
West Ham plotting Championship raid for new goalkeeper after Everton had approach turned down
Hammers will make final checks on the 25-year-old before the transfer window shuts.
Advertisement
5
Michael Cooper is a target for West Ham
Credit: Getty
5
Cooper could challenge Alphonse Areola for the starting spot
Credit: Getty
The Blades would want about £15million for Cooper, who they got from Plymouth for an initial £2m in 2024
Former
Last season in the Championship, Cooper impressed as the Blades challenged for promotion to the Premier League.
The Yorkshire side missed out on a return to the top-flight after losing in the playoff final to Sunderland.
Advertisement
READ MORE ON SPORT
Cooper kept 21 clean sheets in 43 appearances for the Blades and achieved a save percentage of 76.9 per cent.
The Hammers, however, struggled in the Premier League and rotated between
The veteran Polish goalkeeper has left the London Stadium after his contract expired.
Areola remained, but there are doubts over his abilities after multiple errors last season.
Advertisement
Most read in Football
SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET £50 BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN
The Frenchman was at fault again in the
The former
Everton and West Ham to fight it out for Douglas Luiz
West Ham only have veteran and former
Advertisement
The 34-year-old made the switch to East London last summer on a two-year deal after he was released by the Blades.
Blades boss Ruben Selles has insisted that Cooper is going nowhere this summer.
The manager made the claim after the former Pilgrim missed the 2-1 pre-season win over Burton Albion on Tuesday.
5
Advertisement
5
Ruben Selles is convinced Cooper will stay at Bramall Lane
Credit: Getty
He said: "The last game was a decision from me to give the other goalkeepers some minutes.
"He felt a bit of discomfort in the knee, but he should be back in a couple of days.
"He's definitely staying, it's not about that.
Advertisement
"I understand the concerns because he wasn't there, but it has nothing to do with that."
The Hammers have already added Kyle Walker-Peters and El Hadji Malick Diouf to their squad this summer.
5
Advertisement
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Rio Ngumoha shines to fuel Liverpool's optimism for new season
A vacancy has arisen on the left of Liverpool's forward line and an early, eye-catching application to fill the role has arrived from a 16-year-old. Rio Ngumoha further enhanced his first team claims with a sparkling display against Athletic Bilbao that underlined the formidable strength, and options, available to Arne Slot. Ngumoha opened the scoring superbly and teed up a second goal for Darwin Núñez inside five minutes at Anfield in the first of two pre-season friendlies against the Basque club. A packed Anfield crowd had to wait for the second fixture to catch a first glimpse of new signings Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Hugo Ekitiké and Jeremie Frimpong. Ngumoha kept them entertained and whetted the appetite prior to their appearances as Liverpool recorded a comfortable 4-1 win in match one. The left winger is not eligible to sign a professional contract until he turns 17 on the 29th of this month but showed why Chelsea were livid when Liverpool tempted him away from their academy last summer. In only the second minute of his second senior appearance at Anfield the teenager, who made his full debut against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup last season, set off from the halfway line and, with Athletic defenders all in retreat, curled an excellent finish into the bottom corner of the Kop goal from 20 yards. Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha (left) and Athletic Bilbao's Andoni Gorosabel during the pre-season friendly match at Anfield, Liverpool. Pic: Peter Byrne/PA Wire. Ngumoha produced something similar in Liverpool's previous pre-season outing against Yokohama F Marinos last week. That goal came on the day Luis Díaz completed his £65.5m transfer to Bayern Munich, creating an opening on the left that could be filled by any one of Cody Gakpo, Wirtz, Ekitiké and perhaps the 16-year-old talent from London. His display was enough to prompt chants of 'Rio' from the Kop and a song in his honour from the singer who appeared during the interval. Ngumoha's emergence – predicted with confidence by John Terry when he lamented the youngster's exit from Chelsea – is timely for Liverpool as they await Newcastle's next move on Alexander Isak. There may not be a rush to replace Díaz given the options already at Slot's disposal. The Premier League champions can afford to wait on their prime target for the No 9 role and leave their £110m offer for Isak on Newcastle's table. Three minutes after his individual goal Ngumoha headed down a Ben Doak cross for Núñez to convert from close range. Anyone looking for clues as to Núñez's next step – with Al Hilal interested in taking him to the Saudi Pro League – will have noted the hand-on-the-heart celebration that followed from the £60m-rated Uruguay international in front of the Kop. A glimpse of Liverpool's past and future, perhaps. Doak and Harvey Elliott, two other players who could leave Anfield in this window, were also on the scoresheet in the first contest against Ernesto Valverde's side. Ngumoha's footwork and pace also impressed in the 67 minutes he was on the pitch. He received a well-earned rousing reception when replaced by Trent Koné-Doherty. The opening game started at 5pm as scheduled despite supporters in the Main Stand having to be evacuated just over an hour before kick off due to a false alarm. Liverpool's first appearance on home soil since the tragic deaths of Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, was marked by the club's former captain Phil Thompson and Athletic president, Jon Uriarte, laying wreaths in front of the Kop before the game. There was a moving moment 20 minutes in when everyone inside the stadium rose to their feet to applaud Liverpool's number 20. Play stopped and players from both teams also joined in the applause for Jota and Silva. Slot was without Virgil van Dijk for both Bilbao games due to illness. The Liverpool head coach indicated the club captain could be a doubt for Sunday's Community Shield against Crystal Palace. Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez were also absent through injury, forcing Slot to deploy 18-year-old midfielder Trey Nyoni in central defence for the first Bilbao contest and Luca Stephenson at right-back, while goalkeeper Alisson was unavailable having left Liverpool's recent pre-season tour of Asia due to personal reasons. Summer signings Freddie Woodman and Armin Pecsi filled in for the first choice goalkeeper, playing one half each, while Georgia international Mamardashvili made his Anfield bow in the second game behind a central defence of Ibrahima Konaté and Wataru Endo. That is one department where the champions appear light at present. Ngumoha could add to their riches up front. Liverpool also won the second game 3-2 thanks to goals from Mo Salah, who missed a penalty late on, and a Cody Gakpo brace. Guardian


The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘They fumbled so hard' – Liverpool fans troll Chelsea as ex-Blues wonderkid Rio Ngumoha, 16, scores amazing solo goal
Ngumoha has revealed a Kop star has recently taken him under his wing LIVERPOOL fans brutally mocked Chelsea moments after Rio Ngumoha's sensational pre-season strike against Athletic Bilbao. The 16-year-old continued his fine pre-season goalscoring form with a superb solo effort against the La Liga big boys. 4 Rio Ngumoha has been one of the stars of Liverpool's pre-season Credit: Getty 4 The 16-year-old scored a sensational solo goal against Athletic Bilbao on Monday Credit: EPA 4 Liverpool fans flocked to social media to troll Chelsea for letting the teen sensation leave Credit: Alamy The teenager curled the ball into the far corner from well outside the 18-yard box following a superb solo run from just inside his own half. And the Anfield faithful couldn't help but troll Chelsea for selling the starlet to them last year after he found the back of the net. One wrote on X: "Chelsea would rather buy some random kid from Brazil than keep Rio Ngumoha. "They fumbled so hard." READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS INTO THE BLUE Sterling leads 9 Chelsea flops banished from website as 47-man squad revealed Another said: "He looks exceptional. Wow" And another said: "Another Cobham wonderkid." One chimed in: "Chelsea banned Liverpool scouts from attending their youth games after we signed Rio Ngumoha. "And I honestly don't blame them." SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET £50 BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN 4 Liverpool signed Rio Ngumoha from Chelsea in September 2024 Credit: Getty Ngumoha joined the Reds from Liverpool's academy last September and has flourished ever since. He was one of the star performers in the Reds' Under-18s squad last season. Forgotten Liverpool star who was hero of 2005 Champions League campaign now starring in world of professional FOOTGOLF Kop chief Arne Slot rewarded him for his exploits in January by handing him his professional debut in the Reds' FA Cup third-round tie with Accrington Stanley. Ngumoha's Cup appearance saw him become the Anfield club's second-youngest debutant. Ngumoha has loved every minute of pre-season with the Premier League champions and recently revealed that veteran defender Andy Robertson has taken him under his wing over the last few weeks. He told the club's official website: "Robbo has really helped me a lot. "He's so experienced and one of the best left-backs in the world. "I feel like having him behind me, I can't really ask for anything more. "He's experienced and teaches me a lot.' The Reds ran out 4-1 winners in the first of their back-to-back games with Bilbao, with goals from Ngumoha, Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliot - along with an OG from Alex Padilla - sealing the victory.


The Irish Sun
10 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Arsenal and Liverpool's transfer plans rocked as Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi look likely to stay at Crystal Palace
MARC GUEHI and Eberechi Eze could both end up STAYING at Crystal Palace this season. Liverpool, Newcastle and Spurs want England defender Guehi while Arsenal remain interested in Eze. 3 Marc Guehi could well stay at Crystal Palace despite interest from Liverpool, Newcastle and Tottenham Credit: Getty 3 Eberechi Eze may also stay put at Selhurst Park in spite of Arsenal's keen interest Credit: Getty Although there is still a month left of the transfer window, it seems increasingly likely that both stars will remain at Selhurst Park. Palace have not received any firm offers for either player and are in no rush to sell. This is good news for the club's fans who are still reeling from their European heartbreak and the fact they look set to be demoted into the Conference League. Liverpool have been favourites to land centre-back Guehi and have been in talks with his representatives. READ MORE SPORT STORIES LOOKING TO SCORE? Single Sydney Sweeney inundated with DMs from randy Prem aces after split The centre-back has just one year left of his contract but has not been pushing for a move. And the Premier League champions rate him at around £40million - £10m short of Palace's asking price. Spurs are still interested having failed with a £70m bid in January while Newcastle had three offers turned down a year ago. Toon have revived their interest this summer, but are still £10m below Palace's valuation. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS That mean, as SunSport revealed in May, Guehi could now run down the final year of his contract and leave on a free transfer, opening up a potential switch to Barcelona or Real Madrid. And the Eagles are increasingly confident of keeping him this summer. Crystal Palace legend Geoff Thomas slams Uefa for denying them a Europa League place 3 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW Attacking midfielder Eze has been in line for a move to Arsenal and is keen to move to the Emirates. Yet the Gunners are not prepared to trigger his £68m release clause. With Palace not needing to sell financially, they are unlikely to lower their demands and Arsenal could look at other targets. The club's fans are still stunned at Uefa's decision to drop them into this season's Conference League despite qualifying for the Europa League after winning the FA Cup. Palace's appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will be on Friday. They were demoted to the third-tier Conference League by Uefa's Club Financial Control Body in a multi-club ownership case.