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West Ham could beat London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham to the signature of Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk, according to Hammers legend Frank McAvennie.

The Dutch defender has been heavily linked with a move away from Celtic Park in recent months, with north London clubs Arsenal and Spurs reported to be the front runners to sign him.

But McAvennie believes van Dijk would be better off signing for West Ham, who are enjoying a sparkling start to the season and currently occupy a top four spot in the Premier League.

He told London24: “I’m sure the manager will already have told him he’s going nowhere in January.

“I know there’s been talk of Arsenal but at this stage I think that’s ambitious.

“But, he can still get a really big club – and if he does well against Inter Milan then who knows. I can tell you for a fact, the English clubs don’t care how well players do against other Scottish teams.

“To get a move like that, you’ve got to do well in Europe. That’s where you are judged. It’s one thing doing well in Scotland but it’s Europe where the English clubs will judge you.

“Everyone is talking up the prospect of him maybe going to one of the big four in England – I don’t think he’s going to get to that level at this stage. Maybe a West Ham is more realistic.

“My advice would be to stay because he’s learning all the time. He’s certainly a very good player but if he’s got ambitions of going straight to a top four or six team in England then another season would do him no harm at all.”

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With Winston Reid’s Upton Park future in the balance, the Hammers are in the market for a central defender in January and are expected to enquire about the possibility of bringing the 23-year-old Celtic defender to east London next month.

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Danny Welbeck has insisted he is willing to bide his time at Manchester United and take his chances when they come, despite a lack of opportunities.

The young England international broke into the team last season and became an integral player for United, however this campaign he has struggled for minutes on the pitch.

The arrival of Robin van Persie in the summer, whose partnership with Wayne Rooney is Sir Alex Ferguson’s first choice pairing, while the return to form of Javier Hernandez has put Welbeck further down the pecking  order at Old Trafford.

Welbeck told the clubs official website of his feelings on the season so far saying, “It’s been a bit stop-start. I’ve not been playing in my favoured position up front – I’ve been on the wing in most games – so it’s been different to last season, when I played mostly as a striker.

“But I’m enjoying it, the team is playing well and we’re in a great position in the league, which is the most important thing.”

The 22-year-old who also lead the line for England at Euro 2012 has started just seven of the Red Devils’ 20 Premier League games so far this season, including Saturday’s victory over West Brom.

Welbeck is willing to remain patient though, aware of the quality of players he is contending with and believes that he is learning from all of them in training.

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“They all have strengths in abundance that I can add to my own game,” he added.

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Former West Ham United coach Nikola Jurcevic has told Croatian publication Sportske Novosti that Everton attacker Nikola Vlasic is likely going to leave the club this summer on loan.

What’s the word?

The 20-year-old moved to Goodison Park in the summer from Hajduk Split, signing a five-year deal, but he has struggled for game time.

Despite the fact that the Toffees have been struggling for the majority of the season to find the back of the net, Vlasic has barely had a look-in.

In total, the Croatian has started just nine games in all competitions, making 16 altogether.

According to Jurcevic, the youngster could be set for a loan deal for next season.

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The ex-West Ham coach told Sportske Novosti:

“It’s damaging for a young player and he needs his games to develop. And Allardyce has brought two other players this winter and it certainly doesn’t go in favour of our young player. If Vlasic’s status is not upwards before the summer, he will probably send him somewhere on loan.”

Is this the best option?

Vlasic is still a young player and has the potential to come into the team on a more regular basis in future years.

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However, the attacker is unlikely to break into Sam Allardyce’s current side, with Theo Walcott and Cenk Tosun ahead of him in the pecking order.

Even though some of the Everton fans have been keen for Vlasic to be given more minutes on the pitch, a loan move could be the best option.

If Arsenal sign Sami Khedira from Real Madrid in January they can win the Premier League title, according to former Gunners star Perry Groves.

The Gunners are rumoured to be one of a host of clubs – including Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City – chasing the 27-year-old midfielder.

Khedira helped Germany to World Cup glory earlier this year, but he is believed to be available for just £10m this January with his contract at Real due to expire when the season ends.

WANT MORE? >> Arsenal transfer news | Latest transfer news

Arsenal are rumoured to be a club the rangy ace would be willing to join, with various reports suggesting that he’s open to a deal in the New Year to link up with Mesut Ozil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski at the Emirates Stadium.

And Groves believes that if Arsene Wenger makes the move, his old side could go on to become champion of England:

“They need to strengthen that defensive midfield area and the one that stands out in my mind is Khedira,” he told the London Evening Standard. “He would be perfect for them.

“Khedira knows that role. He has the physicality and a great passing range. His attitude is good with a great winning mentality and it wouldn’t take him too long to settle because he would have his three German team-mates with him [Ozil, Mertesacker and Podolski].

“He would give Arsenal something different. A lot of their midfield players are very similar, very technically gifted players but Khedira will win the ball back to allow others to go and play. He’s proved he can handle life at a massive club and he could fit straight in.

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“If they can get to within six or seven points by the time the January transfer window opens and then sign Khedira, they could win it.”

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The first Football League Cup hat-trick was scored at the very start of the opening competition, in October 1960 when Burnley won 4-0 away to Cardiff. Apart from being unique for that reason it’s all the more curious because the scorer of that historic treble, Gordon Harris, was a midfield player or to be more accurate because of the era, an inside-forward.

The most recent treble was scored by Theo Walcott as Arsenal registered the most famous comeback in the history of the competition to beat Reading in that 12 goal thriller in this season’s Capital One Cup in October.

In more than 50 years between there have been a few more hat-tricks, and more, but only one double treble.

Click on Robbie Fowler to see the full countdown of League Cup hat-tricks

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The Leeds United fans in the Transfer Tavern are feeling excited by the new era under Marcelo Bielsa which promises to be characterised by eccentricity and exuberance, but a recent report from Italy should give them genuine cause for concern about their club’s strategy in the transfer market.

The Breakdown

According to the highly-respected Sky Sports journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Leeds are locked in negotiations with Carpi over a €1.8 million deal for the Nigerian striker Jerry Mbakogu. The Whites have been consistently linked with Mbakogu since the turn of the year, but history suggests that their 25-year-old target is not the man to solve their problems.

Carpi finished the previous Serie B season slap bang in the middle of the table in 11th place with a goal difference of -14 – a fact which illuminates their lack of potency in-front of goal.

Mbakogu was a key part of the Italian side’s struggle to find the back of the net as he notched just 6 goals from 26 appearances, losing his place in the starting eleven towards the end of the season as a consequence of his modest record.

With these statistics in mind, it’s no wonder that Carpi are willing to allow Mbakogu to depart the club for such a measly fee this summer, and their apparent willingness to sell should ring a few alarm bells at Elland Road.

Despite the natural appeal of a cut-price transfer fee, Andrea Radrizzani and Bielsa need to rethink their approach to the hunt for a new striker and hone in on what’s really important: a player with a proven track-record to consistently find the back of the net.

Considering both the quality and competitiveness of Serie B is a level below that of the Championship, signing Mbakogu represents a sideways move at best, and there’s no doubt he would struggle to adapt to the intensity of English football.

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Bielsa’s activity in the transfer market this summer will play a pivotal role in determining his success in masterminding a revolution at a club which is crying out for a long-awaited return to the top-flight, so he must be shrewder with his choices and abandon the proposed move to sign Mbakogu before he makes his first major mistake at Leeds.

Leeds fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

Tottenham Hotspur play host to Rochdale in the two clubs’ FA Cup fifth round replay at Wembley on Wednesday night following their 2-2 draw earlier at Spotland earlier this month, and Spurs fans have begged manager Mauricio Pochettino not to start striker Fernando Llorente, rated at £7.2m by Transfermarkt, up top.

The north London outfit signed the centre-forward, who celebrated his 33rd birthday earlier this week, from Swansea City during the summer following an impressive debut campaign in the Premier League, but he has struggled playing back-up to Harry Kane.

The Spaniard has scored just two goals in 26 appearances in all competitions for Pochettino’s men and he has none in four outings in the FA Cup this term, despite starting all of their fixtures against lower league opposition in AFC Wimbledon, Newport County and Rochdale.

Tottenham supporters have been quick to have their say on Llorente ahead of the clash in the capital on Wednesday, and while one said “Llorente can’t start another match”, another said “I can start and play better than Llorente”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger remained firm on his decision to field an inexperience defence, but revealed that his injury struck back-line finally took its toll on the squad following his side’s 2-1 lost against Southampton in the Capital One Cup, Skysports.

The loss saw the Gunners get knocked out of the domestic competition for the first time in 12 years as an on-form Saints squad registered there first ever win at the Emirates.

Wenger refrained from blaming his defenders as he believes his opponents were the better side and deserved their win.

WANT MORE? >> Arsenal Latest News | Latest Transfer News

“It’s disappointing because we had a good start and we made two unneeded errors on the two goals – and big ones,” he said.

“We lacked a bit of experience at the back, but overall they did well. We gave a lot and it’s frustrating not to be able to score in the second half.

“When you look at the amount of possession we had, we have to give credit to Southampton, they played well and were well organised.

“They abused a bit the fouls in the middle of the park, but they are a good side and they played well tonight. Overall it is frustrating because we gave a lot.”

The French boss decided to field Hector Bellerin, Calum Chambers, Issac Hayden, and Francis Coquelin in the back four, in order to allow his first-team players to get back to full fitness.

“We are a bit short, yes, because of the injuries we have,” Wenger added.

“You sit there and think: (Kieran) Gibbs had a little hamstring problem and we could not play him, (Per) Mertesacker is a bit on the edge, and then we have no choice.

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“I think if we lost the game tonight, it’s not because of Hayden, not because of Chambers and not because of Coquelin. You have to be realistic.”

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Chelsea are still waiting for their first goal under Rafael Benitez after drawing another blank to draw against Fulham at Stamford Bridge.

The Spaniard’s first game in charge after taking over the reins from Roberto Di Matteo ended in a stalemate with Manchester City on Sunday and the Blues once again failed in front of goal against their West London rivals.

Cottagers boss Martin Jol will be the happier of either managers as his side avoided a third consecutive Premier League defeat, but have one just once in their last nine games and slipped into the bottom half of the table.

Benitez’s debut in the dugout against City attracted the ire of home supporters, who chanted in support of predecessor Di Matteo, and he was again the subject of abuse from the stands.

It made for a hostile atmosphere on Kings Road as the hosts struggled to locate the fluency and attacking flair that saw them head the table during the early part of the campaign.

Fernando Torres’ scuffed effort from Cesar Azpilcueta’s cross proved to be the best opportunity of a colourless, incident free first half  that saw the visitors barely threaten Petr Cech at the other end.

They did create one of the games few clear cut chances after the break but John Arne Riise failed make the right connection to take full advantage of Giorgos Karagounis’ superb through ball in the 56th minute.

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Juan Mata was thrown on just past the hour but even he couldn’t provide the inspiration for the home side that would unlock a stern Fulham back line that repelled attack after attack in the second half.

Chelsea have now dropped seven points off the championship pace and Benitez now has the unenviable task of arresting six-game winless slump.

West Ham are negotiating with exciting youngster Declan Rice over a new contract, as covered by Sky Sports.

Rice was a stand-out performer in a tumultuous season for the London club. A measured defender with the ability to play out from the back, many expect to see Rice become an integral part of the new West Ham side under Manuel Pellegrini.

West Ham have the option of triggering a further year on his existing deal, but feel that his performances this season have warranted an increase in wage and responsibility for the 19-year old.

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Even with the purchase of French centre-back Issa Diop, securing the future of one of the hottest prospects to come out of the West Ham academy in years should be at the top of Pellegrini’s wishlist.

Here’s a quick look at how the news of the negotiations went down with West Ham fans on social media…

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