Football transfer rumours: Kalvin Phillips to replace Declan Rice?

Today’s tittle-tattle is dazed and confused

So dawns another day of the transfer window, otherwise known as Saudi roulette. Who’s been offered the Public Investment Fund coin now, you ask? Take your pick from Ilkay Gündogan, Riyad Mahrez, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and, well, any Premier League player with a pulse and dwindling time on their contract. Do say: “Wow, what an incredible remuneration package!” Don’t say: “Have you considered the ethical implications of participating in a PR exercise for an extremely repressive regime?”

Elsewhere, with Arsenal feeling bullish about their chances of signing Declan Rice, West Ham are considering possible replacements. Kalvin Phillips has popped up on their transfer radar, bleeping frantically, as have João Palhinha, Scott McTominay, James Ward-Prowse and Harvey Barnes. Having missed out on Phillips last summer despite making a £50m bid, West Ham have a longstanding interest in the Manchester City midfielder. He shouldn’t take much convincing to swap a club with zero European trophies this season – a technicality, admittedly – for the vanquishers of the Europa Conference League.