United may have advantage in race for Fulham defender Adarabioyo – Paper Round

Manchester United could have a leg up as they chase Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo, who is out of contract at the end of the season.

The Mirror believes his history of working with United’s technical director Jason Wilcox, when the pair were at Manchester City, could help them.

“The defender is out of contract in the summer and attracting plenty of attention. But his links with United’s new technical director Jason Wilcox, who worked with Adarabioyo at Manchester City, may give The Red Devils a upper hand in negotiations. The 26-year-old is set to be available on a free transfer with Newcastle, Chelsea and Tottenham all potentially in the market for his services.

“The former England youth international joined Fulham from City, where he played under Wilcox in the academy, for £2m in 2020.

“He played just a handful of first-team games for Pep Guardiola’s side and never featured in the Premier League but has blossomed in London. United are on the search for a new centre-half with uncertainty around the future of Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans.”

The Sun reports that Youssef En-Nesyri and Marcos Acuna are two players Julen Lopetegui wants when he takes over at West Ham.

Striker Michail Antonio and defender Aaron Cresswell are well into their thirties, leading to a search for reinforcements.

“And the Spaniard is considering raiding former club Sevilla for striker Youssef En-Nesyri and defender Marcos Acuna.

“Current Hammers chief David Moyes is leaving at the end of the season and Lopetegui has been in talks about taking over.

“He believes West Ham need a new striker with current centre-forward Michail Antonio now 34.

“En-Nesyri, 26, has previously been linked with them but with his old manager set to take over at the London Stadium he is now eager to try the Premier League.”

Arsenal have signed Italian midfielder Jorginho to a new one-year contract, which raises questions over the future of another midfielder.

Thomas Partey is linked with an exit and is struggling for fitness, reports the Daily Mail.

“The Italy international joined The Gunners from west London rivals Chelsea for £12 million in January last year, signing an 18-month deal with the option of a further year.

“The deal is particularly key with the uncertain future of fellow defensive midfielder Thomas Partey, whose season has been plagued by injury. His contract expires in June 2025.”

Chelsea will review their season after the Bournemouth game, in an event that could decide Mauricio Pochettino’s future.

The Argentine has struggled to improve the side this season and the club do not want to wait too long to make a decision.

“Pochettino will have one year remaining on the contract he signed last summer at the end of the season, although Chelsea hold an option to extend it by a further 12 months.

“Chelsea’s intention since hiring Pochettino was always to assess his performance, together with the performance of the club as a whole, at the end of his first season in charge, regardless of fluctuations in form and results.

“That is why Pochettino has never been in danger of being fired following disappointing results, such as the 5-0 thrashing at Arsenal or when supporters chanted against him during the draw at Brentford. But it also explains why assurances over his future beyond this season are yet to be given with three games left to play.

“Pochettino himself has suggested that he will seek clarification on issues from the owners and sporting directors at the end of the season, which means his future may not simply be decided by the club.

“The end-of-season review, which is likely to include Pochettino, sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, and members of the co-ownership team of Behdad Eghbali, Todd Boehly and Jose E Feliciano, is expected to take place in the days after the Bournemouth game.”