Slaven Bilic linked with West Ham return as speculation mounts over Graham Potter future at club – Paper Round

Slaven Bilic is one of three contenders to replace under-pressure Graham Potter at West Ham.

Nuno Espirito Santo and Sean Dyche are also candidates should the West Ham board act.

“But things have got off to an even worse start this season, winning just one of their opening five games in all competitions – including heavy defeats to Sunderland, Chelsea and Tottenham.

“Bilic, 57, spent just over a year in East London as a player, before becoming a fan favourite in the dugout. Hired in 2015, he guided the Hammers to seventh in his first season, before he was ultimately dismissed in November 2017.

“Along with Bilic, Nuno Espirito Santo and Sean Dyche are said to be under consideration, should West Ham’s dismal start continue.”

Chelsea are said to be in contact with the Professional Footballers’ Association as Axel Disasi and Raheem Sterling train away from the first team.

The duo are now expected to leave in January after failing to leave in the summer transfer window.

“The two stars, who the Blues splashed out a combined £85 million on, have been frozen out of manager Enzo Maresca’s squad after failing to secure moves away from the club this summer.

“Having endured a disappointing loan spell at Arsenal last term, Sterling is believed to have turned down advances from both Napoli and Bayern Munich during the transfer window, with the Englishman unwilling to move away from his native London.

“Sterling and Disasi have thereby been left stuck at Stamford Bridge until January at the earliest, with the duo training individually away from the first team.”

The Sun reports that Chelsea executive Casper Stylsvig has left the club with no sponsorship deal agreed.

Stylsvig, the club’s chief revenue officer, had been leading the hunt for a big-money sponsor.

“As SunSport revealed in July chief revenue officer Stylsvig did bring offers to the table from a number of potential backers earlier in the summer.

“But the Chelsea ownership group rejected them because they did not match their £55m valuation.

“And the consortium led by Clearlake Capital is now believed to want between £60m and £65m for the front-of-shirt rights, after the club boosted its profile by winning the revamped Club World Cup.

“A deal of £60m or more would put Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table with Manchester City, who trouser an annual £67.5m from Etihad, and Manchester United, whose tie-up with Snapdragon is worth around £60m per year.”

Phil Jones had been linked with a surprise footballing comeback with Wrexham, but those hopes have been dashed.

The Daily Star has clarified that the former United defender was attending a recent Wrexham game as a guest, rather than as a prospective signing.

“Rumours went into overdrive last weekend when the ex-England centre-back was seen watching the Red Dragons’ 3-1 loss to Queens Park Rangers alongside Hollywood co-owner Ryan Reynolds. The 33-year-old’s appearance with the Deadpool star in a hospitality suite at the Racecourse Ground fuelled suggestions he might be considering a shock comeback from retirement to help Wrexham navigate their challenging start to Championship life.

“However, club director Shaun Harvey has now poured cold water on these claims, revealing that Jones was simply attending as a guest and neighbour of chief executive Michael Williamson.”