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West Ham United must look to revive their failed bid to sign James Tarkowski after Burnley boss Sean Dyche hinted the defender’s head was turned by the transfer speculation this summer.

What’s the word?

According to Sky Sports, the Hammers saw an improved bid worth up to £30million snubbed by Burnley as the Clarets were under no pressure to sell their most-prized asset.

West Ham were willing to pay an upfront £20m in order to secure the signature of the two-time England international, or pay £23m with no future add-ons for a player who played every minute of Burnley’s 2019/20 Premier League campaign.

The Irons offer came after seeing an initial bid worth in excess of £20m rebuffed, as boss David Moyes was keen to land the 27-year-old amid hopes of using the £18m raised from Grady Diangana’s sale to strengthen his centre-back options.

Leicester City were also a keen suitor in the hunt for Tarkowski’s services this summer, and likewise saw a £30m bid rejected.

Tarkowski has now put the transfer interest behind him, but Burnley boss Dyche’s comments on the speculation which surrounded the defender’s future suggest his head was turned.

“I didn’t feel he wasn’t fully focused,” Dyche said, via quotes by LancsLive. “It’s tough for players. They have a lot of noise around them, even more so than ever, certainly way more than in my day, although I was no good!

“They’ve got media streams, social media, rumours, conjecture all going on all the time. So it’s more difficult for players now, I believe. But Tarky is a top pro. He always has been since we got him in here.

“I’m sure he’s focused and committed to what’s going on here now. It’s probably helpful to close the window down to clear up any situations that are spinning around on the outside, the noise as I call it.”

Should West Ham revive their Tarkowski pursuit?

With Burnley holding firm in demanding £50m for Tarkowski this summer, West Ham were never a realistic destination for the 27-year-old given the Hammers’ financial situation which made offloading high-earners pivotal to any potential spending.

But the Irons could not find permanent suitors for the likes of Felipe Anderson or Manuel Lanzini, and ultimately had to sell Diangana to raise some funds which were later put toward the capture of Said Benrahma.

If 2021 plays out differently, though, and West Ham are blessed with a greater war chest come the summer, Tarkowski’s situation is one that the Hammers’ ownership of David Gold, David Sullivan and Karren Brady must look to reconsider if the defender’s head was turned by the potential of a move to the London Stadium.

While the start of Tarkowski’s 2020/21 campaign was delayed due to a toe injury, his relentless game time in the previous term ensured he ranked first among all Premier League defenders for clearances (200), aerial duels won (198), second for shots blocked (47), seventh for interceptions (63) and 12th for ground duels won (109), per SofaScore.

It would take a dramatic turn of events for Tarkowski not to similarly impress this season, and make his situation one that clubs like West Ham will explore again with the 27-year-old’s £50,000-per-week contract due to expire in 2022.

AND in other news, a £27m-rated West Ham man must utilise the east London outfit’s transfer failings to his advantage.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Tottenham Hotspur icon Gary Mabbutt has slammed Jose Mourinho’s decision to offload young right-back Kyle Walker-Peters during the summer transfer window.

The 23-year-old came through the academy ranks, making his full senior debut back in 2017 against Newcastle United, where he was even awarded the Man of the Match award after an impressive maiden bow.

But after a total of 24 appearances and the £15m arrival of Matt Doherty in north London, the Englishman was deemed surplus to requirements by the Special One, and was sold permanently to the club at which he was on loan at the season prior – Southampton.

They paid just £12m, as per the BBC, with ex-skipper Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg also going in the other direction.

Mabbutt believes it was a “strange” decision given just how much potential Walker-Peters has at his feet, he told FFC:

“I was a Kyle Walker-Peters fan. I thought when he was coming through the ranks, I felt he was a player who could stake a claim for that position. It didn’t really happen as I expected it was going to.

“There are a lot of things that managers will get to know that you’ll never know and the fans will never know.

“I thought it was strange that a player of his ability was leaving the club, but we were bringing other players in who it was clearly felt could do maybe a job they were needing perhaps more of in that position.

“But I think he’s got a great future ahead of him, and for Southampton fans, I think he’s a great acquisition for them.”

The 11-time England U21 international has since gone onto become a regular under Ralph Hasenhuttl, starting all six matches in the Premier League this season.

In 540 minutes of action, Walker-Peters has delivered one assist, which actually came against Spurs in gameweek two whilst he has also averaged 2.2 tackles, 1.8 dribbles and 1.5 interceptions per appearance, via WhoScored.

Doherty has been averaging fewer tackles (1.8), dribbles (0.8) and interceptions (1.3) than the Saints star, so perhaps Mabbutt is right to question the decision to sell him so soon.

AND in other news, Gary Mabbutt tips £50k-p/w monster for Spurs captaincy, not Kane…

Leeds are trying their luck on the transfer market but it isn’t a new player they’re after. Andrea Radrizzani and co have eyed Steven Gerrard as their hot pick to replace Marcelo Bielsa at the hilt of the club.

That’s according to Football Insider, who report that this is now the third time the Whites have had the Rangers boss on their radar. The Scottish outfit are currently leading the way in the Premiership and are ahead of Celtic by nine points. If Gerrard leads Gers to their first title in nine years, he will undoubtedly have a lot of clubs circling him.

The Anfield icon is a very popular man already and league success will only further propel him into the spotlight. Leeds must act fast if they want to be the ones to snap up the 40-year-old.

Would Gerrard be a good fit for Leeds?

As it stands, Bielsa is only contracted at Elland Road for this season and will be free to walk way next summer if he so wishes. The Argentinian has been with the club since 2018 and helped guide them to their long-awaited return to the Premier League. However, his recent short extension paints more of a worry than a boost for Whites fans. Just how long will he stay with the Yorkshire outfit before he makes another of his trademark moves?

Bringing Gerrard in to replace Bielsa would not only add a fresh mentality, but it will raise the status of the club as a whole. Former Rangers player Thomas Buffel believes that the ex-Liverpool midfielder is a “demanding” manager who gets results.

“He’s brought his football knowledge and his experience of a physical game to the team, which is key away from home, and it works,” the Belgian told DH. “I met him a few months ago. He’s a gentleman and a winner. I would have liked him to be my manager… and even more my teammate.”

Gerrard’s popularity in the Premier League will be a beacon for Leeds, especially coming in and facing former rival Frank Lampard in a battle of the English managers. If Bielsa opts not to stay at Elland Road, this would be a very strong avenue to go down.

In other news, Harry Wilson’s Wales performance will have Orta and Bielsa green with envy…

Leeds United could be free to strike on one of their long-time transfer targets this January.

According to Football.London, the Whites’ top-flight rivals, Arsenal, have not made contact with Norwich City over a move for their playmaking maestro, Emi Buendia.

They claim that any deal is very much dependant on the Championship outfit, though he is a player that is on their list of potential targets, meaning the Yorkshire giants will have to strike if they are to make amends for missing out on him, not just once, but twice.

Buendia joined the Canaries from right under Leeds’ nose in the summer of 2018 as he enjoyed a breakthrough campaign on loan to Cultural Leonesa, who are affiliated with the Elland Road-based side.

Norwich’s sporting director told the Telegraph about the transfer last year, he revealed: “We literally found him from nowhere. The most interesting part of it is that Buendia was on loan at Cultural Leonesa, who are owned by Leeds. Luckily we got in there under Leeds’ noses.”

While in the latest transfer window, United were linked with a move for the uncapped Argentine once again.

The Athletic’s Phil Hay claimed in June that the club have made an enquiry for Buendia, even if it was “only a small ask,” the intent over a potential swoop was there.

At just 23, he could be a perfect fit for what Marcelo Bielsa is trying to do in Yorkshire.

In the Premier League last season, only Man City sensation Kevin De Bruyne averaged more than Buendia’s 3.3 key passes per 90 minutes whilst only three other players managed to create more chances (the Belgian, Jack Grealish and Trent Alexander-Arnold) yet he finds himself enjoying another campaign in the second-flight.

The attacking midfielder has contributed to seven goals in 11 starts already, recording 3.2 key passes, three shots and 1.3 dribbles per appearance, via WhoScored.

It’s no wonder Canaries boss Daniel Farke once lauded Buendia as a “game-changer” as without him, they may not be sitting at the top of the tree in the Championship.

Orta may well be inclined to pull the trigger on Jack Harrison in January, but first, he should look to make amends to his nightmare over Buendia. It may come at a reported cost of £25m, but a creative player like that needs to be at Leeds in the Premier League.

In fact, both this and last season, the Argentine managed more key passes than Harrison, as per WhoScored. He should be a top priority with Arsenal yet to make contact.

AND in other news, Leeds dodged an almighty bullet in £27m flop this summer…

Dominic Calvert-Lewin was left a passenger of Carlo Ancelotti’s defensive tactics as Everton beat Chelsea 1-0 on Saturday.

The Italian reverted to his tried-and-tested four-man defence following further injuries to an already depleted unit, with Fabian Delph joining Lucas Digne and Seamus Coleman in needing treatment after suffering a hamstring strain at Burnley.

Delph’s absence saw Ancelotti lean on central defenders Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate to start at full-back, but struggles to stay on the ball allowed Chelsea to dominate proceedings and leave Goodison Park having held 72 per cent of the possession. Though, crucially for Everton, without a point.

Everton’s inability to get on the ball and stay in possession saw Calvert-Lewin often be left out in the cold, having to hassle Frank Lampard’s visiting side for any real hope of maintaining his goal-a-game average in the Premier League after 11 strikes in 11 games.

But his run is at an end, for now at least, after failing to record a single on-target shot on Saturday, with the £36million-rated star only able to unleash one attempt on Edouard Mendy’s net though seeing his effort blocked, via SofaScore.

Calvert-Lewin saw so little of the ball that he registered fewer touches than Jordan Pickford, as well, with the Toffees’ shot-stopper recording 35 touches to the forward’s 33.

Worse for the 23-year-old was that of his 33 touches, only three came inside the Chelsea penalty area and with such little of the ball, Calvert-Lewin was only able to play 21 passes, of which just 13 found teammates.

He was busy in the air, though, with 15 duels, yet won just seven of his contests – a distant comparison from his success in five of six ground duels while attempting and winning two dribbles.

Calvert-Lewin left his most telling imprint on proceedings early in the first-half when he went on a rampaging run through the Chelsea defence, shrugging the experienced Thiago Silva to the side before inviting Mendy to have a rush of blood to the head.

The 28-year-old unnecessarily charged off his line and clattered into Calvert-Lewin, leaving referee Jon Moss with no choice but to point to the spot, awarding a penalty which Gylfi Sigurdsson would convert for the only goal of the game.

Everton’s top-scorer was lauded at half-time during BT Sport’s coverage of the match by former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole for his ability to do away with Silva with ease, noting:

“Calvert-Lewin is something else.

“To do what’s he done to Thiago Silva, who has seen every type of player – the athleticism to win the flick on and get after the ball [was brilliant].”

Calvert-Lewin will no doubt have preferred to have left his mark on the match through his goals, but a defensive Everton side left their star forward a passenger of the win instead.

AND in other news, Marcel Brands has landed a huge break in his bid to final rid Everton of Steve Walsh’s £42m blunder.

Tottenham Hotspur are currently top of the Premier League table and even though it is early days, they have to be considered genuine title contenders having lost just once thus far.And Jose Mourinho has Harry Kane and Heung-min Son’s form largely to thank for their impressive start to the season. The prolific and red-hot duo combined again to down arch-rivals Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.18 of the 23 goals scored by the north Londoners in the English top-flight have come from that very attacking partnership – in total, Kane has scored eight goals and assisted ten more while Son has found the net ten times and has also provided three assists, per WhoScored.But for all of their dominance and writing of the headlines, it is Mourinho’s defence that has gone under the radar, particularly the performances of Eric Dier.It’s now five clean sheets in their last six Premier League outings, which includes matches against the Gunners, Chelsea and even Manchester City.What a turn around it has been for the English colossus…

Despair under Pochettino

The 26-year-old looked certain to be heading for a career crossroad under former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino – no one knew whether he was best suited as a defensive midfielder or as a centre-back, which often meant others were selected over him.

Before the Argentine was sacked, Dier had played just two full 90-minute matches from 12 outings in the early days of the 2019/20 season.

Speaking to The Athletic about his potential position change, Dier said:

“I went to see him, it was more about my position and where I was playing. We had spoken for many years about me gradually making that transition back to centre-back. For the last three years we’d had many conversations on it. And it was me saying to him: for me, it was now. And if it wasn’t for him, we’d have to find another solution.”

Well, Dier was used just once as a centre-back by Pochettino after that conversation. Clearly, the ex-Spurs chief never truly fancied him in the role as in the previous two seasons, the 6 foot 2 powerhouse made just four appearances as a central defender.

Revival under Mourinho

Now you only have to look at him under Mourinho to see the incredible shift in talent. He has started all but one of the Premier League matches at centre-back with Spurs currently ranking as the top-flight’s best defence having only leaked nine goals.

In the summer, Dier signed a new contract, citing the ‘Special One’ as the major factor and it’s hardly a surprise – you can see the £85k-per-week star really enjoying his football these days.

“For me, that was the biggest part of wanting to stay at Tottenham and sign the new deal – it was purely footballing. I was really happy that Mourinho would give me the opportunity to play centre-back again and to prove myself there. I’m really excited,” Dier told GQ magazine.

In the Premier League, Dier is averaging 5.7 clearances (third-best in the division), 2.9 aerial duels won, over 60 passes at an accuracy of 84.4% per game, via WhoScored.

No other top-flight player has managed more headed clearances (37) either.

It’s no wonder pundits have been quick to praise his form this season.

Ex-Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas dubbed Dier “sensational” after defeating City whilst Gary Neville told Sky Sports (via football.london) at the weekend: “He’s got pace, he’s a good leader, a good character, he’s good on the ball and he’s defending really well.”

The €30m-rated (£27m) centre-back rightly deserves just as much praise as Messrs Kane and Son, even more so if they pull off the unthinkable, after all… defence wins you championships.

AND in other news, Worse than Bergwijn: Levy heading for huge Spurs howler over £10.8m-rated “big talent”…

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has provided an update on defender Gary Cahill and the pre-match news will not be what the Eagles fan base will want to hear.

The latest on Cahill

Roy Hodgson was speaking in his press conference in the build up to the big clash against Aston Villa on Boxing Day. He said: “Gary Cahill is injured unfortunately. He is the only absentee on top of the long term ones.”

This is a big blow for Palace

Hodgson knows the importance of Cahill, as in the past he said, “He’s also brought us leadership qualities, he’s been very good leadership-wise. He’s the best type of leader; he’s the quiet leader people don’t see from Row Z in the stand.”

For now they don’t know the severity of the injury, and it will be very frustrating for Hodgson as the squad depth is crucial during the busy Christmas period.

The defender has made 4.4 clearances per game this season (WhoScored), showing his safety first attitude around the box. The former Chelsea star is 35, but has an abundance of experience, and  is still a vital asset for the club.

Therefore, Hodgson will be gutted to lose him for the Villa fixture, especially when the South London side have conceded the third most goals in the division (SofaScore) and Villa, led by Jack Grealish, are absolutely flying.

Have a read of Crystal Palace fans praising one player in the 1-1 draw to Brighton here!

Manchester City travel to Old Trafford for the semi-final of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening, hoping to secure their place at Wembley for the final with a win against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

The Citizens have enjoyed a lot of success in this competition in recent years, having won the trophy in four of the last five seasons, and they will be hoping to make it four in a row by winning the final in April.

Pep Guardiola’s side were superb in their last game against Chelsea, despite missing several first-team players due to the current viral outbreak, but they will have to be at their best on Wednesday if they want to find a way past an in-form United side.

Here’s how Football FanCast expects Guardiola to line his side up at Old Trafford, with two changes from the side that started against Chelsea…

Ederson is still self-isolating after testing positive for the virus so it seems likely that Zack Steffen will keep his place in goal.

There’s one change in City’s defence, as Guardiola rotates his left-backs and hands Benjamin Mendy an opportunity to impress ahead of Oleksandr Zinchenko, who filled in well against Frank Lampard’s side last weekend.

Ruben Dias and John Stones start at centre-back once again, with the duo having helped City establish themselves as one of the best defensive sides in the league in recent weeks.

Whilst Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus could both play, provided they return a negative test before the game, Joao Cancelo is undroppable at the moment, and City looked dangerous without the Brazilian forward at Stamford Bridge.

There is one change in the City attack, however, as Riyad Mahrez replaces Bernardo Silva on the wing. The Portuguese international, who earns £150k per week with the Citizens, scored a memorable goal in City’s Carabao Cup win at Old Trafford in January 2020 but is still yet to score or assist this season.

City’s front four will be interchangeable, as it was against Chelsea, whilst Sergio Aguero could make an impact from the bench if required.

And, in other news, Silva upgrade: Guardiola must swoop for £54m-rated beast once dubbed “the best” in the PL…

David Moyes is facing a selection dilemma ahead of hosting Burnley at the London Stadium on Saturday with West Ham United goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski due a late fitness test.

The Poland international missed the Irons’ last two matches with a thigh injury, which saw Darren Randolph step in to help the Hammers go unbeaten in their last four fixtures across all competitions thanks to back-to-back wins over Everton and Stockport County.

Victory on Saturday over Sean Dyche’s Clarets will see West Ham claim a third-straight win for only the second time this season, but face doing so against a side they have lost to in each of their previous three meetings with an aggregate score of 6-0.

Moyes is likely to introduce a handful of changes to the side which beat Stockport in the FA Cup in hopes of a first win over Burnley since November 2018. So, with that in mind, here’s a potential XI the Scottish coach could favour…

Fabianski facing a late fitness test before the visit of Burnley would suggest West Ham are not yet convinced the Poland international has overcome his thigh injury, allowing for Randolph to chase a third-straight clean sheet across all competitions after taking his record to 15 shut outs in 50 appearances at Stockport on Monday night.

Vladimir Coufal, Craig Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna all started the FA Cup affair at Edgeley Park as the trio continue to build a strong partnership together, and will expect to be reunited with Aaron Cresswell on Saturday after the left-back was initially rested against Jim Gannon’s side.

Dawson has helped West Ham to keep clean sheets in all three of his appearances since making his debut at Southampton last month, and provided the winning goal against Stockport to cap off a performance that featured a game-high six aerial duels won.

Mark Noble returned to partner Declan Rice in the engine room against Stockport but is likely to move aside for Tomas Soucek to return, with the 25-year-old West Ham’s top-scorer in the Premier League to date with five goals in 17 games.

Andriy Yarmolenko and Manuel Lanzini failed to impress at Edgeley Park, so will likely move aside for Jarrod Bowen to return and Said Benrahma to move in centrally having been fielded in the role for each of his three Premier League starts thus far this season.

£24m man Pablo Fornals was also rested in the FA Cup having earned his 16th start of the top-flight campaign at Everton on New Year’s Day, with the £16m-rated Spaniard the clear favourite of Moyes among his options for the left-wing role at the London Stadium.

Moyes is void of options in attack after Sebastien Haller’s £20m move to AFC Ajax, leaving Michail Antonio to start his first league fixture since November when taken off at the break after developing a second hamstring injury.

Antonio returned to the fold in last month’s 0-0 draw with Southampton and played half an hour at Everton before starting in the FA Cup, but failed to score in either of his three outings to remain on three for the season.

Additionally, Moyes has hinted at a role for academy sensation Mipo Odubeko in his matchday squad against Burnley, after handing the 18-year-old his senior debut as a late substitute at Edgeley park.

“Mipo is somebody we’re looking forward to working with,” he noted. “We have big hopes for him. He’s just back from a long-term hamstring injury too, but we like him a lot and we’ll try to bring him along at the right time and when we think we need him.”

AND in other news, West Ham may be targeting a new Modibo Maiga in their search of Sebastien Haller’s replacement…

After seeing Anwar El Ghazi really hit his stride in the past few weeks in the Premier League, Aston Villa boss Dean Smith made the strange decision to drop him from the starting line-up against Manchester City in mid-week.

Smith instead opted to go with summer signing Bertrand Traore, perhaps in the expectation that the Burkina Faso international would provide Villa’s attack with a bit more unpredictability and ability to take players on in counter-attacking situations.

If that was the game-plan, then it really didn’t come off. The former Lyon man badly struggled, and whilst he had flashes of brilliance – not least that exquisite touch that left Kevin De Bruyne for dead – he disappointed with his end product and his defensive work too.

With Newcastle coming to Villa Park on Saturday night, Smith simply has to recall the £7.2m-rated El Ghazi to his starting line-up and drop Traore with immediate effect.

The former had been in great form prior to being relegated to the bench against City, banging in five goals in his previous six Premier League matches, including scoring the winner against Wolves and Villa’s only goal in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge versus Chelsea.

Speaking after his strike against Crystal Palace in late December, former top-flight midfielder Michael Brown said to Football Insider: “Dean Smith told me his training in how he executes those finishes is there for all to see. Craig Shakespeare then backed him straight up when I ran into him later, he just said ‘what a technician he is.’

“He’s practising in training, he has a bad week against Burnley: eight shots, great chances, can’t put one away. Then he scores against West Brom, then goes and puts one in the top bins like he did last night… Magnificent is the word we’re all looking for.”

Smith made a rare mistake against City with his team selection, but can fix that blunder almost immediately by bringing the in-form El Ghazi back into his line-up for the game at home to Newcastle on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa are on the verge of making an unforgivable transfer blunder…