The Bundesliga may still be on a winter break, but there was plenty of other action across Europe as 2026 got off to a cracking start for some of the continent's elite teams. In England, Arsenal took another big step towards a first Premier League title since 2004 by moving six points clear thanks to a 3-2 win at Bournemouth, while reigning champions Barcelona continue to lead the way in Spain after beating city rivals Espanyol thanks to late goals from Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski.
Raheem Sterling is reportedly not limiting his options to clubs in London as the winger seeks an exit from Chelsea during the January transfer window. Sterling was omitted from the Blues' Premier League and Champions League squads for this season, while he has been training away from the first team and with the 'bomb squad' instead.
We reached the midway point of the Premier League season on Thursday night, with Arsenal holding a very promising four-point advantage at the top of the table as the Gunners look to end an agonising, 22-year title drought, and their chances of doing so have only increased after Saturday's hard-fought win at Bournemouth. Of course, Manchester City are very dangerous chasers - as Arsenal know to their considerable cost - and Aston Villa will obviously be hoping to stay in touch even after their chastening 4-1 defeat at the Emirates on Tuesday.
West Ham were beaten 3-0 by Wolves on Saturday in a result that has left the club in dire relegation trouble and piled more pressure on manager Nuno Espirito Santo. Alan Shearer has called out the "pathetic" performance of the Hammers, as they were beaten by a Wolves team rooted to the bottom of the table and without a single win prior to kick-off at Molineux.
Premier League clubs face unusual kick-off times this weekend, as the New Year's schedule continues apace. Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea are all in action on Sunday, with 3pm kick-offs being aired live on television. GOAL can explain why the kick-off times are out of the ordinary as the year of 2026 gets underway.
Jesse Lingard still believes that he could have revived his Manchester United if given a proper chance to do so following a productive loan spell at West Ham. The 33-year-old midfielder finds himself back in the free agent pool at present, following a stint in South Korea, but continues to mull over what could have been for him at Old Trafford.
West Ham are interested in signing Raheem Sterling from Chelsea in the January transfer window as they aim to climb clear of Premier League relegation trouble in the remainder of the campaign. The Hammers are currently 18th, four points from safety, and are looking to reshape their squad as they look to retain their top-flight status.
The January transfer window is notoriously tricky for buying clubs to manoeuvre in. Sure, willing teams may have the money to spend and financial wiggle room to squeeze some deals in, but their rivals may be less inclined to do business midway through the season with trophies and other honours still up for grabs.
Struggling West Ham United should vacate the London Stadium if they are relegated from the Premier League this season, according to former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie O’Hara. The Hammers are currently 18th in the table and four points adrift of safety following a poor run of form which has seen them fail to win any of their last eight games.
Fans labelled Danny Welbeck as 'embarrassing' on social media after the former Arsenal and Manchester United forward's Panenka penalty hit the crossbar during Brighton's trip to West Ham on Tuesday. Welbeck failed to complete his brace in a span of three minutes in the first half as the Seagulls were held to a 2-2 draw at the London Stadium.
Manchester City have set a low price tag for Nathan Ake, though the Dutch defender has rejected a chance to join Premier League strugglers West Ham United. Ake has experienced limited game time at Etihad Stadium in 2025-26 as he has fallen down the pecking order in Pep Guardiola's backline. The Netherlands international has started in just five matches, with the majority of his minutes coming in the Carabao Cup.
Jarrod Bowen thought his wife, Dani Dyer, was 'joking' when she told the West Ham captain she was going to appear on Celebrity SAS, it has been revealed. Dyer signed up for the show having been forced to pull out of Strictly Come Dancing after breaking her ankle during rehearsals back in September and admitted that she agreed to take part to prove herself.
West Ham fanatic Danny Dyer is being backed to support son-in-law Jarrod Bowen with whatever career choice he makes in upcoming transfer windows. Former Hammers forward Marlon Harewood has been discussing some big decisions with GOAL as Bowen mulls over options that could see him push for a move that would make certain members of his family unhappy.
As we reach Christmas and approach the midway point in the Premier League season, the time has come to reflect on the first half of a campaign that has delivered drama and unexpected twists in abundance. It's also the opportune moment to assess those players who completed a transfer to, or within, the English top-flight back in the summer, with a decent sample size of games now under their belts.
Manchester United have decided to delay a decision on whether to sell Joshua Zirkzee during the January transfer window. The striker has found minutes hard to come by this season, sitting firmly down the Old Trafford pecking order. Summer signings Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha have been preferred as the team's No.9 by head coach Ruben Amorim.
Pure excitement has been the theme of this Premier League season. Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are locked in a three-way title race while practically the rest of the division is competing for a European place. Indeed, the table is so crowded it feels more like the Championship than the top-flight, with back-to-back wins being all it takes to propel teams from 15th to the top five.
The stingy "treat" that Dani Dyer’s husband Jarrod Bowen is allowed has been revealed, with the West Ham captain unable to indulge at Christmas. The holiday season is a busy one professionally for Bowen, with Premier League fixtures coming thick and fast, and that means the England international must steer clear of the excesses that are enjoyed by others.
Former Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard says he is “open” to new opportunities in the January transfer window as he looks to continue his playing career following an emotional departure from FC Seoul earlier this month. The England international has opened up about the “strong legacy” he has left behind in South Korea following his near two-year spell in Asia.
Another sensational performance from Erling Haaland sent Manchester City to the top of the Premier League courtesy of a dominant 3-0 victory over West Ham at the Etihad Stadium. Haaland bagged two goals to take his tally to 19 in the league this season and also laid on the assist for Tijjani Reijnders in a comfortable win which moves them a point ahead of the Gunners.
United States men's national team star Christian Pulisic is set to be joined by Premier League flop at AC Milan in a shock transfer as the Rossoneri's desperate search for a new striker nears conclusion. The German forward has failed to settle in London since joining from Borussia Dortmund and is understood to be keen on an immediate exit in the next window.
The Africa Cup of Nations is back this December and January, with the continent's very best set to battle it out in Morocco as they aim to take Cote d'Ivoire's crown after their unlikely victory at the start of 2024. AFCON's prestige, drama and quality remains up there with the Euros and Copa America, but the downside for European clubs is it's another tournament which falls slap bang in the middle of their seasonal calendar, meaning most teams will be losing players for up to a month.
AC Milan are reportedly weighing up a January swoop for struggling West Ham United striker Niclas Fullkrug as sporting director Igli Tare looks to provide manager Massimiliano Allegri with a physical focal point in attack. The German international has failed to settle in London since joining from Borussia Dortmund and is understood to be keen on an immediate exit, though a return to the Bundesliga remains an option.
Michail Antonio is reportedly training with Championship side Leicester as he seeks to make a sensational return to professional football. The 35-year-old forward has been without a club since being released by West Ham in the summer of 2025. No fresh terms were offered there on the back of Antonio suffering a near-fatal car crash in December 2024. He is not ready to hang up his boots just yet.
Mason Greenwood continues to thrive for Marseille in France, leading to growing speculation over whether a return to the Premier League could be possible for the former Manchester United outcast. Links with a move to La Liga have also gathered pace, while tentative links with both Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United have led to questions after the highly controversial circumstances which led to his exile from Old Trafford in 2022.
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West Ham United
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