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      Leeds starlet Joe Gelhardt given permission to speak to clubs over loan transfer exit with old club Wigan interested

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      LEEDS UNITED striker Joe Gelhardt will be cleared to speak to interested clubs this week as a queue forms for a loan deal.Gelhardt’s old club Wigan to make a concrete offer to Leeds to pay a part of his wages but several others have expressed an interest and now have to commit.
      Joe Gelhardt has struggled for game time this seasonCredit: Rex
      While Gelhardt is drawn to a sentimental return to Latics, where he was sold to pay bills when they were in administration, there are “bigger” clubs chasing him.
      Stoke and Coventry have come in and joined Blackburn Rovers and Swansea who have been asking for him this month.
      Gelhardt will only go to a team where he can play and Leeds are looking for a fair chunk of his salary to be paid plus possible bonuses.
      Blackburn have looked into Denis Undaz at Brighton as an alternative but insiders reveal they would be the ideal option.
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      Gelhardt, 20, made 21 appearances for Wigan before leaving for Elland Road in 2020.
      He has played 41 times for Leeds, netting twice.
      One of his goals game during an epic 3-2 defeat at Chelsea last season.
      While the other was a memorable last minute winner against Norwich.
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      This season he has started just one Premier League game.
      The youngster is a regular off the bench for Jesse Marsch, but hasn’t played more than 20 minutes in a Prem match since September 3.
      He grabbed an assist in the 5-2 FA Cup victory over Cardiff City this week.
      Gelhardt, 20, scored a memorable goal against Chelsea last seasonCredit: AFP More

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      Liverpool teen Calvin Ramsay wanted by Watford and Swansea in loan transfer with star wanting first-team experience

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      LIVERPOOL teenage defender Calvin Ramsay is a loan target for Championship pair Watford and Swansea.The right-back, 18, has already made his Reds debut after signing from Aberdeen last summer.
      Liverpool are reluctant to let Calvin Ramsay leave on loanCredit: Getty
      And he has done enough to catch the eye of Hornets boss Slaven Bilic and Swans chief Russell Martin.
      Both sides are chasing promotion and believe the one-cap Scotland defender could help them.
      Liverpool are reluctant to let Ramsay out even though he is still in the shadow of Trent Alexander-Arnold and his chances of a start will be slim this season.
      Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has huge faith in the starlet they signed ahead of many rivals and is happy for him to stay put.
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      A heavy schedule of Premier League and cup games in the run-in also means he could be called upon but the Championship rivals are ready to pounce if he becomes available.
      Liverpool are also in talks to extend Roberto Firmino’s contract with the Brazilian in the last six months of his deal.
      It would only be a short-term extension, but Firmino is happy to stay at the club.
      Meanwhile, club legend Steven Gerrard pleaded with Liverpool to sign Jude Bellingham ahead of the draw against Chelsea.
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      He said: “All he needs to do is send his diary to me when he’s got a free day.
      “I’ll fly to Dortmund personally, take him out for a nice dinner, and we’ll talk about it!
      “On the back of the World Cup, what he’s doing out in Dortmund. I’m a huge fan of him anyway. The way he comes across, the way he speaks about the game. Every time I’ve watched him he impresses me.” More

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      Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick wants to snap up Leeds star Charlie Cresswell in £4m transfer amid Millwall loan

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      MICHAEL CARRICK is keen to snap up Leeds centre-half Charlie Cresswell to boost Middlesbrough’s promotion push.Boro would break Cresswell’s loan at Millwall to buy him if the Elland Road club allow it.
      Middlesbrough want to sign Leeds defender Charlie CresswellCredit: Getty
      A fee of around £4million plus extras could work for both.
      Cresswell, 20, has been left out of the Lions side lately but has made 16 Championship appearances this season.
      Boro see him as a long-term investment while Sunderland would take him on loan.
      Cresswell has attracted interest from a variety of clubs in his short career.
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      Manchester United and Liverpool showed an interest in the defender after he broke into the Leeds first-team last season.
      Cresswell played seven times for Leeds in 2021-22 before dislocating his shoulder.
      Norwich were reported to be keeping tabs on the youngster a few weeks ago as they chase promotion to the Premier League.
      Leeds boss Jesse Marsch is a fan of Cresswell and wants him to get games under his belt.
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      Marsch said: “Personality [he] is not afraid of anything. Even the first session we had he was the loudest player on the pitch.
      “[He] does not shy away. He needs to play.” More

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      Newcastle’s forgotten keeper Karl Darlow wanted by Hull on loan transfer after dropping below Loris Karius

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      NEWCASTLE’S forgotten keeper Karl Darlow is wanted on loan by Hull City.Darlow, 32, is the third choice at Toon and if they keep Loris Karius, 29, he could drop even lower in the pecking order.
      Hull City are interested in signing Karl Darlow on loanCredit: Getty
      The Tigers are watching the situation while Championship rivals Huddersfield are also keen.
      However, both would need to rely on the Magpies paying the bulk of Darlow’s £2million-a-year salary to make it work.
      Darlow’s chance for playing time at St James’ Park took a bigger hit as Martin Dubravka’s loan spell at Manchester United was cut short.
      The goalkeeper moved to Old Trafford in the summer to play back-up to David De Gea, but only managed two Carabao Cup appearances for the club.
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      Darlow joined the Magpies from Nottingham Forest in 2014, although he spent his first season back on loan at the City Ground.
      However, he has failed to become the favourite at the club and has only made 86 league appearances in eight years.
      Although, he is now behind former Liverpool flop Loris Karius in the pecking order.
      The German was given a contract until the end of the season despite not playing a game for the club.
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      Hull and Huddersfield are both closer to the bottom of the Championship then the top at the moment.
      Both sides have had leaky defences in the league and would Darlow could help plug the gaps. More

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      Blackpool clash with Huddersfield called off just hours before kick-off as football is decimated by freezing weather

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      BLACKPOOL’S Championship clash with Huddersfield Town has been postponed just hours before kick-off with a host of other EFL matches called off.The game was due to take place at 3pm this afternoon.
      Blackpool’s match with Huddersfield is off due to a frozen pitchCredit: Alamy
      Northampton shared this snap of their pitch when announcing their game was postponedCredit: Twitter @ntfc
      However, the baltic conditions across the country have forced the game to be called off due to a frozen pitch.
      A statement from Blackpool read: “This afternoon’s game against @htafc has been postponed due to a frozen pitch.
      “Despite the best efforts of the club’s groundstaff with covers and lighting rigs, areas of the playing surface have been deemed too hard to play on.”
      The news will come as a major disappointment to Mick McCarthy, who was this week named Blackpool’s new manager until the end of the season.
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      It comes after the club sacked Michael Appleton with the Championship side struggling.
      Blackpool are currently on a run of ten games without a win in the Championship, with their last victory coming in October.
      Meanwhile, just up the road from Bloomfield Road, Morecambe’s League One match at home to Port Vale has also fallen victim to the weather.
      Two other games in the third tier have also been postponed.
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      Bristol Rovers vs Wycombe Wanderers and Lincoln City’s home game with Burton Albion will now have to be rearranged too.
      Peterborough vs Charlton was another late postponement in League One.
      A number of League Two fixtures are off as well due to the freezing conditions.
      Newport County announced this morning: “Despite the best efforts of the ground staff preparing for the current weather conditions with the frost covers being deployed Newport County AFC can confirm that this afternoon’s game at home to AFC Wimbledon has been postponed.”
      Northampton shared a photo of their rock hard surface being inspected this morning as they confirmed their match with Mansfield Town was off.
      Walsall vs Swindon Town and Sutton United vs Crawley are others that were called off earlier today.
      Doncaster Rovers announced last night that their match with Tranmere Rovers had been postponed.
      Barrow vs Salford, Bradford City vs Carlisle, Crewe vs Stockport and Grimsby vs Harrogate are now also off in the fourth tier.
      Up in Scotland, Inverness Caledonian Thistle went viral yesterday as they shared a photo of their pitch and revealed there would be an inspection.

      Responding to the snow-filled stadium, one fan asked: “Who’s inspecting the pitch? Torvil and Dean?”
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      As expected, they later announced: “Following a pitch inspection this afternoon we can confirm that tomorrow’s match against Queen’s Park has been postponed.
      “Unfortunately there was still three inches of snow on the pitch and with temperatures due to go below freezing tonight.”
      This was the scene at Inverness Caledonian ThistleCredit: Twitter @ICTFC More

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      West Brom wonderkid Amihere Idrissa Dauda to make international debut for ITALY in huge blow to England

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      WEST BROM wonderkid Amihere Idrissa Dauda is set to make his youth international debut this week… for Italy.Dauda is already being monitored by big clubs in England and Europe.

      The centre-back, 15, also qualifies for England and Ghana.
      But he was born in Italy and has already caught the eye of the European champions.
      Dauda was the only player not from an Italian club to attend a pre-Christmas tournament that acted as a selection trial for the country’s Under-15 side.
      A total of 88 young talents attended the four-day event as his side won all three of their matches.
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      Now he is in line to play in a friendly against Albania on Tuesday at the Italian federation’s Coverciano headquarters near Florence.
      West Brom will have high hopes for Dauda as their latest academy rising star following the success of first-teamers Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Reyes Cleary who came through the youth set-up.
      England have seen both sides of the challenge of convincing players who qualify for more than one country to choose the Three Lions.
      Both Declan Rice and Jack Grealish represented the Republic of Ireland before switching to England.
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      But Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala played for the Three Lions right up to U21 level before opting for Germany.
      Tariq Lamptey followed a similar path through the England youth ranks but now represents Ghana while fellow right-back Matty Cash secured his Polish passport ahead of the World Cup.
      Reyes Cleary progressed through the West Brom academyCredit: Getty
      Jamal Musiala ditched England to represent GermanyCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More

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      Chuba Akpom hungry for second shot at big time as he returns to scene of Arsenal debut in Middlesbrough’s promotion push

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      CHUBA AKPOM returns to the stadium where he made his Premier League debut for Arsenal tomorrow.And the Middlesbrough striker — who was 17 when he came off the bench at Sunderland in 2013 — is hungry to get back to English football’s top table.
      Chuba Akpom has been sensational for Middlesbrough this season
      Chuba Akpom in action during his Arsenal days
      Akpom managed four Premier League appearances off the bench as well as one start in the League Cup and seven sub outings in the cups.
      And the now 27-year-old has been on fire this season at Middlesbrough — scoring 13 league goals and is attracting interest from a number of top-flight clubs.
      And Akpom said: “I’d love to get into the Premier League with Boro. Playing in that league has always been a big dream, having had a taste at Arsenal.
      “But to be able to go in there as a mature player with more experience would be amazing.
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      “It was incredible coming through at Arsenal. It taught me so much — all my technical and physical abilities are from Arsenal.
      “I was so lucky because I was in the first-team from the age of 17 so had to turn into a man quite early and I then went into my first loan when I was 18. Things happened quickly for me but I’m grateful for everything they did for me.”
      Akpom is a lifelong Arsenal fan and even played alongside current boss Mikel Arteta.
      And he said: “Mikel was such a leader. He didn’t need to shout on the pitch, it was off the field where he really led. He was always making sure everyone was doing things properly.
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      “It’s no surprise to see him so successful as a manager because you could see he had those qualities as a player. Because I’m an Arsenal fan, it makes it even better.”
      One manager who is also flying right now is Carrick.
      Since the former Manchester United and England international took over after Chris Wilder was sacked, Boro have been racing up the Championship.
      After losing his first game in charge at Preston in October, the team were fourth bottom. But a run of eight wins and a draw from the next nine league games have seen them shoot to fourth top going into tomorrow’s trip to the Stadium of Light.
      And Akpom said: “The best thing about it is having a manager you can relate to. He was a professional player at the highest level and was successful in what he did. 
      “He knows how the players feel and how they deal with things. He knows the best way to communicate and get the best out of us.
      Chuba Akpom enjoyed his football education at Arsenal
      Michael Carrick has been a breath of fresh air for Chuba Akpom
      “The new manager has completely changed things around. He immediately brought in that calmness – everyone talks about it. And it’s not just his calmness, he’s also very determined. You can see why he had such a successful career.
      “We’ve set a standard now with our performances and whenever we go a bit below that the gaffer is on to us.
      “For example we beat Blackburn 2-1 away and we’d always happily take three points at Ewood Park.
      “But when we got into the changing room, the gaffer was frustrated at how we dealt with the game because they were reduced to 10 men.
      “We got the three points, a difficult place, but the gaffer was not happy. That shows how high his standards are and how ambitious he is.”
      It was incredible coming through at Arsenal. It taught me so much — all my technical and physical abilities are from Arsenal.Chuba Akpom
      And Akpom has no doubt Carrick will emerge as a top boss just like Arteta did.
      The forward added: “Definitely, he’ll become a top manager — especially working with young players. They are the future. He is the perfect person for that. He is always positive. When something bad happens, he isn’t dwelling on that.
      “Even when something good happens he doesn’t dwell on that either.
      “He is always thinking how can we get better, how can we improve as a team and individually? I think and hope he’ll have a successful managerial career in the future.”
      One of the most satisfying moments Akpom enjoyed this season was his Boxing Day hat-trick in a 4-1 win against Wigan. It helped him win the SkyBet Championship player-of-the-month award for December.
      It was only his second career hat-trick — and came almost seven years after his previous one in January 2016 for Hull in the FA Cup against Bury.
      And he has revealed how the matchball was immediately commandeered by his two-year-old son Azai.
      Chuba Akpom won the SkyBet player of the month gong for December
      He said: “I cannot believe it’s been so long since I last got one. But to score it on Boxing Day in front of a full stadium was perfect.
      “My son was kicking it around as soon as I got back home. I wanted to nicely frame it but he has already got dirt all over it!”
      With all the interest from Prem clubs, Boro have sensibly taken out their one-year option to extend his contract beyond this season.
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      Akpom said: “I’m happy at the club and cannot complain. Everyone is positive with me and friendly. There are good vibes going round the whole club. 
      “I’ve got my feet on the ground and trying to work hard to continue the form I am in so it’s all smiles from me!” More

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      Sheffield United slapped with transfer BAN as EFL investigates claims of non-payment of historical signings

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      SHEFFIELD UNITED have been slapped with a transfer ban.The promotion-chasing Championship side sit second in the table and look well on course to go up with Burnley.
      Paul Heckingbottom’s Sheffield United have been placed under a transfer embargoCredit: PA
      However, they will not be able to make any new signings as the EFL investigates claims of non-payment of historical transfer fees.
      United have breached EFL guideline 52.2.3, which concerns the default of payments to another club “under a transfer or compensation arrangement”.
      It is understood this relates to unpaid debt or failure to stick to agreed payment structures for incoming players.
      Therefore, the club has essentially been blocked from spending more money on transfers until they have paid their outstanding fees.
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      Fellow Championship club Cardiff City were also placed under a transfer embargo last month.
      That was after the Bluebirds refused to pay the first instalment of the £15million fee to tragic Emiliano Sala’s previous club Nantes.
      The latest news, though, comes as a major blow for the Blades with boss Paul Heckingbottom unable to add to his squad in the January transfer window.
      Heckingbottom had been desperate to bolster his attack with new additions before the end of the month.
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      The transfer embargo adds to the woes already surrounding United.
      The Blades are unable to complete their usual pre-match preparations because their new training ground pitch is still not ready, while the club are reluctant to overuse the Bramall Lane pitch.
      Heckingbottom, whose side host Hull tonight, said: “We’ve changed things today, training-wise.
      “I have to manage myself and adapt to do things we don’t normally do, with not being able to deliver it in the same way.
      “Time-wise, it’s still not at the level where we can play competitively on it.
      “Usually I would have gone from unopposed tactical sessions into opposed sessions, where I see people making decisions.
      “That’s the bit we are going to have to compromise on.” More