCL success.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  When Bompastor guided Lyon to the Women's Champions League title in 2022, she became the first person to win the competition as both a player and a manager, having also lifted the trophy in both 2011 and 2012 as a key part of the French side's midfield.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  While Chelsea negotiate with Bompastor, Hayes' Blues have a top-of-the-table clash with Manchester City to look forward to on Friday night as she bids to go out on a high and claim a fifth successive Women's Super League title before the coach departs for the United States.

Mauricio Pochettino enjoyed a winning return to his former employers and he'll be relieved to see his centre-forward on the scoresheet

The build up to Chelsea's trip to Tottenham on Monday was all about Mauricio Pochettino. But the Blues manager's much-anticipated homecoming was reduced to a footnote as the two side's played out a completely batsh*t crazy 90+ minutes, from which Pochettino and Co eventually emerged as 4-1 winners.

The first half was the most chaotic of the season so far. Dejan Kulusevski's deflected opener broke the deadlock inside six minutes and it was non-stop drama from there. By the time the half-time whistle had been blown, both teams had seen goals ruled out, Cristian Romero had been sent off and Chelsea had equalised following an endless VAR review, while several other players had escaped red cards of their own.

One of those from Destiny Udogie, and the youngster's luck ran out shortly after the break when he was dismissed for a second yellow, leaving Spurs down to 10 men.

With a two-player advantage, the Blues unsurprisingly carved out a string of opportunities. They were just unfortunate that the majority fell to Nicolas Jackson, a striker so short of confidence it seemed like a light breeze might blow him over. Eventually though, he got his moment, tapping home Sterling's cross for just his third Premier League of the season.

Chelsea endured a nervy moment when Eric Dier replied with a sumptuous, back-post volley swiftly after, but VAR came to the rescue to rubber stamp a marginal offside decision.

Then, somehow, after Rodrigo Bentancur missed a close-range header, Jackson was presented with two more chances. And on both occasions, he shook off his demons to score, completing a rather unexpected hat-trick. It summed up a quite ridiculous evening in the capital and will hopefully provide him with the momentum he needs to start showing what he's really about.

Below, GOAL rates the Blues players from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Robert Sanchez (6/10):

  Wrong-footed for Spurs opener by the deflection. Fairly uneventful once Spurs started getting players sent off.

  Reece James (6/10):

  Probably should have been sent off for a pretty blatant elbow on the stroke of half time. Will be relieved to get through the majority of a game without getting injured.

  Axel Disasi (5/10):

  A bit aimless in his passing at times. Never entirely comfortable when Tottenham had 11.

  Thiago Silva (6/10):

  Tried to keep his team-mates composed, but he was not always successful.

  Levi Colwill (5/10):

  Should have got tighter to Kulusevski for the first goal. Involved in a tussle with Pape Matar Sarr and picked up a yellow. Subbed at the break before he got sent off.

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  Midfield

  Enzo Fernandez (6/10):

  Won the penalty, but was run ragged by the Spurs midfield in the opening 20 minutes. Subbed on the hour.

  Moises Caicedo (6/10):

  Was pretty sloppy to start, but would have scored if not for an offside in the first half.

  Conor Gallagher (6/10):

  Only rarely gave the ball away. He acted as solid link between the midfield and attack.

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  Attack

  Cole Palmer (7/10):

  Did so well to keep his cool after all the VAR madness and score from 12 yards. This composure was typical of his display.

  Nicolas Jackson (7/10):

  His lack of killer instinct was startling. Missed several golden chances before eventually completing the easiest Premier League hat trick of all time. They all count, though.

  Raheem Sterling (7/10):

  Carried the ball superbly at times, most notably for his disallowed goal. Set up Jackson to make it 2-1.

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  Subs & Manager

  Marc Cucurella (5/10):

  Looked to get in behind the Spurs defence and had some success. Defensively, he was shaky, especially at set pieces.

  Mykhailo Mudryk (5/10):

  A little petulant when he came on, which didn't help his team's cause.

  Malo Gusto (5/10):

  Not on the pitch long but still managed to get booked. It was that sort of game.

  Mauricio Pochettino (5/10):

  He might've have matched up Spurs' use of wing-backs to nullify their threat out wide early on. None of his subs made much of a difference, but he ended up tasting victory over his former employers anyway.

Former USWNT star Sydney Leroux scored an outrageous bicycle kick for Angel City FC as they booked their place in the 2023 NWSL play-offs.

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• Los Angeles-based side picked up big win
• Five different scorers on the day
• Will now face Rapinoe & OL Reign

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Los Angeles-based outfit never looked to be in any danger of missing out on the post-season, despite leaving it until the final day of regular season action before confirming that their campaign will be extended by at least one more game.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Angel City proved far too strong for the Portland Thorns as they eased to a 5-1 victory on home soil. The Californian outfit saw five different players get on the scoresheet, with ex-United States international Leroux registering the pick of their goals in a comprehensive success.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Angel City were already three goals to the good when they pushed for a fourth in the 51st minute. An opportunity appeared to have passed them by when a drilled cross from the right was parried up into the air by Portland goalkeeper Bella Bixby, but Leroux proceeded to produce a moment of magic as she looped a spectacular overhead kick into the back of the net.

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• WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Leroux and Angel City FC will now face OL Reign in the NWSL play-offs, with Megan Rapinoe set to figure in that contest having prolonged her own distinguished career by ensuring that retirement plans are put on hold for a few more days.