Premier League Q&A: All the latest from West Ham plus news from Man United and Newcastle as Mail Sport’s experts answer your questions

That’s it from today’s Q+A. Thanks to our reporters for their insights and thank you for all of your questions.

I was at West Ham’s training ground when the England squad was due to be announced.

Usually, the club gets word when one of their players has been picked, but insiders said they’d heard nothing on James Ward-Prowse or Jarrod Bowen. Lo and behold, neither was included in Gareth Southgate’s squad announcement later that afternoon.

Surprising, in my opinion. What else can Bowen do to earn that call-up?

He’s scored in all three of West Ham’s away games this season! But David Moyes won’t lose too much sleep – he’ll be glad they were wrapped in cotton wool over the international break with both set to be available to face Manchester City.

Earlier in the summer, West Ham used the website TransferRoom, the online marketplace used by more than 700 clubs worldwide to arrange signings, to advertise their needs.

They listed seven positions: left-back, centre-back, defensive midfielder, central midfielder, striker, winger and No 10. They occupied some of those positions in the summer – signing Mohammed Kudus, Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse and Konstantinos Mavropanos – but not all.

Attack was an area they wanted to strengthen at the end of the summer window, to no avail. They wanted a striker, having lost Gianluca Scamacca. West Ham’s jet-setting technical director Tim Steidten even flew to Brazil for talks with Corinthians officials over their 22-year-old goalscorer Yuri Alberto but they couldn’t get that deal done.

Sevilla’s Youssef En-Nesyri was another target. As was PSG’s Hugo Ekitike (pictured). We may end up hearing their names linked again. I’m sure closer to January we will get word of attackers that they like. But in truth, I’d say it was a successful summer. They lost Declan Rice but made four smart signings, in my opinion.

I’ve been told that Edson Alvarez is expected to be the last West Ham player to return from international duty. He played for Mexico overnight in Atlanta, Georgia, United States – a 3-3 draw with Uzbekistan – and is apparently only due back on Thursday afternoon.

He was crucial in West Ham’s win over Luton. Kurt Zouma and Lucas Paqueta were outstanding in that 2-1 victory but Alvarez was an underrated man-of-the-match contender at Kenilworth Road.

David Moyes will need to make a decision on him and, never one to give too much away, I suspect he’ll say something along those lines at his press conference on Friday. Ultimately I expect Alvarez will start against Manchester City but it’s a tight turnaround for him!

He should. Harry Maguire is no prisoner at Manchester United. West Ham offered him a way out. They bid £30million for Maguire in the summer but ultimately withdrew that offer because they grew frustrated by his lack of enthusiasm.

Word is it didn’t even get as far as David Moyes speaking to Maguire and so they turned to Konstantinos Mavropanos, the Greek international formerly of Arsenal. But West Ham was a fresh start, with a guarantee of game time, with a great fanbase behind him.

Instead he will likely spend this season driving down a cul-de-sac, with no promise of playing, with supporters who can be quick to criticise. He’s still a talented central defender, and I feel some sympathy for him amid the mock cheers from Arsenal and Scotland fans, but Maguire made his own bed by refusing to leave United so now he has to lie in it.

There was some conflicting information swirling around about Jesse Lingard this morning but the bottom line is I’ve had it confirmed that he trained with the first team at Rush Green today.

However, West Ham insiders are now suggesting it is unlikely they will snap up Lingard. The decision is ultimately down to the manager David Moyes, and he is next due to speak at his press conference on Friday afternoon, but I’m not sure a short-term contract is in the offing.

We will know more when West Ham’s Premier League squad is submitted today. If they name 25 players, then any changes before the next window would need to be sanctioned by the Premier League board and they only allow for exceptional circumstances, such as a long-term injury. If they name 24, then there is a space for Lingard to join, if Moyes gives it the green light.

Manager David Moyes should confirm his full-time captain on Friday and we have a big read on Kurt Zouma coming out soon in which I’ve spoken to anyone and everyone who knows him from top to bottom at West Ham – who he is, what made him, and, of course, whether he’s forgiven for the cat-kicking saga of last year.

I’d be amazed if Zouma is not given the armband on a full-time basis. I know that Moyes has consulted with colleagues about that idea – to see whether they think there would be a backlash – but there hasn’t been one during his temporary stint. Zouma has captained the club in four games – winning three and drawing the other – and taken West Ham to fourth in the Premier League.

So I expect Moyes will confirm Zouma as his captain for the foreseeable. He’s definitely a popular choice among the staff, players and fans.

Thanks to Isaan Khan there and thanks for your questions.

Next up is Kieran Gill, who will be answering on all things West Ham

Arsenal fans will be relishing a return to the Champions League next week, with PSV up first. Mockery has been made of the draw — some dubbing it as a ‘Europa League group’ — but the Gunners will have to be cautious.

It is a great opportunity to make real progress in the competition, with the other games against Seville and Lens, though you only have to look to last season. The Gunners beat PSV at home 1-0, to then lose 2-0 away. The Dutch outfit are decimated compared to last time out, but still pose a threat — especially in the air.

It will certainly be near the top of the club’s list once the squad returns from the international break.

Arsenal were already aware of how crucial Odegaard is to the club’s future plans from previous campaigns.

Now, he has started this season off in the same vein. He brings leadership to the table — a trait Arteta is absolutely keen on. With Arteta in charge, he will make sure everything is done to secure a long-term deal.

They are said to be interested in Sporting centre back Ousmane Diomande. The 19-year-old is being chased by a number of clubs, and the interest does make sense.

At present, Arsenal could do with another centre back in case of injury to either William Saliba or Gabriel which would be a big blow

It’s understood that David Raya has impressed the manager in training, and game time is not far away. He is expected to face Brentford in the Carabao Cup. If he performs well, there is no reason why he could not be in contention for the following game against Bournemouth.

From this Sunday, there’s five matches in just over two weeks. That’s a high workload, particularly with European football involved. So rotation will be needed at some point.

It’s a complicated situation indeed. Groans from fans could be heard in the last two home matches. They were particularly noticeable during the United match, after Kai Havertz gave the ball away resulting in the first conceded goal of the game.

The season is only four league games old, so it would be unfair to draw a final conclusion just yet on his prospects within the team. But that negativity is growing, and will only be further affecting his confidence. In a bid to alleviate fans, he did track back more to stick tackles in and find a way to get involved.

That energy and drive to get involved is a starting point for Havertz to get more fans on board. Mikel Arteta will not be giving up on him anytime soon, using many minutes in press conferences to defend the player having spent £65million on him

Gabriel should be fit to feature once again, following his re-introduction to the Arsenal side against Manchester United.

However, it’s not certain, having gone through two injury scares whilst playing for Brazil recently – particularly against Bolivia. So Mikel Arteta may play the cautious approach on this one and start him on the bench. Elsewhere, Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny don’t yet have a return date, and certainly not in contention for this weekend

Thanks to Craig Hope there and thanks for your questions.

Next up is Isaan Khan, who will be answering on all things Arsenal and the latest from the Emirates Stadium.

CRAIG HOPE: In short, we should probably expect to see training-ground and training-kit sponsors in the near future. Commercial growth is at the heart of the club competing with the very best financially, and pushing back the guardrails of FFP.

CRAIG HOPE: They have a big striker in Alexander Isak and, as for Wilson, Howe has found a way to manage his fitness. He has not been injured for more than six months now. Isak and Wilson as a pair of strikers IS working right now, albeit with one of them starting on the bench. They are two brilliant options to have.

I think Wilson still has plenty of goals and games left in him at Newcastle. A younger striker, though, is a position they are considering, someone who can challenge Isak and Wilson whilst not arriving with a huge expectation of immediate game-time.

CRAIG HOPE: I had this conversation with a colleague just this week… Hmm.

Newcastle’s model is signing players on the way up. Players they can identify as value and then develop. Sancho, with wages likely to break Newcastle’s structure, would seem unlikely in that regard.

But would the player benefit from a coach such as Howe? Absolutely.

Is it a project Newcastle will be considering? He will certainly be on their radar.

CRAIG HOPE: A good question, and one I have posed myself. That is not to question Livramento. I think it’s a smart signing and solves a problem (Trippier’s successor) before it becomes one.

He will, I’m sure, be a very good player for Newcastle. But was he what they really needed in the here and now? For me, a right-sided centre-back was more of a priority.

CRAIG HOPE: There have been reports for a long time that a new deal was ‘very close’, and they have always been played down by sources inside the club. Talks have now advanced, we are told, and there could be an announcement in the coming weeks.

Bruno caused a bit of a stir when he told us in New York that there was ‘doubt’ over his contract situation. The sooner it is resolved the better for such an important player who hasn’t started this season at his best.

CRAIG HOPE: He is regularly pictured on his partner’s Instagram taking in the sights, including a few of the coastal spots. Milan doesn’t do beaches – but Newcastle does, and quite spectacularly, too.

He’s not one for too many smiles (as I discovered when attempting a conversation with him in my pidgin Italian in the States in July) but I’ve detected a glow of contentment when by the sea up here.

As for Wetherspoons, that is very near to where I live and I’ll often call in for a bacon sandwich on a Friday morning to write my reports from Howe’s press conference. Although, since Tonali’s visit, it’s harder to get a table now!

CRAIG HOPE: It was always going to be a tough start given the fixture list – Villa, City, Liverpool, Brighton. A return of three points is not the end of the world. However, there are ways to lose games whereby you emerge with some credit and move onto the next one.

The way Newcastle lost at Brighton was a concern. It was a performance so far removed from what we have come to expect of Eddie Howe teams. I was there and it was evident from very early on they just weren’t running as hard and as effectively as they always do.

Their performance was also littered with mistakes. Howe can afford to lose games given the brilliant job he has done. But no manager can afford to lose and play as poorly as they did at Brighton for too long.

Saying that, I have every belief they will bounce back during a big week against Brentford, Milan and Sheffield United. I think they’ll come out of this period unbeaten, at the very least.

CRAIG HOPE: I live on Tyneside and, honestly, the game barely registered in terms of its significance. It certainly wasn’t a game anyone in my social circles had any interest in attending. The crowds of around 5k reflected that, and a lot were ex-pat Saudi nationals who travelled north for the game.

Yes, there was a small protest, which has circulated on social media. But the scene that played out there, one young Newcastle fan arguing with a protester, was an unsavoury one and not reflective of the wider fan base.

Thanks to Mike Keegan there and thanks for your questions.

Next up is Craig Hope, who will be answering on all things Newcastle and the latest from St James’ Park.

MIKE KEEGAN: It won’t make a great deal of difference. While it shows some degree of enduring strength in the business it isn’t a ‘wow’ deal that knocks you off your seat. The Chevrolet deal, for which they admittedly grossly overpaid, was valued at more than this and so it isn’t the kind of development that you could use to try and demand a huge hike in the price those in the takeover process are willing to pay. The fact that the previous shirt sponsors were willing to walk away will also be taken into consideration.

MIKE KEEGAN: Ten Hag said we should expect to see the defender in a few weeks before their clash with Arsenal.

MIKE KEEGAN: He plays on the other side but it wouldn’t surprise me if Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was in the Premier League next season. I know he’s had admirers here, including United, but I can’t imagine he would come cheap and a switch during the season may be unlikely. As for January, a loan move may be the answer to get them through until the end of the campaign.

MIKE KEEGAN: United have been watching Ferguson and monitoring his progress but the same could be said of dozens of players. They are already working two windows ahead, which is pretty commonplace across the rest of the Premier League. For each position they ideally have three or more players on a list which they scout and regularly update.

MIKE KEEGAN: The fact Sancho removed that tweet would suggest that there has been movement in the right direction. The issue for Ten Hag is that the window is closed and the player is still there – so what do you do with him?

Antony’s absence also comes into the mix. With Greenwood in Spain United are not blessed with attacking options. The removal of the tweet could be the first step on what I’d imagine will be a long path to redemption.

Before everything exploded, rumours had swirled about Sancho’s punctuality. Indeed I was told he was due to start against Spurs but was dropped to the bench over certain issues. United denied it at the time so I didn’t write it. It can’t be denied that there have been problems. As I said, it’s a long road but as the proverb goes – every journey starts with a single step…

MIKE KEEGAN: The latest is that we’re approaching a year since the announcement and we still don’t have a conclusion. I checked in this morning with those close to the process on all sides who say it remains ongoing. One source described the Glazers as ‘very patient’ people, which I guess will surprise nobody. Stubborn could be another word you might use.

Have any questions you would like to ask? Leave us a comment below.

Manchester United bidder Sir Jim Ratcliffe insists he ‘cannot contemplate failure’ if he is selected to purchase the club – as the Old Trafford takeover saga rumbles on.

Pictures of Antony have surfaced on social media of the Brazilian relaxing around a pool in Brazil after agreeing to an indefinite leave of absence from his club following abuse allegations.

The move to delete his social media statement – which claimed he had been made a scapegoat at Manchester United – has been welcomed at Old Trafford and considered a step towards repairing relations with manager Erik ten Hag.

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of our Premier League Q+A.

Over the course of the next few hours, we will be joined by Mail Sport’s experts on Manchester United, Newcastle, Arsenal and West Ham as they bring you the very latest news.

First up will be Mail Sport’s Sports News correspondent Mike Keegan, who will be answering all your questions on Manchester United, from 12pm.

If you want to ask a question, you can do so by commenting on the article below or through our social media channels.