West Ham are likely to rival Crystal Palace for the signature of 25-year-old Norway striker Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolves in January. (Telegraph, subscription required), external
Meanwhile, the Hammers' 19-year-old winger Luis Guilherme is the subject of interest from Sporting, with the Portuguese side wanting to recruit the Brazilian on loan with an obligation to buy. (Maisfutebol - in Portuguese), external
Holly Turbutt
Fan contributor
Find more from Holly Turbutt at West Ham Network, external
West Ham have expressed their interest in Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee but face competition from Roma. Moreover, United are set to delay any decision with their squad stretched by injuries and Africa Cup of Nations departures. (ESPN), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Melissa Edwards
BBC Sport journalist
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Fulham at London Stadium (kick-off 15:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Nuno on how his team are treating the festive period: "Training, training and preparing for the matches. It's a busy schedule and we are trying to prepare."
On the January transfer window, he said: "Now is not really the moment to focus on and speak about it, but the club is working and when the transfer window opens, we can assess it."
The Hammers have won the majority of their Premier League points since the turn of November (nine out of 13) but Nuno believes they are still pursuing their "primary objective". He said: "We need to improve. Since day one, since I arrived it was clear to me that we need to improve a lot of aspects in our team - defensive and offensive. We are trying and sometimes it works, sometimes we score and sometimes we concede more than we should."
Nuno continued: "We're still chasing the primary objective of having the clean sheet, being solid and compact. Another test for us."
West Ham are without Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf as they compete at the Africa Cup of Nations for DR Congo and Senegal respectively. Nuno said: "I was watching the game of Aaron (vs Benin), I think they were leading. At 3pm (vs Botswana) Malick will get involved. I wish them all the best and to stay healthy."
On Fulham and their season, he said: "[They've been] Good. We saw the game yesterday and they are playing good so, a tough opponent. Like all the games in the Premier League, [it will be] very intense, very demanding and it will require a lot of positive actions from us. Tough opponent ahead."
Follow all of Tuesday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
Holly Turbutt
Fan contributor
Image source, Getty ImagesWest Ham are relying on the January transfer window to save our season and keep us from relegation, meaning pressure is at an all-time high, despite a poor track record when it comes to effective transfers in recent times.
Our biggest priority must be to stop conceding as many goals, with us only keeping one clean sheet this season - ironically against Nuno before he joined the club. This means we need a new centre-back who can fit into our starting XI.
At the other end of the pitch, we need to find a solution to our long-term striker issues, bringing somebody in who can make a difference, while taking the pressure off Callum Wilson to stay fit all season.
When it comes to buying or loaning players, a lot of this will come down to if we're able to attract much top talent in our current position. If that means loans enable us to attract better players who are out of favour at their club, this could be enough to see us through the season and then reassess in the summer.
A big part of having money available to invest will rely on parting ways with fringe players who don't have a role moving forwards, as well as those who can bring in funds. This means Ward-Prowse, Fullkrug, Rodriguez and Irving are the main players who can free up some money.
To allow us to reinvest more, we could explore getting rid of one of our centre-backs, as well as Paqueta, but I'd be cautious to only do this if we know we have already secured suitable replacements.
The hope is that we can bring in replacements for those underperforming in our starting XI and create squad depth that allows us to switch things up mid-game in ways that benefit us.
Find more from Holly Turbutt at West Ham Network, external
Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician
Wolves, Burnley and West Ham are hanging precariously on the bottom branches at Christmas.
As we approach the halfway point of the season, what do the ghosts of Christmas past tell us about the relegation battle?
Only four times in 33 Premier League seasons has the side bottom on Christmas Day survived, with the most recent being Wolves in 2022-23.
But with just two points won and a record 16 points from safety, it would take not just a Christmas miracle but a New Year's, Valentine's and Easter one too for bottom side Wolves to survive once again.
Second-bottom Burnley have a fighting chance because almost half the teams in their position at Christmas have stayed up, although the only time that's happened in the past eight seasons was when Eddie Howe led Newcastle to 11th in 2021-22.
West Ham fans have the most reason to be optimistic as the team in 18th has survived in two out of three seasons on average, most recently Nottingham Forest in 2022-23 and Wolves last time out.
The most likely outcome is that one of West Ham, Burnley and Wolves will stay up as that's happened just over half the time, with two teams surviving in 12 of the previous 33 seasons.
The three teams bottom at Christmas have never all survived, while only four times in Premier League history have all three been relegated, although two of those occurred recently, in 2020-21 and 2023-24.
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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Manchester City and West Ham.
Here are some of your comments:
City fans
Les: I thought we were excellent in the first half, then eased up in the second. By then the job was done and at all times we kept them at arm's length.
David: We played as well as the opposition allowed us to get the game under control in the first half. It could have been different if they had been more effective in that as they were in the second half. A win is a win and well deserved. Pity Arsenal had to win or we could have been top.
Martin: Another win for City who were good in fits and starts without being spectacular. However, there still seems to be something lacking in midfield control leading to the defence being exposed at times. City should (yet again) have been out of sight at half-time. A shaky start to the second half led to some unease in the crowd, but City kept going and got a deserved third. Good luck to West Ham, whose best player was the excellent Bowen.
West Ham fans
Steve: Our season will not be judged away to City....but that display was awful.
Mick: Max Kilman shouldn't start, unless injuries cause him to be drafted in. He is a shadow of the player we thought we were buying. He was responsible for two of the goals.
Ken: Shocking again. Saturday is a must win now [against Fulham] or it's certain relegation. So gutted.
West Ham have expressed interest in a January deal for 25-year-old Wolves and Norway striker Jorgen Strand Larsen. (Athletic - subscription required), external
West Ham and AC Milan are in advanced negotiations for Germany forward Niclas Fullkrug, 32. (Sky Sports), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Sunday's full gossip column
Pundits Joe Hart and Shay Given join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures.
And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
Conceding early made things really hard - Nuno
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo speaking to BBC's Match of the Day:
"It breaks the plan, the way we want to do things to concede so early makes things really hard.
"First half not good. Much better the way we started the second half. We had some good chances. Overall, better second half, more composed, more organised, pressing better and creating some problems.
"We had good situations inside 10 minutes that could turn the game around. First half was something we have to look at and improve.
"We try to have a game plan, the way we want to do things, and improve our team. It's difficult to control and contain Manchester City. It's not the moment to judge, but at the same time, we have to realise that we need to be much better.
"Very important period these four games during Christmas - important to recover well."
Did you know?
West Ham United have lost 10 of their 17 Premier League games this season (W3 D4); only in 2002-03, 2006-07 and 2022-23 have they reached 10 losses in fewer games in the competition (all 16th game).
Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesThe contingent of West Ham fans that had made the journey up to Manchester from London saw any hope of a shock triumph extinguish within five minutes of kick-off.
Nuno Espirito Santo replaced the sacked Graham Potter in September, but the side has failed to see any kind of new managerial bounce, winning just two games under the Portuguese and now without victory in their past six in the league.
It leaves them 18th in the table, three points adrift of safety, but that gap could be widened with Leeds United and Nottingham Forest directly above them still yet to play this weekend.
Bowen had a couple of couple of opportunities, but aside from Crysensio Summerville's shot which hit Gianluigi Donnarumma in the face and Lucas Paqueta's well-struck free-kick, there was little trouble the Italy goalkeeper who earned a third straight league clean sheet.
West Ham have been in the relegation zone at Christmas on five previous occasions, but can take heart from the fact they avoided the drop both times they were not bottom of the table - in 2006-07 and 2009-10.
Will they be able to do so for a third time?
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Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.
Have your say on Manchester City's performance
What did you make of West Ham's display?
Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies
Manchester City return to full strength by making seven changes to the side that beat Brentford in the Carabao Cup during the week.
Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol are all back in the starting line-up as expected.
Divine Musaka, Savinho, Oscar Bobb, Nathan Ake, Abdukodir Khusanov, Rico Lewis and James Trafford drop out.
Man City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvadiol, O'Reilly, Gonzalez, Silva, Reijnders, Foden, Cherki, Haaland.
West Ham make three changes to the side beaten at Aston Villa last time out.
Kyle Walker-Peters, Max Kilman and Ollie Scarles come in for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Malick Diouf.
West Ham XI: Areola, Walker-Peters, Todibo, Kilman, Scarles, Magassa, Potts, Fernandes, Paqueta, Summerville, Bowen.
There are eight games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.
Newcastle v Chelsea (12:30)
Bournemouth v Burnley
Brighton v Sunderland - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Manchester City v West Ham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
Wolves v Brentford
Tottenham v Liverpool (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
Everton v Arsenal (20:00)
Leeds v Crystal Palace (20:00)
Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated
Follow all of the action and reaction here
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Man City v West Ham" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Tottenham v Liverpool", for instance.
Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds
This just feels like it will be a routine win for Manchester City, who have won their past six games and are building real momentum.
West Ham, in contrast, are in the bottom three and facing one heck of a scrap to stay in the Premier League.
It hardly helps the Hammers that all the teams immediately above them picked up at least a point last weekend while they were losing at home to Aston Villa.
I do think their performances have improved under Nuno Espirito Santo, but they really need some points to go with that, and this is not a game where I think that is particularly likely.
I just can't look past City for the win, because I don't see West Ham keeping them out.
What a goal Rayan Cherki scored against Brentford in the EFL Cup on Wednesday - I got a bit of flak on the Monday Night Club, and on social media too, for agreeing with Pep Guardiola that he needs to cut out the rabonas and use his left foot instead, but he is a huge talent and he has has kicked City on.
City have kept three clean sheets in a row in the Premier League too, which surprises me a bit - and makes me think they will concede here, but this will still be a comfortable afternoon for them.
Sutton's prediction: 3-1
Noel Sliney
BBC Sport senior journalist
Manchester City have the chance to go top on Saturday, for a few hours at least, while visitors West Ham will attempt to move out of the relegation zone. BBC Sport examines some key themes ahead of the match.
Foden thriving in deeper role
Manchester City's current run of six wins in a row is their best since beating West Ham on the final day of the 2023-24 Premier League season to register a seventh straight victory.
Phil Foden scored twice in that game to end with a career-high 27 goals for the season and he has been integral to City's good form of late. Foden has scored six goals in his past five competitive starts and on Saturday will be looking to score in five consecutive Premier League matches for the first time.
Foden has 13 goals and five assists in 2025-26, already surpassing last season's tally of 15 goal involvements. Still only 25, he is only two shy of a century of Premier League goals or assists.
His return to form after a difficult 2024-25 campaign has come while playing in a deeper midfield role, which gives him greater influence in building City's attacks. This season, 77% of Foden's playing time has been spent in central midfield – in contrast to 24% last season.
More than a third of his touches so far have come in City's defensive half, the highest proportion of his career – with a comparison of his touch maps for this season and last illustrating his change of position.
'Anxious' West Ham facing Christmas in bottom three
Improved performances are not translating into points for West Ham, who are third bottom in the table after going five matches without a win.
They have drawn all three away games during that run but suffered a second successive home defeat last Sunday, against Aston Villa. It was the first time in nine years that West Ham had twice taken the lead in a league fixture and still lost.
They have also dropped points recently away to Bournemouth, having been 2-0 up, and Brighton, when they conceded a controversial stoppage-time equaliser.
"Games have been slipping through our hands," bemoaned head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, who has gone 22 Premier League matches without a clean sheet – 11 apiece with West Ham and Nottingham Forest. "We cannot get anxious, so there is a mental aspect to our players we are trying to improve."
To avoid being in the bottom three at Christmas, the Hammers must beat Manchester City for the first time in 20 league matches spanning a decade – and then hope Leeds lose to Crystal Palace.
If West Ham are in the Premier League relegation zone at Christmas for the fifth time, they can take some solace from the fact they avoided relegation on the two previous occasions they weren't bottom.
Image source, Getty ImagesIn the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show, ex-manager Sam Allardyce for a wide-ranging chat about being a head coach in elite football.
The man affectionately known as Big Sam - who managed Newcastle, West Ham, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Everton and Leeds among others - breaks down the principles that sustained his career, why he regrets not confronting criticism of his playing style sooner and why he's encouraged by the league's evolution this season.
He also reflects on working with Wayne - how he wishes he'd managed him earlier and why he never wanted to sub him off, alongside sharing why he was so disappointed not to be given longer with the Toffees.
Plus, Allardyce also reveals some classic dressing room stories - from warning a player he had 30 minutes to save himself after a champagne night out, to urging Palace chairman Steve Parish to speak his mind to the squad after a bad defeat.
Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds
West Ham winger Luis Guilherme wants to stay and fight for his place at the club, despite reports linking the 19-year-old Brazilian with a move in January. (Sky Sports), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column
Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium (kick-off 15:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Nuno confirmed West Ham have "no major issues" after their last match, with forward Niclas Fullkrug returning for part of the training session on Thursday.
However, El Hadji Malick Diouf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are now unavailable due to involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations.
On losing two important players to Afcon: "I'm happy for them because it's important to go to their national team but, for us as a squad, we will miss them. [It was] something that was in the schedule and we have to deal with that situation. Kyle [Walker-Peters] and Ollie [Scarles] are the natural options. We will try to find inside the squad the versatile players who can fill those positions."
After coughing up leads in their past two matches, Nuno conceded turning positive performances into results has been "missing", with games "getting away from our hands".
He added: "We were punished by details and mistakes and it's up to us to correct those. We're in a difficult position and have to sustain our performance throughout all the game. We need to work on removing these oscillations from the games and Saturday is another opportunity to do that."
On if those lost leads is having a mental impact on his players: "The positive is we have started bouncing back after conceding in the first actions. We fix it, now we are scoring first and not holding on to leads. That's the reality of the game. We have to understand the game lasts 90 or 100 minutes and you have to stick with your concentration until the end. Not get anxious. So there is a mental aspect to our players that we are trying to improve."
On whether West Ham retain any momentum, the Hammers boss acknowledged they "need points" because performances that should have given them confidence have not led to results.
On the future of Fullkrug, who has been linked with a move away in January: "I can only speak since I arrived. Niclas started both of the first two games and then what is delaying him is small injuries that keep putting him out. It is difficult for any player that does not have the continuity of games to reach their best. We have this situation when players play, come, go out, stay, and it is difficult when you need minutes and don't have it."
AC Milan are in talks to sign West Ham United and Germany striker Niclas Fullkrug, having offered to take the 32-year-old on loan with an option to buy. (Bild - in German), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column
West Ham want to offload Niclas Fullkrug and AC Milan could try to sign the striker on loan in January. (Guardian), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
