West Ham United

West Ham are in discussions over a loan move for Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips, according to Sky Sports.

Talks centre on the conditions of a potential deal.

The Hammers are one of several clubs reportedly interested in the player, along with Crystal Palace, Newcastle, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona.

Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo on Divock Origi: "Unfortunately he's injured but all the players in the squad, we have to be aware of the winter window and be ready for everything.

"You cannot put anything aside because anything can happen. At the moment, any player in the building is important."

On transfers: "It is very difficult. This is a difficult window to operate because normally the targets that you really want are not available. The players who are are not in a happy moment. You have to be really careful because what you want is sometimes not what you get."

Brentford

In fairness to Ivan Toney, issues around his suspension have not affected his return.

The frontman said: "I always kept on top of things. I didn't let it go away and try to chase it."

But this is backed up by reality, as there was not much of an acclimatisation process needed when he returned to training in September.

Toney came back to the training ground as soon as he could, with Brentford adopting a deliberate policy of getting him to play a certain number of games, moving up towards 90 minutes, all tailored to getting him as prepared as possible for the Forest game.

Club officials observed Toney was in remarkably good shape for his first training game in October, even though it would be another three and a half months before he could play in a 'proper' match.

Toney's hat-trick for Brentford B against Southampton in a match behind closed doors on 6 January suggested the 'pre-season programme' has worked perfectly.

The only times when Toney has had to work on his own were during international weeks or when the first team were preparing for a midweek match. That time has been put to good use on individual training drills. Throughout this, manager Frank has remained a point of contact.

BBC Sport has a dedicated Brentford page packed with news, analysis and fan views - get it here

Image source, Getty Images

Has Jurgen Klopp been messaging Mohamed Salah while the player is on duty with Egypt at Afcon to find out the extent of his injury?

Well, the Liverpool boss is due to speak at a news conference at 10:00 GMT so we'll see if he gives us any more information on how long Salah is likely to be absent after he limped out of Egypt's 2-2 draw with Ghana last night.

Klopp will, of course, address the other major talking points before his side's trip to Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday and doubtless field questions about transfer incomings and outgoings as well.

Brentford

Brentford boss Thomas Frank on Ivan Toney's leadership role: "Not only this week, the last three-and-a-half years, He is a special character in many ways, he's a fantastic person to be around myself, the staff, the players, the energy he brings, the smile, the positivity, every day at the training ground.

"On the pitch he wants to win, he wants to help the team, of course it’s a massive boost. It's like a new signing. He’s the second best striker in my opinion in the Premier League. Unbelievable commitment, he wants to go out there and help the team win."

Image source, BBC Sport

This is a massive game for all sorts of reasons, with both teams just above the relegation zone.

Brentford have only taken three points from the past 24 available and have lost five in a row in the league, but they have Ivan Toney available again after his eight-month ban,which is a huge lift.

We don't know what condition Toney is in physically and mentally after such a long lay-off, but he has been scoring goals for the B team and in behind-closed-doors matches. Now they need him to do the same for the first team.

Nottingham Forest are 15th, a point and a place above the Bees, after winning their past two league games but they must be concerned about where a possible points deduction would leave them if they are punished after being charged for breaching financial rules.

So, there is a lot for both teams to play for and I can see this being a real battle. Brentford's home form has been disappointing of late, with three defeats in four games, but I am still going for them to edge it, just.

Prediction: 2-1

Read the rest of Chris Sutton's predictions for this round of Premier League games here...

Brentford

Brentford boss Thomas Frank on Toney potentially moving clubs in the transfer window: "As I said earlier in these conferences, it's 99% something, that he will stay here but football is crazy, you never know what will happen tomorrow. He's committed to helping the team, that’s all that’s on his mind he wants to stay here, he wants to help the team. No none at all [offers]."

Does Toney owe Brentford?: "In any partnership, you don’t owe but are committed to each other, we’re committed to him, he’s committed to us."

BBC Sport has a dedicated Brentford page packed with news, analysis and fan views - get it here

Brentford

Brentford boss Thomas Frank on Ivan Toney: "He's buzzing. He's like an eight-year old-boy, he just wants to go out and play. Just that pure joy of playing football. I'm looking into the eyes of a player who is very committed, very excited. He will start tomorrow, he will lead the team out, he’ll be the captain. I'm pretty sure he’ll be ready."

Will Toney be ready to play for 90 minutes?: "I think so. You’ll never know. There’ll be extra adrenaline in him. He's always fighting hard for the team. It will be his first Premier League game but he’s fit. The excitement and adrenaline will do the rest."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Ivan Toney does not lack confidence.

On a six-minute 'walk and talk' wander around Brentford's training ground with in-house media, he strolls through the players' canteen. Ben Mee looks up and asks Toney whether he is available for the weekend, sarcastically stating no-one could possibly know given the amount of interest the striker's return has generated.

"Big dog's back," says Toney, repeating it for emphasis.

Whatever he is feeling privately about his return to the game eight months after being banned by the Football Association for breaching gambling regulations, outwardly Toney's demeanour will be the same; confident, self-assured and light hearted.

"It's massive, no doubt about that," is Brentford boss Thomas Frank's assessment. "It's like signing a Premier League striker who can score 20 goals."

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The first two Premier League managers we'll be hearing from this morning are Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo and Brentford boss Thomas Frank.

Both men are scheduled to hold news conferences in the next few minutes with the sides set to face each other on Saturday evening.

Doubtless the return of Bees striker Ivan Toney will be among the questions posed by journalists.

BBC Sounds

Some Afcon listening for you to catch up on when you have a moment.

John Bennett is joined by former DR Congo captain Gabriel Zakuani and 2015 Afcon finalist with Ghana, Kwesi Appiah.

They discuss Ghana's 2-2 draw with Egypt, which saw Mohammed Kudus score twice but Mohamed Salah forced off with an injury.

They also analyse Nigeria's impressive 1-0 win over the hosts Ivory Coast and talk about the first Afcon hat-trick since 2008. Plus, there's a preview of Senegal against Cameroon.

Listen on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Mohamed Salah had netted a 97th-minute penalty to salvage a 2-2 draw for Egypt against Mozambique in Egypt's first outing, but the forward was a peripheral figure against Ghana before sinking to the turf in frustration and then trudging off.

The injury will be a concern to both the North Africans, who were runners-up at the 2021 Afcon, and Liverpool given the 31-year-old's central role in their Premier League title challenge.

Egypt coach coach Rui Vitoria said: "We don't know yet what is the problem. I hope it is not a big problem.

"Now, I don't know because it is early to see something. I think it is not dangerous but let's see if Salah recovers."

Egypt fought back twice to draw 2-2 with Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations after a lively second half in Abidjan.

Mohammed Kudus blasted in to put Ghana ahead in first-half stoppage time, a minute after Pharaohs captain Mohamed Salah was forced off through injury.

Omar Marmoush levelled but West Ham's Kudus quickly restored the Black Stars' lead with a deflected effort.

However, Mostafa Mohamed stabbed in to give Egypt their second point and leave Ghana winless after two Group B games.

Read more here.

Emilio Nsue scored a hat-trick as Equatorial Guinea closed in on the knockout stages of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations by thrashing Guinea-Bissau.

Nsue slotted in the first-half opener and struck twice after the break for the first Afcon treble since 2008.

Esteban Orozco's own goal sent the sides in level at half-time, but Josete Miranda's strike restored Equatorial Guinea's lead early in the second half.

Ze Turbo netted a consolation for Guinea-Bissau in stoppage time.

Read more here.

Nigeria took a huge step towards reaching the last 16 at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 win over hosts Ivory Coast in Group A.

The match's key moment came in the 55th minute after Ousmane Diomande caught Victor Osimhen in the box.

That allowed William Troost-Ekong to blast home from the penalty spot.

Roared on by a raucous crowd, the Ivorians pushed hard for an equaliser but failed to create a clear chance against a solid Super Eagles defence.

Nigeria leapfrog the Elephants to go second in Group A.

Read more here.

We have a busy day of news conferences coming up with Jurgen Klopp, Mikel Arteta, David Moyes and Roy Hodgson among those taking questions from journalists.

However, let's transport ourselves to the Ivory Coast for a moment and have a quick recap of what happened in yesterday's games at Afcon.

Image source, BBC Sport

Here's a few transfer morsels to whet your appetite for what's inside our daily gossip column.

Manchester United are considering a revamp of their defence in the summer which could mean England centre-back Harry Maguire, 30, and Sweden defender Victor Lindelof, 29, leaving if significant offers are made for them.(ESPN), external

Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim says Chelsea will have to trigger the 100m euros (£85.6m) release clause of Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres if they want to sign the 25-year-old. (Goal), external

West Ham are one of the clubs interested in Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips and the Hammers are well placed to win the race to sign the 28-year-old England international. (Standard), external

Read all of Friday's gossip here...

Just got up? Or maybe you've just got in... Anyway, here's some essential breakfast reading for you this Friday morning.

• Salah injured as Egypt hit back twice to draw with Ghana

• 'Henderson's Saudi Arabia exit ends miserable episode'

• Gerrard: Englishman extends Al-Ettifaq contract until 2027

• Deeney sacked by Forest Green Rovers after six games

The I

Image source, The i

Finally, the i have a story about how Reading's fans have launched a fresh fundraiser to pay for “innovative ideas” aimed at forcing owner Dai Yongge to sell the club.

The paper writes that the "Sell Before We Dai group have campaigned relentlessly since last summer following years of decline under the stewardship of Yongge that has left the club facing relegation to League Two".

They note that protests have "included games halted by tennis balls and fake cash thrown onto the pitch and an advertising van driven around London and parked outside the Houses of Parliament and the EFL’s offices, as the campaigners have tried to draw attention to the club’s troubles".