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Barcelona have informed Athletic Club that no away supporters will be permitted at Saturday’s La Liga clash at the partially reopened Camp Nou. The Catalan club say safety regulations under the current licence prevent sectorised access for visiting fans, prompting an unusual restriction just days before their long-awaited homecoming.

• Barcelona restrict visiting supporters under Phase 1B licence

  Barca have told Athletic Club that they cannot allocate any away tickets for Saturday’s La Liga meeting at the newly reopened Camp Nou, citing safety limitations under the stadium’s temporary operating licence. The match marks Barca’s first competitive fixture at their historic home since May 2023, but the main headline is the unprecedented restriction placed on visiting fans as the club navigates partial-capacity regulations.

  Athletic Club confirmed the development in an official communication, stating: “FC Barcelona will not be able to send away tickets to Athletic Bilbao.” The Basque side detailed the reasons supplied by Barca, who explained that the current Phase 1B licence “does not allow for the guarantee of separation, control, and minimum protection conditions required by regulations for hosting visiting fans.” According to Barcelona, the necessary sectorisation measures are still under construction and will only be completed in the coming weeks.

  The club are reopening Camp Nou in stages after two seasons at Montjuic, with 45,401 seats authorised for this first phase. However, the reopened sections, Tribune, South Goal and Lateral stand, remain structurally incomplete, preventing the segregation of supporters. For all the excitement surrounding the return to the stadium, this regulatory hurdle has forced the Catalans club to deny Athletic’s travelling contingent an allocation.

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• The reasons behind absence of away fans

  Athletic Club relayed Barcelona’s explanation in full, highlighting that the restrictions stem from specific infrastructural limitations. "The match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club at the new Spotify Camp Nou this coming Saturday will not have the usual tickets allocated to the red-and-white fans."

  The Catalan club cited two primary concerns: “Non-independent access points” and “insufficient physical sectorisation.” The statement stressed that the available entry and exit routes “do not allow for the establishment of exclusive circuits for visiting fans,” meaning cross-flow with local supporters could not be avoided.

  Furthermore, the partially rebuilt stands “do not have adequate structural elements to safely isolate and delimit the visiting sector.” These conditions prevent the implementation of a secure visiting enclosure, an obligation under La Liga and local safety regulations. 

  The Basque side also noted that the unusual measure is a direct product of the stadium’s ongoing redevelopment. With Barca yet to finish the internal circulation systems, security railings and stand separations in the Lateral and North Goal areas, both clubs have been forced to adapt. The safety explanations align with the council’s earlier assessment, which emphasised evacuation-route improvements and structural checks as conditions for granting the temporary licence.

• Partial stadium return after two seasons away

  While the away-fan ban is the key story, Saturday’s match will still be a symbolic moment for Barcelona supporters. The council’s Phase 1B approval allows 45,401 spectators to attend the fixture, the first competitive game at Camp Nou since renovation work forced a two-season relocation to the Olympic Stadium on Montjuic.

  The club has modernised the pitch access, internal circulation, handrail systems, digital ticketing gates, dressing rooms, and player tunnel as part of the reportedly massive €900 million redevelopment project. Earlier this month, 23,000 supporters attended an open training session that provided a public glimpse of the reconstructed sections.

  Initial plans had earmarked late 2024 for a partial reopening, but construction delays, safety inspections and access-route concerns pushed the timeline back. Barca even abandoned their intention to play the Joan Gamper Trophy at the stadium, instead beginning the season at the 6,000-capacity Estadi Johan Cruyff. Full completion of the redevelopment is scheduled for June 2026, after which the stadium will seat 105,000.

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  Next phases and Champions League considerations

  Barca will continue operating under reduced-capacity conditions for the remainder of the season, with digital-only tickets remaining in place as part of the safety protocol for the partially reopened Camp Nou. Member presales have already begun for domestic fixtures, but the absence of visiting fans on Saturday raises questions about how quickly the club can complete the sectorisation work required for away allocations.

  The next stage, the Phase 1C licence, aims to reopen the North Goal stand, which should provide the structural independence required for proper segregation. Until those areas are completed, away supporters may remain excluded from fixtures to ensure compliance with local regulations.

  Barca are also reportedly in dialogue with UEFA regarding the ability to host their upcoming Champions League fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt at Camp Nou. The club insist it meets the requirements, although the governing body's formal approval is still pending. With construction ongoing and safety inspections continuing throughout the season, every fixture will require coordination between the club, the council and competition organisers.

Alex Crook, chief football correspondent at talkSPORT, has provided an update on rumours linking Bruno Lage with a return to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Last December, Wolves hired Vitor Pereira to replace Gary O’Neil, who had nearly steered the club into a relegation battle. Through a strong run of form and sense of unity in the second half of the season, Pereira guided Wolves away from the bottom three, ultimately finishing comfortably within the confines of mid-table.

Across the summer, Wolves lost important players, including Rayan Ait-Nouri, Nelson Semedo and Matheus Cunha. As has often been the case in recent years, the Midlands side replaced them with players who were not of the same calibre, which has hampered their 2025/26 campaign.

After 10 games in the Premier League, Wolves remain without a win and have just two points. Pereira, despite signing a new contract just weeks ago, was sacked at the start of November, sparking a hunt for Wolves to find their new manager.

O’Neil had been linked with what would’ve been a sensational return, only to pull himself out of contention. Other names include Erik ten Hag, no stranger to the Premier League following his tenure as Man United manager. In his latest job, however, the Dutchman was sacked by Bayer Leverkusen after just three matches.

Elsewhere, a boss that Wolves are particularly acquainted with has been linked with a return to the Premier League.

Lage reportedly on Wolves' radar

In recent days, Wolves have been linked with a move for former manager Bruno Lage. The Portuguese first joined Wolves in 2021, replacing Nuno Espirito Santo at the helm. Despite a promising start, form ultimately faltered under Lage, who was dismissed in late 2022.

Since then, Lage has worked in both Brazil and his native Portugal, having last been in charge of Benfica, who sacked him in September. Given his status as a free agent, Lage’s links to a Wolves reunion are understandable, though it appears that there is little truth to the rumours.

It remains unclear who will be the next manager of Wolves, though a reunion with either O’Neil or Lage now appears impossible. Given how their respective tenures ended, it may suit the club to pursue a manager that has no prior links at Molineux.

"World-class" manager wants talks with Wolves

Tottenham Hotspur improved after the break, but the damage had been done following Fulham’s early flurry in north London, two goals to the good after six minutes.

Thomas Frank spoke before the game about the importance of starting with confidence, but the performance was anything but assured, with Sky Sports co-commentator Alan Smith remarking that it was “chaos in Tottenham’s defensive line” early on.

It wasn’t just the defenders who flattered to deceive, though, with Guglielmo Vicario’s ill-judged rush from his box to deal with a clearance leaving Harry Wilson to curl home and double the Cottagers’ lead just moments into the match.

Guglielmo Vicario is letting Spurs down

Vicario has been an astute piece of business for Tottenham over the past several years, but he has left plenty to be desired this season, with his error-strewn performance against Fulham sadly not an outlier, his costly mistake the third of the Premier League campaign, and 11th since he arrived in 2023.

There is a case to be made that the Lilywhite defenders needed to drop back and protect the yawning goalmouth, but Vicario, 28, has much to answer for, only making one save besides, as per Sofascore.

Whether Vicario reprises his starting berth between the sticks going forward is another matter, but it’s certainly one Frank will chew on as he looks to arrest this slump and bring Spurs back into the ascendancy, stringing together some strong winter form to challenge for a reprisal of their ongoing Champions League campaign.

However, changes clearly need to be made, and Frank does not have long to enact any shuffling, with Newcastle United awaiting at St. James’ Park on Tuesday evening.

There may actually be an outfield Tottenham star who must be dropped for that crucial top-flight clash, having lacked dynamism in the middle of the park this season.

5/10 Spurs star was as poor as Vicario

The boos chorused around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at full-time, and Joao Palhinha was among the dejected players in white after a disappointing midfield display that saw him hooked on the hour mark.

The loanee, brought in from Bayern Munich in the summer, was ineffective against his former London outfit, with football.london criticising ‘one of his shakier performances’ and branding him with a 5/10 match rating.

Vicario might suffer from crises of judgement, but Palhinha is beginning to solidify as a centre-midfielder lacking in key areas; namely, he is limited in possession and he is not mobile enough.

As per FBref, the Portugal international ranks among the bottom 9% of Premier League midfielders for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90.

These flaws were accentuated against Marco Silva’s side, who only had 37% of the ball but made it count. Palhinha’s inability to break lines and influence in the attacking half played into this.

You would hope, at least, that the tough-tackling midfielder would win his tackles, but Palhinha’s one attempted tackle saw him come up short, lunging into the grass.

The fact that the 30-year-old failed to create a chance and made just the one recovery further emphasises the poor display, too one-dimensional and sedentary in the middle of the park.

Tottenham need more energy and electricity and enthusiasm. Sure, key playmakers are sidelined, but this isn’t good enough.

Change is needed, and it might be time for Frank to repackage his engine room with a new combination.

Frank can unearth his own Dembele by unleashing "generational" Spurs gem

Tottenham can unearth their next Mousa Dembele against Fulham this weekend by unleashing this star.

By
Dan Emery

Nov 29, 2025

Game 7 of the World Series between the Blue Jays and Dodgers had sports fans across two countries biting their nails into the wee hours of the night.

Some of those baseball fans happened to still be enjoying other sports while keeping an eye on the game. Such was the case for fans of the Edmonton Oilers, who were watching their team take on the Blackhawks while also, presumably, tracking Game 7 on their phones and across in-arena televisions.

But this split attention can lead to some extremely difficult moments, especially when the game you’re watching on mute in the background in tied in the ninth inning with a championship on the line. Across the arena at Rogers Place—a four-hour flight or 32-hour drive away from the Rogers Centre in Toronto—a swell of cheering fans took to their feet after a close play at home in the bottom of the ninth inning briefly looked like it might have brought a championship to Canadian baseball for the first time since 1993.

The cheer was so great that the announcers calling the game on television called the Blue Jays champions, before quickly needing to rescind the title.

In a heartbreaking turn of events, not only was that not the championship-winning play, but the Blue Jays would ultimately fall to the Dodgers in extra innings.

Baseball fans will never forget where they were watching the Dodgers win the 2025 World Series. For a select few Oilers fans, they’ll never forget when the Blue Jays briefly won the 2025 World Series too.

Celtic are in the market for a new manager and look set to ramp up their search over the international break, albeit they also seem to be hunting for January reinforcements.

Following Brendan Rodgers’ departure, the Bhoys have placed Martin O’Neill in interim charge, and his brief spell has only acted to enhance his reputation among supporters after his first time in the dugout at Parkhead.

The 73-year-old kicked off his second tenure with victories over Falkirk and Rangers before a defeat to FC Midtjylland put the cat among the pigeons regarding Celtic’s attempts to get out of the Europa League league phase.

Callum Osmand’s hamstring injury sustained against the Danish outfit only compounded matters, given he is likely to be on the sidelines for a lengthy period.

However, Celtic returned to winning ways with a convincing 4-0 victory over Kilmarnock on Sunday afternoon, with his striking counterpart Johnny Kenny stepping up to the mantle again with a fifth goal in 11 appearances this season.

Speaking after the match, O’Neill made it clear that he expects to be made aware of whether the Hoops are set to imminently appoint a new manager over the international break amid speculation that he could stay on until the end of the season.

He said: “I have to go back down to London again, I’m going to go into a darkened room and come out on Thursday and say, ‘has this really happened’. So I should imagine at some stage or another during the course of the next week, whether it be tomorrow, whether it be Saturday or Sunday of next week, that somebody will let me know what’s happening.”

For now, Celtic will take some time to reflect on a successful recent upturn in form, though they already appear to be firmly in the market for January reinforcements regardless of who is in the dugout.

Celtic set to move for cut-price Stefan Ortega in January

According to the Star on Sunday (print edition, 09/11/2025), Celtic are set to move for Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega in January and could land the 33-year-old for a bargain fee of £500,000.

Providing an explanation, he is out of contract at the end of the season and has fallen behind Gianluigi Donnarumma and James Trafford in the pecking order, hence why the stopper may be available for a price that doesn’t exactly reflect his market value.

Stefan Ortega’s record at Man City

Appearances

56

Clean sheets

25

Trophies won

Premier League x2 Champions League FA Cup FA Community Shield Club World Cup UEFA Super Cup

Ultimately, Ortega has become something of a cult hero at the Etihad Stadium since his move to England from Arminia Bielefeld. However, he may fancy a shot at being an outright number one while he is still in his prime as a goalkeeper.

Celtic have a new boss on their shortlist to succeed Martin O'Neill

Kasper Schmeichel is out of contract at Celtic next summer, though it remains to be seen whether the veteran Denmark international will face a fight for his spot from January onwards or whether the Bhoys wait until the campaign is over to source a contingency plan.

Manchester Originals miss chance to close gap on table-toppers as they slump to 16-run loss

ECB Media24-Aug-2025

Manchester Originals missed the chance to take a big leap towards qualifying for The Hundred Eliminator next Saturday after falling to a 16-run defeat to lowly Birmingham Phoenix at Emirates Old Trafford and slipping out of the top three.The Originals, who have never progressed beyond the group phase of the women’s competition, looked strong favourites after restricting the visitors to 111 for 3 but Aussie seamer Megan Schutt (3 for 14) spearheaded an inspired performance with the ball after Ellyse Perry’s second successive half-century and a sparky knock from Sterre Kalis had given them something to defend.Both Originals openers were dismissed for ducks, Kathyrn Bryce run out by Emma Lamb and Beth Mooney falling to a superb running catch by Marie Kelly off Schutt, before Em Arlott snared Alice Monaghan to leave the hosts 14 for 3.That became 14 for 4 two balls later when 19-year-old off-spinner Phoebe Brett had Amelia Kerr caught at mid-on by Arlott. Deandra Dottin and Seren Smale steadied the ship somewhat before Hannah Baker snared the former, caught at long-off as she tried to up the ante.Smale dug deep for her 34-ball 29, eventually caught at short fine-leg by Brett to give Schutt her third wicket, and Lauren Filer struck three boundaries in her unbeaten 19, but the Originals were eventually dismissed for 95 from the final ball of their innings.Earlier, Phoenix skipper Perry had chosen to bat after winning the toss but her team were soon in trouble, Georgia Voll falling for a four-ball duck after picking out Monaghan at deep square-leg off Mahika Gaur.The Originals’ high-class bowling attack was relentless, the visitors crawling to 15 in 24 balls when Lamb offered a simple chance to Dottin off Sophie Ecclestone before Amy Jones succumbed to Dottin to leave the score 17 for 3.Perry (55 not out from 48) and Kalis mounted a rescue operation, the Aussie legend reaching her half-century by dispatching Bryce for six over mid-wicket and Kalis unbeaten on 43 from 39 when the innings concluded on 111 for 3.It didn’t look like being enough against an Originals side which had won their three previous matches but Phoenix prevailed to move up to seventh in the table and push their opponents down to fourth, behind London Spirit on net run rate.The Originals now face a crucial final group match against Northern Superchargers on Tuesday, with the Spirit visiting Oval Invincibles tomorrow.Kalis, the Meerkat Match Hero, said: “It was obviously a tough start; the pitch was doing quite a bit. When I got in, it was a tough situation because we’d lost some early wickets. But Perry and I rebuilt, and I thought it was a good score on that pitch. It was definitely the kind of surface where, once you got in, it became a bit easier to score.”In the end, it was a brilliant win. We had to play really good cricket to defend a low-ish total, and we knew early wickets were going to be key and we got them. Obviously it’s been a bit of a tough campaign for us but what we can do now is play our best cricket and today, we showed what kind of team we are. It was a brilliant effort.”

Hansi Flick addressed Lamine Yamal's angry reaction after being substituted during Barcelona's 2-1 win against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Tuesday evening. The Barcelona wonderkid was withdrawn in the 89th minute for Roony Bardghji, cutting a visibly irritated figure as he left the pitch. His expression remained stern as he walked toward the bench, and he appeared to mutter under his breath in disappointment.

Barca forced to battle after Frankfurt strike early

Flick’s men were made to scrap for the three points on a demanding night at Camp Nou. Barcelona fell behind after just 21 minutes when Ansgar Knauff broke the deadlock, punishing a sluggish first half showing from the hosts. For the fifth consecutive match, the Catalans conceded the opening goal, a pattern that Flick acknowledged remains a concern. But once again, Barcelona’s resilience proved decisive. After the interval, they shifted gears, pressing higher and stretching Frankfurt’s defensive line. The response culminated in two goals from an unlikely source in Jules Kounde, whose adventures in the final third were rewarded handsomely. Marcus Rashford and Yamal provided the assists. 

AdvertisementAFPFlick responds calmly to Yamal’s reaction

Flick addressed Yamal’s irritation to being withdrawn late on in his post-match comments, offering a composed explanation. He confirmed that the decision to remove the winger was precautionary rather than tactical. 

"We changed Lamine with a few minutes to go because he was booked and it was late," Flick said. "If he was a bit annoyed, then I fully understand and I like it. I was a player too. It's fully acceptable, not a problem."

While the manager may appreciate Yamal’s intensity, Barcelona will have to cope without him in their next Champions League fixture. His yellow card against Frankfurt was his third of the current campaign, triggering an automatic one-match suspension. He will therefore miss January’s encounter with Slavia Prague.

Flick also stressed the value of Barcelona’s repeated comebacks, though he conceded the team cannot afford to make a habit of starting slowly.

He added: "Really happy how we come back but sometimes it would also be good to start well and score the first goal. It is what it is."

Kounde revels in attacking freedom

Kounde, meanwhile, admitted he relished the opportunity to push forward. He explained that Frankfurt’s five-man defensive shape left wide spaces behind their back line, encouraging him to attack with conviction.

"My first job is to defend well so I have to keep a balance," he said. "And there are games when we play against a back five, today Frankfurt were very deep, so you have to attack the spaces in behind, which is what I tried to do. I had success with those two goals."

Flick echoed that sentiment, praising the Frenchman’s mentality. 

"It's great to have Jules scoring… his talent and his mentality are so important," Flick said.

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Yamal rewrites the record books

Yamal's assist to Kounde pushed him to 14 Champions League goal involvements, seven goals and seven assists, which sets a new competition record for players aged 18 or younger. In surpassing Kylian Mbappe’s previous benchmark of 13 involvements, the Spaniard has etched his name into elite European company. Notably, Yamal will not celebrate his 19th birthday until July, leaving him with half a season still to boost that record. 

Jeff Kent is headed to Cooperstown.

The former second baseman has been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame class of 2026 after a 17-year career with the Blue Jays, Mets, Cleveland, Giants, Astros and Dodgers from 1992-2008. Kent first became eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2014, and is now making it in over a decade later.

Related: Analyzing the Best Contemporary Era Hall of Fame Candidates: Jeff Kent

Over his career, Kent was a five-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger. The former Cal Bear was a 20th-round draft pick by the Blue Jays in 1989, and finally made it up to the big leagues in 1992. He played for the Blue Jays during their 1992 World Series campaign, but was traded to the Mets before their postseason run.

Kent had the best stretch of his career with the Giants, when he was a three-time All-Star and the National League MVP in 2000 as he slashed .334/.424/.596 with 33 home runs and 125 RBIs. The Giants have honored him by making him a member of their Wall of Fame. Throughout his career, Kent hit .290 and compiled a total of 2,461 hits, 1,320 runs, 377 home runs and 1,518 RBIs.

“I’ve used all my cry rags already. The emotions are overwhelming. Unbelievable. Didn’t even expect it for me,” Kent told MLB Network. “There are so many quality guys … a lot of guys that the committee had to argue through and vote for. Grateful that they considered me and gave it a shot for putting me in. 

Meanwhile, candidates including Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, Gary Sheffield and Fernando Valenzuela did not receive enough votes to be elected into the Hall of Fame. Bonds, Clemes, Sheffield and Valenzuela all received fewer than five votes, and will not be eligible for the Hall of Fame again until 2031.

AC Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot is set to return from injury for Sunday’s high-stakes derby against Inter. The Frenchman missed nearly a month due to a calf tear but is back in full training ahead of a crucial clash that could shape the Scudetto race. Rabiot’s return promises to restore balance in Milan’s midfield as they aim for a decisive result against city rivals.

Rabiot ready to rejoin Milan midfield

Rabiot has been sidelined for almost a month after suffering a soleus muscle tear in his left calf while on international duty with France. Milan struggled in his absence, claiming just two victories and three draws in Serie A, highlighting how pivotal the French midfielder has become since joining the club from Marseille on deadline day.

The 30-year-old has now completed a full training session with the squad and is preparing to make a return in Sunday’s Milan derby against Inter. His presence promises to bring the composure, technical skill and defensive stability that have been missed during his spell on the treatment table.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesRabiot speaks on return for Milan derby

The ex-Juventus midfielder reflected on his recovery and expressed excitement about getting back on the pitch, speaking to , he said: “I'm fine, I've worked in the gym and off it these past few weeks. I just miss the pitch! I'm feeling great both physically and mentally. No athlete likes being injured, I'm sorry I couldn't help the team during this period. I took a little longer to recover, because when it comes to calves, you have to be careful. It's better not to risk being out for another three or four weeks."

Rabiot also shared his thoughts on the upcoming Milan derby and the atmosphere surrounding one of Italy’s most intense fixtures: "It's an exciting match. I've never seen it at the stadium, but I can't wait to be there because I really enjoy these kinds of games. You don't really get a sense of the atmosphere on TV, but it'll be great to be able to say I played in a derby like this. It would be great to win in the last minute with a goal from you! It'll be tough; we're both strong teams. The details will be decided. 

He added: "[Mike] Maignan told me about the importance of this match, how crucial a win is for the club's history and for the fans. All of this is pumping me up, I can't wait to play, especially because I haven't played in a month and I'm really eager to get back on the pitch."

Rabiot’s role in Milan’s Scudetto challenge

Rabiot has been a key figure in Rossoneri's midfield since his arrival, combining technical quality with tactical discipline to connect defence and attack. His box-to-box play ensures the team remains balanced while driving forward with confidence, something Milan have missed in his absence. His calmness on the ball and ability to control the tempo of matches adds a crucial edge, particularly in high-pressure games like the derby.

On the Scudetto race, Rabiot remains focused and grounded despite the early hype: "It's still a long way to go. There are a lot of games between November and December, including the Super Cup, which is one of our goals. We'll have a rough idea of how far we can go by February. With my mentality, I try to push all my teammates to give their all; we're a good group. The important thing is to stay close to first place, but it's still a long way to go. There are a lot of games between November and December, including the Super Cup, which is one of our goals. We'll have a rough idea of how far we can go by February."

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Getty Images SportRabiot set to make impact in Milan derby

All eyes now turn to Sunday’s Milan derby, where Rabiot is expected to make his return after a month out. His presence could be decisive in one of Italy’s most intense fixtures, with both teams vying for city bragging rights and crucial Serie A points.

Beyond the derby, Rabiot’s performances over the coming weeks will play a key role in determining Milan’s momentum in the Scudetto race. The French midfielder aims to restore balance, drive the team forward, and help secure victories in both domestic and European matches. His fitness and form will be crucial in shaping Milan’s season as they navigate a challenging schedule.

West Ham United are now eyeing a January move for Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller, who is also being targeted by the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United.

West Ham risk being cut adrift if their form doesn’t start to improve soon, with Nuno Espirito Santo so far being unable to instigate a major turnaround in results, and they have another tough test on the horizon against Newcastle United later today.

The 2-1 loss against Leeds United last time out could prove to be a real six-pointer at the end of the season, and the Hammers looked particularly weak in midfield, with Andy Irving and Tomas Soucek both struggling.

Both midfielders lost the majority of the duels they contested, with Irving winning just one of five, while they also failed to create a big chance throughout the match, which suggests Nuno may need to strengthen his options in the middle of the park this January.

The need to bring in a new midfielder is also exacerbated by Guido Rodriguez not being part of Nuno’s plans, with the midfielder being benched for the majority of the campaign, having seemingly failed to impress the manager.

West Ham eyeing move for Angelo Stiller

According to a report from Fussball Europa (via Sport WItness), West Ham are now eyeing a January move for Stuttgart midfielder Stiller, who could be brought in to replace Rodriguez, if they are able to move the 31-year-old on.

The £75k-a-week midfielder wants to leave this winter, and the Hammers are eager to get him off the books, with the German maestro being targeted as a direct replacement.

David Sullivan & co clearly mean business, given that the 24-year-old is held in very high regard, with the likes of Man United and Real Madrid also being named as potential suitors.

Once lauded as “special” by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley, the central midfielder has been tipped to go on and play for a big club by Ben Mattinson, given his ability to dictate the tempo.

As such, it is somewhat difficult to envisage West Ham competing for the Germany international in January if they don’t claw themselves out of relegation trouble beforehand, but it would be a major statement of intent if they were able to get a deal done.

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The Stuttgart star is particularly impressive at setting up chances for his teammates, placing in the 98th percentile for assists per 90 over the past year, having averaged 0.30.

Stiller could be a real difference-maker in the Hammers’ quest to avoid relegation, but results must start improving soon if they are to tempt him into a move, starting against Newcastle today.

Fabrizio Romano shares update on Lucas Paqueta's West Ham future