• Hammers make improved offer for Wolves defender
• Arsenal pay Brentford almost £30m for goalkeeper

West Ham have made an improved offer of £40m for the Wolves defender Maximilian Kilman. Julen Lopetegui is prioritising the signing of a centre-back and has made Kilman his top target. It is thought West Ham’s latest bid will convince Wolves to sell their captain.

West Ham had a bid of £25m rejected for the Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo this week and Lopetegui has decided to return to Kilman.

Reducing press conferences, interviews and meetings with Congress members exposed as damage control measures

For three and a half years, Joe Biden was wrapped in a metaphorical ball of cotton wool by an anxious White House staff eager to protect him from the worst of himself.

Worried about signs of ageing and an increasing propensity for verbal missteps, they cut press conferences and media interviews to a minimum.