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In recent comments made on the West Ham Way Podcast (Patreon), ExWHUemployee claimed West Ham United are interested in a summer swoop for Tammy Abraham.

According to the West Ham insider, Abraham has emerged as a target for the Hammers this summer, with the 23-year-old said to have ‘fallen out of favour’ at Stamford Bridge in recent weeks.

ExWHUemployee also revealed, following recent contract discussions between the club and the £58k per week England international, Chelsea are not prepared to match the centre-forward’s wage demands in the negotiations that could see a renewal to his current deal, which expires in the summer of 2023 – potentially opening the door to the sale of the player this summer.

The Hammers insider claims Abraham is on a list of five or so forwards who Moyes ‘likes’ as we begin to look forward to the summer window.

Transfer Tavern Take

Having enjoyed an impressive start to the season, scoring six goals and providing one assist over his first 14 Premier League appearances this term, the £36 million-rated Abraham has seen his playing time become more limited in recent weeks, as well as his goals drying up – having not scored in the league since the turn of the year.

And, with the sale of Sebastien Haller in January leaving David Moyes with just one recognised centre-forward in his first-team squad, as well as the fact that ExWHUemployee claims Abraham ‘fits the criteria’ of striker that the West Ham boss likes, it would indeed appear that all signs point to the Hammers making a move for the Chelsea man this summer.

In other West Ham United news, many fans wanted this Premier League ace after a contract claim – find out more here!

Phil Parkinson's side have hit a rough patch, but is there really anything to worry about?

"You try and focus on yourselves, but there’s all these apps out there now on your phone, so it is easy to look at the table and the form of all the teams. You just have to be really disciplined and focus on yourself and each game as it comes. I know that’s boring and a cliche, but it is true."

That was Wrexham midfielder Jordan Tunnicliffe's neat summation of the pulsating League Two promotion battle, provided in the wake of his side's 1-0 defeat to Gillingham on Saturday. Since Christmas, the momentum in that particular fight has shifted from team to team regularly.

Now, provided Barrow don't piece together something quite spectacular over the next few weeks, it appears that there are five runners left in the race for automatic promotion: leaders Mansfield Town, Stockport, Crewe Alexandra, Wrexham and MK Dons, with just five points separating those teams from top to bottom.

It's good news for the neutral, with League Two set for one of the tensest run-ins for years. But in truth, Phil Parkinson's side have to regard the last few weeks as a missed opportunity to properly establish themselves in pole position in the race to League One.

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  A concerning dip in form

  That's because Wrexham are currently in the midst of a concerning dip in form. Defeat in Kent this weekend means Parkinson's charges have now won just twice in their last seven league games. There's no reason to smash the panic button just yet, this run did included a fantastic – if slightly fortunate – victory over last season's rivals Notts County after all.

  But this New Year's lull has also included disappointing defeats to Newport County, Salford and Bradford City – all teams marooned in the bottom half of the League Two table. Wrexham were far from convincing against struggling Sutton too, requiring an 85th-minute winner to get past the division's basement dwellers.

  They aren't the only League Two promotion hopefuls who have hit a sticky patch, though. Stockport looked dead certs for promotion before Christmas, but they are now winless in four, opening the door for Crewe and Mansfield to romp up the standings.

  But that shouldn't excuse Wrexham's poor form. Dig a little deeper and there are several underlying issues that will offer Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney cause for concern as the season draws to a close.

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  Paul Mullin not at his best

  The startling underperformance of Paul Mullin is one such red flag. Mullin has scarcely stopped finding the back of the net since arriving from Cambridge United in a blockbuster deal back in 2021. But recently, nothing has been falling for him.

  Mullin has now not scored in seven games, with Parkinson even taking the shocking decision to drop him for recent matches against Sutton, MK Dons and Gillingham. The first time it happened, the Wrexham boss was diplomatic, describing it as a chance for the "special" striker to rest up following a draining few seasons.

  But, explaining Mullin's absences more recently, Parkinson said: "The squad is important and we will just keep looking at that, and freshen it up if we feel we need to." Those comments came ahead of the Gillingham defeat, and the fact that Mullin only came on in the second half in that one seems to suggest that his manager is not completely satisfied with his star man's performances this season.

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  Elliot Lee struggling too

  Not all the blame can be laid at Mullin's door, though. Elliot Lee has also fallen into a bit of a funk. When Mullin was out injured at the beginning of the season, Lee stepped up to the plate, emerging as Parkinson's most-important attacking performer.

  He raced to 13 League Two goals before Christmas, but since then his output has dried up considerably. Indeed, he's only managed one strike since Boxing Day, despite featuring in each of his side's 11 subsequent games. It was an important goal at least: the winner in his side's victory over Sutton earlier this month.

  Like Mullin, Lee found himself relegated to the bench for his side's draw with MK Dons, and the pair's dips in form coinciding almost exactly with when they were handed new, long-term contracts is particularly unfortunate. As is the fact that their attacking team-mates have been unable to fill the void left by their lack of goals.

  January signing Jack Marriott is yet to make the net bulge in six appearances, Sam Dalby seems unlikely to ever be properly prolific at this level, while Ollie Palmer – a key figure last season – seems to have fallen out of favour. Steven Fletcher has at least started 2024 strongly, but he hasn't done quite enough to arrest Wrexham's underwhelming form in front of goal.

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  A lack of discipline

  Widening the lens across the whole season, another worrying trend comes into view. Namely, Wrexham's lack of discipline. No League Two side has picked up more straight red cards than them (four) over the course of the season, with the Red Dragons seeing six players sent off in total. Only Salford and Forest Green – both faltering at the foot of the table – have a worse dismissal record overall.

  Impressively, Wrexham have still managed to win three of the games in which they were reduced to 10 men, but their luck has run out since the turn of the year. Back in January, Will Boyle's early red card for a reckless challenge against Newport County left them with a mountain to climb, and their Welsh rivals went on to win the game 1-0, depriving their opponents of the chance to go top of League Two.

  And then against MK Dons, Boyle again saw red, this time 13 minutes from time. It wasn't quite as damaging, with their hosts being reduced to 10 men themselves earlier in the second half, though it did take the sting out of their attack as Wrexham pushed for a winner.

  In reaction to this latest dismissal, Parkinson bemoaned what he perceives as harsh treatment from referees this season, after MK Dons boss Mike Williamson suggested the media darlings are treated more leniently than their rivals. "I've been constantly this season going through clips of decisions we could have got, penalties or red cards which were harsh against us, but over the course of the season you've got to accept it and it balances itself out."

  Parkinson does have a point in some ways; several of these red cards do seem harsh on second viewing. Then again, some of them been deserved, and Wrexham need to make sure they keep their heads and have 11 players on the pitch at all times during the run-in.

Luis Suarez has revealed he almost joined Real Madrid before Barcelona as a replacement to the then unwanted Karim Benzema.

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• Suarez could have joined Madrid
• Benzema could have moved to Arsenal
• MSN went on to become one of greatest attacks

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  During an interview with DelSol, Suarez opened up on a potential move to Real Madrid which hinged on Karim Benzema leaving to join Arsenal. The legendary Barcelona forward explained how his infamous bite on Giorgio Chiellini in the 2014 World Cup and subsequent ban turned Los Blancos off a move for him and meant Benzema stayed in Madrid.

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  WHAT SUAREZ SAID

  On a potential move to Madrid, Suarez said: "Before the 2014 World Cup, Real Madrid wanted me as they wanted to sell Benzema to Arsenal. Barcelona at the time was [also] interested and Luis Enrique was pressing.

  "The bite case happened and Barcelona continued to want to sign me despite the punishment. I will always be grateful for that."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Suarez went on to join Barcelona and form a front three with Messi and Neymar which became one of the greatest attacking trios in the sport's history. However, Madrid's patience with Benzema did come true eventually and the Frenchman departed the club having won a Ballon d'Or, five Champions Leagues and four La Liga titles. Arsenal, meanwhile, signed Danny Welbeck that summer and have yet to really solve the striker problem that has plagued them for years.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR SUAREZ?

  Suarez has recently signed for Inter Miami and has joined up again with Lionel Messi. Had the Uruguayan made that move to Madrid to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, he may well have been tempted to join Al-Nassr instead.

Aston Villa midfielder Jordan Nobbs fired in a spectacular winning goal with the outside of her boot against Tottenham on Sunday.

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• Villa faced Tottenham in WSL
• Nobbs smashed in great goal
• Sealed the win for her team

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  With the Women's Super League match tied at 1-1 at the hour mark, Spurs failed to clear a corner and it fell to Mayumi Pacheco, who teed up Nobbs with a simple pass. The England international then lashed it into the top corner with the outside of her boot from 20 yards out, sparking wild scenes of celebration.

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• WATCH THE CLIP

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Nobbs, 31, proved to be the star for Villa in the absence of suspended hero Rachel Daly. She almost got a second goal later in the game but saw her effort hit the woodwork. Nevertheless, her side held on to secure the three points to ensure they remain eighth in the WSL table – level on points with Leicester and three behind Spurs.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ASTON VILLA?

  Nobbs and her fellow Villa stars have almost two weeks to prepare for their next test – a home game against Liverpool in the WSL. The Reds are fifth in the table after beating Brighton in their WSL match this week.

Many Liverpool fans have been left to flock to a transfer admission from Sasa Kalajdzic.

Speaking to Sport Bild, the Stuttgart striker admitted that he would find it hard to turn down a move to the Anfield faithful should the Merseyside club come in with a bid in the summer window.

Kalajdzic has scored no fewer than 13 goals and made a further four assists in 26 games in total over all competitions so far in the 2020/21 term (Transfermarkt), and has a whopping six-foot-six-inch frame, which would certainly offer Jurgen Klopp’s team something a little bit different in the attacking third of the pitch.

Given that he is so tall, the Austria international should have no problems at all whatsoever coping with the physical demands of the Premier League, and so he may be a player that the Reds should certainly want to keep an eye on.

Liverpool fan reaction to Kalajdzic transfer admission

These Kopites urged LFC to go out and buy the 23-year-old on Twitter after his transfer admission:

“Oh my god this would be a dream move aaaaahhhhh”

Credit: @Bennet24_LFC

“Take him all day to add something to our game.. when things aren’t happening on the floor we can go long an he’d be a threat on corners. Looks like he knows we’re the net is as well”

Credit: @Paul_Dicko_LFC

“Sell Origi and get this guy in”

Credit: @HarrisonLukeW

“If we signed a 6ft7 lad and had Trent whip high balls in we wouldn’t lose a game”

Credit: @ROBSON_THE_RED

“200cm striker get him”

Credit: @DannyZuko03

“Don’t fail me LFC.”
Credit: @salim9081

In other news, find out what Liverpool man is nearing a return from injury here!

Bayern Munich's sporting director, Christoph Freund, suggested that they will return for Fulham's Joao Palhinha after a failed summer move.

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• Palhinha continues to be on Bayern's radar
• Transfer broke down on deadline day
• Freund hints at renewed interest in January

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Bavarians continue to have an active interest in the Portuguese midfielder despite failing to land him at Allianz Arena in the summer. Their previous pursuit could not be finalised by the deadline as Fulham were reluctant to let him go due to their inability to sign a replacement but the reigning Bundesliga champions have not given up on him and will once again attempt to sign the player in the upcoming winter window.

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  WHAT FREUND SAID

  Speaking to , Freund said: "Of course, he is still on our radar. The club worked intensively with Palhinha in the summer. I was there for the bit on the last, strange day of the transfer window, but you can't say yet what will happen. We are generally exploring the market."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Palhinha committed to a new long-term contract with Fulham until the summer of 2028 with an option to extend it by another 12 months. This could complicate Bayern's pursuit as the Cottagers are firmly in control of the player's future. He continues to be an important piece of the jigsaw under Marco Silva and has started in nine of his 10 appearances this season.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR PALHINHA & BAYERN?

  Palhinha will be in action with Portugal against Liechtenstein and Iceland in two Euro 2024 qualifiers on November 16 and 19 respectively. Meanwhile, Bayern will take on Koln on November 24 in a Bundesliga fixture after the international break.

The Los Angeles Galaxy are set to sign $9 million-rated Genk winger Joseph Paintsil in a blockbuster deal.

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• Galaxy set to sign $9m-rated Paintsil
• Ghanaian in LA to secure deal
• MLS side bolster attack with move

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , Paintsil touched down in Los Angeles Friday morning and is set to secure a deal with the MLS side. The Belgian club and the Galaxy have agreed a fee of around $9m (£7m) and the Ghana international will sign a multi-year deal.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Paintsil will be one of the biggest signings in Galaxy history, and he has big footsteps to follow in, too. The likes of David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan have all crafted their trade at the club – and with a price like $9m, there are expectations on the table.

  He has six goals and four assists in the Belgian Pro League in 2023, but scored 17 times and set up 11 in 2022-23 for the club. The Galaxy will hope they can get a similar, if not better, return in MLS now.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Paintsil has been capped by Ghana 15 times, but has failed to score in a single appearance for the Black Stars.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR JOSEPH PAINTSIL AND THE LA GALAXY?

  Los Angeles opens up their 2024 MLS campaign in nine days against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami. Their goal has to be to get Paintsil integrated quickly, so that he can play in their February 25 clash.

At one point, it seemed destined for Burnley to go down this season. However, Sean Dyche’s side’s resurgence following Christmas has been palpable. After being pitted at the bottom for a prolonged period, Burnley now find themselves two points clear of the relegation zone.

The Clarets are unbeaten in six, having taken full points against West Ham United as well as relegation rivals Fulham and Huddersfield Town. The courageous draw at Old Trafford, in which they displayed some exemplary stubborn defending, proved Burnley had regained last season’s form, exemplified in them having kept two clean sheets and conceded only five in last six games.

With defenders Ben Mee, James Tarkowski and captain Tom Heaton in inspired form and striking duo Wood and Barnes scoring again, Burnley’s survival hopes have been strengthened. Dyche’s brilliant turnaround might’ve earned him a Premier League manager of the month nomination, but he needs to keep strengthening his side’s resolve.

In this final stretch, Burnley host top six sides in Manchester City, Tottenham and Arsenal while travelling to Merseyside twice. While the victories against relegation rivals were vital, the Clarets need to keep gaining maximum points to assure safety. In a league like the Premier League, this unpredictable relegation battle could soon turn on their heads.

The Clarets have to dig their heels in and bully opponents into surrendering points. While tough times lay await, Burnley’s recent resurgence indicates that they should live to fight another season in the English top-flight.

Dyche has largely turned it around but he’ll know more than anyone not to get too comfortable if those at Turf Moor are going to stay in the Premier League, considering the run in they have.

The contract talks of Sheffield Wednesday star Adam Reach have been put on hold until the end of the season.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Yorkshire Live’s Sheffield Wednesday correspondent Dom Howson, who revealed in a recent Q&A that Dejphon Chansiri has put the contract talks of Reach – as well as every other Owls player – on hold until the end of the season, despite the fact that these talks reportedly began back in December.

When asked for an update on the progression of Reach’s new deal, Howson said: “From what I have been told, all contract talks have been put on the back-burner until the end of the season.”

A risk not worth taking

Despite Wednesday’s diabolical Championship campaign this season, Reach has been one of the few shining lights coming out of Hillsborough.

Over the 28-year-old’s 42 league appearances this term, he has scored five goals, provided three assists and created five big chances, as well as making an average of 0.8 key passes and taking 1.2 shots per game, culminating in an average SofaScore match rating of 6.83 – ranking him as the Owls’ fifth-best performer in the second tier.

In addition to this, following the appointment of Darren Moore as the Wednesday boss back in March, the £23,000-per-week midfielder appears to have taken his game to a new level, scoring two goals and registering one assist over his 11 appearances under the 47-year-old manager, as well as averaging a SofaScore match rating of 6.99 in the same period.

As such, regardless of which league the Owls are playing their football in next season, the tying of Reach down to a new deal is an absolute priority for Wednesday this summer.

Thus, Chansiri’s risk of waiting until the end of the season to finalise a contract is certainly not one worth taking when it comes to the midfielder Chey Dunkley dubbed a “leader” in the team, as other Championship clubs will undoubtedly be keeping a very close eye on the situation of Reach in the coming weeks.

In other news: Howson drops big transfer claim on SWFC’s “constant threat”, Moore will be gutted – opinion

Watford are plotting a move for Inter Milan’s Ashley Young this summer, according to reports.

What’s been said?

A recent report by Football League World has claimed that sources have released Xisco Munoz’s plans to bring Young back to the club where he started his footballing career, with an offer believed to be in the process of being lodged with the Serie A side.

The report also states that the 35-year-old is interested in the switch back to his old club, who have recently secured their immediate return to the Premier League after being relegated last season.

Past his best

Regardless of how romantic a summer return to Watford would be for Young, there are a considerable amount of reasons why a move for the left midfielder, who Paul Scholes once dubbed as “embarrassing”, simply would not make sense for the club.

Firstly, with Young edging closer and closer towards the end of his career as a footballer, the signing of the 35-year-old would not exactly be a move that screams of the Hornets planning for the long-term, as Young is not likely to have too many seasons remaining at the top of his game.

Secondly, with the former Aston Villa man reported to be on a whopping £91,000-per-week in Italy, if the midfielder were to demand a salary anywhere near this amount of money in a potential switch to Watford, he would comfortably become the club’s highest earner – something that is not likely to please a number of the current squad.

Furthermore, with a number of options already in the Watford side who can comfortably operate along the left-hand side of the pitch, there does not particularly appear a real need to sign Young – particularly when considering how much the midfielder would cost the Hornets in wages.

As such, it would be highly advisable for Xisco to turn his gaze away from a summer move for Young, and rather concentrate on building a team that is capable of surviving in the Premier League on a long-term basis.

In other news: Bye-bye Deeney: Journalist drops transfer news on “magnificent” ace Watford must land – opinion