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After reportedly reigniting their interest in Francisco Trincao, Leicester City have reportedly returned for another La Liga midfielder – Real Betis’ William Carvalho.

According to Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo, the Foxes are the “most moved” in relation to any transfer deal, with Betis keen to sell due to the financial impacts of the pandemic.

It is not the first time that the East-Midlanders have expressed an interest in the Portuguese international, with reports last summer suggesting that they had agreed personal terms with the player only for Betis to scupper the move.

The Foxes and Director of Football Jon Rudkin would be making a mistake should they try for Carvalho once more.

When observing the Foxes’ squad, there does not appear to be space for the 28-year-old. Wilfred Ndidi is one of the most accomplished defensive midfielders in the Premier League, whilst Namplays Mendy and Hamza Choudhury are more than able deputies should the Nigerian not be available.

It is slightly perplexing then that Brendan Rodgers would elect to recruit a very similar player in the form of the £13.5m-rated Betis man, especially if that investment would be better served elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Carvalho’s injury record is not the most inspiring. Over the last two seasons, the former Sporting Clube de Portugal man has missed a total of 25 matches through injury, whilst having only been afforded 23 starts in all competitions during the same period.

Considering the Foxes’ injury problems this season and the fact that they could be faced with another gruelling European campaign next year, Rodgers will surely want players he can rely on within his squad. Carvalho does not seem like he would be able to fulfill that particular assignment.

If Leicester do indeed return for his signature, they might well be convinced of his ability but on face value, Carvalho is a player they should avoid.

AND in more news, read about another midfield transfer that the Foxes played perfectly…

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Carlton Palmer has suggested that Celtic could look to loan Liam Shaw out after his pre-contract move from Sheffield Wednesday was confirmed last month.

Shaw, whose time at Hillsborough is coming to an end, has agreed to join Scottish giants Celtic in the summer on a free transfer.

With Celtic expected to compete for the league title next season and set to feature in Europe, moving to Glasgow is a huge opportunity for Shaw.

Palmer, though, believes it may have come too soon for the 20-year-old, feeling that he could struggle to get game time at Celtic Park.

Discussing Shaw’s transfer to Celtic, Palmer told FFC:

“Liam is going to struggle going to Celtic that age to play. He’ll probably end up going there and going out on loan, I’m assuming, I don’t know.”

Speaking on the midfielder’s move further, the former Wednesday player added:

“If I was Liam, I’d be wanting to get out on loan somewhere where it’s guaranteed that he’s going to play because you can do that. I’ve done it before where I’ve taken a player when I was manager at Stockport and the manager’s come to me and said, ‘right, listen, I’ll let the player come, but he’s got to play.’ Bit like David Beckham when he went to Preston, that’s how they develop. They’ve got to play.”

Whoever is in the Celtic Park dugout next season will be demanding a lot from Shaw and his future team-mates. The Bhoys have been extremely underwhelming this term, surrendering their title to rivals Rangers while crashing out of the Europa League in disappointing fashion.

Nicolas Tagliafico would be an excellent signing for Leeds United this summer, according to former Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell.

Marcelo Bielsa could well be on the lookout for a new left-back at the end of the season, with Ezgjan Alioski expected to leave the club.

His exit would leave a void in that area of the pitch and Leeds have been linked with a number of replacements, including Crystal Palace’s Patrick van Aanholt.

Another player who has emerged as a reported target is £22.5million-rated Ajax left-back Tagliafico, who has 27 caps to his name for Argentina.

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Campbell heaps praise on Tagliafico

Speaking to Football Insider, Campbell talked up the idea of Leeds making a move for the 28-year-old, outlining his qualities:

“He is a top-quality player. He would fit the bill for Leeds because they are in definite need of a recognised left-back.

“He’s got lots of experience in the Champions League and on the international stage so I think it would be a smart signing.

“Bielsa and his team will be putting their feelers out and identifying players ahead of the summer and they could do a lot worse than Tagliafico, let me tell you.

“From Ajax as well, I do not think they would have to pay over the odds to get him.”

Transfer Tavern take

Tagliafico looks a strong fit for Leeds, with the Argentine possessing a wealth of experience at the top level, but also still having a number of years left in him at just 28.

He has chipped in with a goal and two assists in the Eredivisie this season, while his average of 1.9 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game shows he can shine at both ends of the pitch – that is as many tackles and far more interceptions than Alioski.

Tagliafico’s current Ajax deal doesn’t expire until 2023, however, so a hefty fee may be required to prise him away, perhaps something in the region of the site’s £22.5m valuation.

In other news, Leeds have been urged to sign a Scottish Premiership player this summer. Find out who it is here.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Rob Lee can’t see Steve Bruce selling Allan Saint-Maximin, even if the budget could be low this summer.

Saint-Maximin is Newcastle United’s star player who gets fans on the edge of their seats and Lee thinks it would be criminal if Bruce moved the Frenchman, who was linked with Paris Saint-Germain last summer, on.

The winger has struggled with injuries and Covid this season which has seen him make just 12 starts in the Premier League, something Lee believes could put teams off making a move for him.

Lee admits he hasn’t seen the best of the £38,000-a-week Saint-Maximin this season but has been impressed when the 23-year-old has been on the pitch, and knows how much the fans enjoy having him as a player at their club.

The former midfielder spoke exclusively to FFC and believes it would be one of the worst things Bruce could do as manager if he sold Saint-Maximin.

Lee joked: “No, I think he’d be hung, drawn and quartered if he sold Saint-Maximin.

“It’s not as though he’s been outstanding you know, he’s been outstanding in fits and starts. He’s been 20 minutes here, 20 minutes there.

“He hasn’t done enough to warrant a big enough fee, for someone to come in with £50-60 million. He hasn’t warranted that yet so no one’s going to do that. There’s no point selling him for anything less.”

Saint-Maximin has been a bright spark in Newcastle’s team over the last two seasons, and Lee knows it would not go down well on Tyneside if Bruce was to sell his star asset.

Especially when a lot of the fans have turned on the manager already.

David Moyes should urge West Ham United to trigger their clause to sign Craig Dawson permanently, regardless of the Watford defender meeting the number of games needed to make the deal obligatory.

What’s the word?

According to Claret & Hugh, the Irons hierarchy are 99 per cent certain that Dawson will remain at the London Stadium beyond the end of his season-long loan.

Dawson moved to east London following the Hornets’ relegation to the Championship, after West Ham’s efforts to land Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski and a number of other targets fell through.

The Hammers’ agreement with Watford has always been said to feature a £2m option to purchase the 30-year-old at the end of the season, though is now thought to also feature an obligation based on a set number of appearances.

Both West Ham and Watford are understood to be keeping the exact number close to their chests, but claims coming out of the London Stadium suggest that a deal will go through either way.

Fellow Irons insider ExWHUemployee has also shared that West Ham’s deal for Dawson features an obligation to buy dependent on games played, and that the claret and blue outfit believe Dawson will remain under Moyes’ wing next term.

Dawson had to wait until December to make his West Ham debut when fielded away to Southampton, but is yet to miss a beat in the Premier League since with 10 starts and 900 minutes of top-flight action to his name this season.

The Rochdale-born enforcer also opened two of the Hammers’ three FA Cup ties, scoring the winning goal away to Stockport County in the third round for his first of three West Ham goals across all competitions to date.

Should West Ham retain Dawson?

While the exact number of appearances needed for West Ham’s option to purchase Dawson to become obligatory remains to be seen, what is no longer in doubt is the defender’s importance to Moyes and the Irons’ push for a European qualifying berth.

He certainly had to bide his time on the bench and even out in the cold, having not featured in a matchday squad until Premier League game-week 12, but Dawson is firmly one of the first names on the teamsheet now.

A £2m fee will also prove a bargain for a player who is offering as much as Dawson with the Watford loanee a vocal presence at the back every week, which proved a welcome boost for Issa Diop when the Frenchman deputised for the injured Angelo Ogbonna against Sheffield United earlier this month.

Dawson guided Diop through the game while Liverpool’s alleged January target earned only his second top-flight start since September, and it allowed the pair to form a formidable wall that stayed mostly intact during Sunday’s London derby win over Tottenham Hotspur as well.

Moyes always considered Dawson to be a “fantastic” and experienced defender, who was also singled out for praise by Arsenal icon Martin Keown recently.

“I think Dawson is a great bit of business. Tarkowski was meant to be coming in for £35m and Moyes has said: ‘No, I don’t pay that sort of money’. He came in as fourth-choice and now he’s key,” Keown told talkSPORT.

It will surely take a startling turn of events for West Ham to now pass up on the chance to sign Dawson permanently, especially at such a low fee, even if their option only ever stays an option to buy.

AND in other news, West Ham may rival a top-six Premier League side for a 16-y/o whizkid this summer…

Newcastle United's home St. James' Park is the favourite to host the inaugural Over-35s World Cup.

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• St. James' could host Over-35s World Cup
• Eight teams to take part in the inaugural edition
• Could be held in the first week of June

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The first-ever edition of the Over-35s World Cup is all set to be held in England in June with Newcastle United's home ground St. James' Park likely to host the matches, according to the Daily Mail. The Elite Player Group, who are organising the tournament, recently met representatives of the Magpies and the local council of Newcastle city.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The tournament is all set to feature eight teams – England, Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Uruguay – all past champions of the FIFA World Cup. Players who are aged 35 or above capped by their country or with 100 top-flight appearances are eligible to participate in the competition.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  All eight teams have already revealed their respective captains for the tournament. The leaders will be Steve McManaman (England), Esteban Cambiasso (Argentina), Emerson (Brazil), Christian Karembeu (France), Kevin Kuranyi (Germany), Marco Materazzi (Italy), Michel Salgado (Spain) and Diego Lugano (Uruguay). Full 18-man final squads will be announced soon.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  While the dates of the competition are yet to be finalised, the tournament could be tentatively hosted in the first week of June with the final taking place on June 11 or June 12.

Inter Miami are in pursuit of Houston Dynamo standout defender Franco Escobar as they look to bolster their defense.

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• Inter Miami chasing Franco Escobar
• Argentine played under Tata at Atlanta United
• Herons boss keen for reunion

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Cesar Luis Merlo, the Herons are looking to bring Escobar to South Beach to shore up their defensive issues. Tata Martino is looking to reunite with Escobar, who he won the 2018 MLS Cup with at Atlanta United.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Herons defense has been a focal point of frustration during preseason, conceding sloppy and unnecessary goals across the seven-game stretch. In total, their goal-differential during the span was minus five, with 13 goals conceded.

  Adding Escobar to the mix would immediately bolster the right-back position, while also allowing either 28-year-old or DeAndre Yedlin to insert as a right center-back in a back-three formation if needed. Martino opted for that in the first five games of preseason, but switched to a back-four for their final two games.

  He has been a standout defender for the Houston Dynamo since arriving last January from LAFC. He made 41 appearances, scoring three goals in 2023.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Alongside Escobar on the Atlanta United team that won the 2018 MLS Cup under Martino was current Newcastle United winger Miguel Almiron. The Paraguayan – to this day – has commanded the largest-ever transfer fee for the league.

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• Buda Mendes – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI?

  The Herons open their 2024 season against Real Salt Lake Wednesday evening. USMNT Olympic hopeful Diego Luna will look to lead the Western Conference side to victory over the 2023 Leagues Cup champions and Lionel Messi.

Many Wolves fans were heavily critical towards forward Adama Traore during their Premier League clash against local rivals Aston Villa.

The 25-year-old started on the left-hand side of an attacking three but found himself interchanging with Pedro Neto during certain moments of the game.

Traore has been heavily linked with a move away from Molineux and was slated by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp before the kick-off, astonished that he has not made any goal contributions during the 2020/21 campaign.

Last season, Wolves slapped a £70m price tag on the Spaniard’s head as both Liverpool and Manchester City were interested in his services.

Despite his slump in form, Traore still managed to secure his first set of international caps for Spain, but we suspect the club won’t get such a hefty fee if they decide to cash in this time around.

With all this in mind, supporters lambasted Traore and believe that he has lost interest in playing for Wolves, as you can see below.

Traore in Molineux bad books

“What’s the point of Adama?”

Credit: @csayers83

“Has Adama Traore forgotten he is the fastest player on the pitch?? The man doesn’t want to run this first half”

Credit: @craiglewis1993

“Unless Traore gets the ball to feet he’s useless, offers zero off the ball movement, sooner Podence back the better, Traore is an impact sub only, such a waste of talent, if he hasn’t developed a footballing brain by now I don’t think he ever will.”

Credit: @jamiewalters23

“Maybe Traore could move more, get into space to actually receive a pass”

Credit: @Ashbe_87

“Traore….you really selling yourself at the moment! Dream move back to the championship on the cards !!”

Credit: @Pukkawolf

“Doesn’t offer anything always wants the ball to feet and if he doesn’t get in he doesn’t care. When he gets the ball he either gets fouled gives it away or kicks it out”

Credit: @Jackbar83877495

In other news, Tim Spiers responds to Wolves exit rumours regarding ‘outstanding’ gem.

West Ham United fans are delighted after it was revealed Jesse Lingard has told his Hammers teammates he wishes to stay at the club beyond his current loan spell.

£13.5m-valued Lingard (Transfermarkt) has had a fantastic time during the few months he has spent with the Irons after joining on loan from Manchester United. In 16 games, he has managed nine goals and five assists (Transfermarkt), and he added fresh impetus as the Hammers qualified for the Europa League.

He has been called up to Gareth Southgate’s provisional England squad for this summer’s European Championships (Sky News), and he is set to return to Manchester United once his loan spell in London has come to an end. However, according to reliable Hammers insider ExWHUemployee, he still wants to remain at the London Stadium.

The news was shared on Twitter by @WestHam_Central, and it attracted plenty of attention from the club’s supporters. They took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the Lingard news below

“Never in doubt”

Credit: @whuabz

“So let it be done”

Credit: @LeefromAHN

“Lets go”

Credit: @Zakwatkins2

“GET THIS DONE!!!”

Credit: @Charlie12918777

“Wonderful”

Credit: @WestHamFan1895

“More importantly that means Dec is staying”

Credit: @j_allardice

In other news, West Ham fans are livid at this man’s snub.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has been dealt a huge injury blow ahead of the game against West Ham on Sunday, with Che Adams set to miss the trip to the London Stadium.

It was confirmed by Hasenhuttl earlier in the week that the Scotland international picked up an ankle knock in the defeat to Leeds on Tuesday and will therefore miss today’s match against the Hammers, although he is expected to be fine for the European Championship this summer.

Whilst Southampton are seeking to finish as high as possible with three points against David Moyes’ side, the hosts can secure a Europa League spot with victory against the Saints, so the Irons boss will surely be relieved that one of Southampton’s most in-form players is set to miss the game.

The former Birmingham City striker impressed for Southampton in recent wins against Fulham and Crystal Palace, with two goals and an assist to his name, whilst his partnership with Danny Ings up front has once again been bearing fruit.

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Only Ings has scored more goals for Southampton than the 24-year-old in the Premier League this season, with Adams’ nine goals and five assists in 2020/21 a vast improvement on the four goals and two assists he managed last term.

After struggling to net his first Southampton goal, he finally broke his duck with a superb long-range effort in a win against Manchester City towards the back end of last season. He took that confidence into the start of the new campaign, with four goals and four assists in the opening 13 Premier League games this term.

This led Hasenhuttl to suggest that the striker had gone from “zero to hero” at Southampton due to his role in their impressive start to the current campaign.

Therefore, it is a big blow from Southampton’s point of view to lose him ahead of the final game of the season, whereas West Ham will surely be relieved that he won’t be fit to play.

In other news… Southampton suffer huge transfer blow with “first-class” ace, Hasenhuttl must be fuming