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According to reports in The Sun, Huddersfield Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers are leading the race to sign Middlesbrough winger Adama Traore in an £18m deal, and Championship side Leeds United should be watching developments closely.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Sun says that Boro boss Tony Pulis is considering selling the highly-rated attacker to boost his transfer fund ahead of a promotion push in the upcoming season, and that the former Barcelona starlet has a release clause set at £18m that allows clubs to discuss personal terms with him.

Traore struggled to make much of an impression in the Premier League with Aston Villa, but he has been much improved with the Teesside outfit and he ended the campaign with five goals and a further 12 assists in 34 league games, which hasn’t gone unnoticed by Terriers manager David Wagner.

The German obviously feels that he needs attacking reinforcements with his side only narrowly avoiding relegation last term, and feels that the speedy Traore could add something for Town in the final third.

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Why should Leeds be monitoring the situation?

Well, new Whites manager Marcelo Bielsa, whom fans are desperate to sign these three players the most this summer, will surely be looking to add to his squad before the start of the new Championship season, and adding some quality in wide areas may well be a priority with Ezgjan Alioski being one of their only natural widemen during the 2017/18 campaign.

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Ince would arrive at Elland Road with proven pedigree at this level with 68 goals and a further 44 assists in 211 second-tier appearances, and he would certainly add a real creative and goal threat for them in the final third given he was also something of a regular in the top flight last term.

That said, first-team opportunities were more few and far between towards the end of the season and the arrival of Traore in an £18m deal would surely push him further down the pecking order, and perhaps looking to leave in search of regular minutes on the pitch again.

Everton will travel to Turf Moor tonight in an important relegation clash against Burnley that could either put the side in a much better position if they win, or damage their chances of safety even further if they lose, and now there has been some bad news from Frank Lampard ahead of the game.

What’s the word?

The Blues boss took to his pre-match press conference to deliver an update on Donny van de Beek’s fitness after he was pulled from the team during the warm-up ahead of the West Ham United game at the London Stadium last weekend.

Lampard told the press:

“Donny won’t be fit. It’s a small grade thigh injury, which will make him fit for the match against Leicester City. He is ineligible to play against Manchester United at the weekend anyway.”

Supporters will be worried

At such a vulnerable time in the season losing players will be an absolute nightmare for Lampard and will surely leave supporters worried about what lies ahead when you consider the difficult fixtures coming up in the remaining weeks for Everton.

The Toffees still need to take on Chelsea, Arsenal, Man United and go to Anfield in the Merseyside Derby in their last ten league games and it is imperative that they pick up points wherever they can to maintain their Premier League status next season.

There is a silver lining in the storm for Everton as Fabian Delph has been confirmed as available for selection, however his lack of match fitness and sharpness returning from a long period of injury could be a cause for concern, but Lampard will surely be hoping he can hit the ground running and make an instant impact with his experience in the squad to deliver what is need.

As the ex-Chelsea boss has confirmed that the injury to the Man United loanee is small, there is hope that the midfielder could be available for selection again by next weekend which will be an absolute blessing for Lampard, and the fact that he is not eligible to play against his parent club at Goodison Park this weekend should give him the extra rest he needs to come back fresh.

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Everton have a challenging week with a tight fixture schedule after playing West Ham on Sunday, Burnley tonight and then the early kick-off against Manchester United on Saturday, so Lampard must do everything he can to ensure the side not only pick up important points but must keep the squad fresh in this tight run of games, avoiding more injuries and suspensions.

In other news: Lampard must finally axe £19.8m-rated “liability” who has “cost Everton dearly” again

This summer promises to be an exciting one for Spurs fans. For the first time in 40 years they can look forward to the prospect of top-level European football. Having had such a fantastic season, manager Harry Redknapp will undoubtedly be putting his thoughts towards planning for next campaign, desperate to ensure that his side can adapt to the rigours of Champions League football. Excited Lilywhites fans have taken to fans’ forums, passionately imploring their manager to sign a wealth of big-name, world-class players, players with the ‘je ne sais quoi’ needed to succeed in the Champions League. With other clubs aware of Spurs’ strong financial backing and the inevitable hiking up of players’ prices in World Cup year, Redknapp may find it hard to act prudently within the transfer market this summer. However, it appears that Redknapp may have made his most important signings already.

Already in possession of a strong, balanced squad, Redknapp has acted quickly to secure the long-term futures of several first-team players. Within the last month, club captain Ledley King, Welsh midfielder Gareth Bale and Croatian playmaker Luka Modric have all signed new contracts at the club. In keeping hold of Luka Modric (a player said to be coveted by Manchester United and Chelsea), Spurs have managed to buck the trend of recent years and demonstrate they can keep their best players away from the clutches of the Premier League’s ‘bigger’ clubs. The fact that the club have acted so quickly to tie down the futures of their most important players is an indicator that the club are trying to lay down the foundations for a sustained period of success at White Hart Lane.

Redknapp’s evident desire to maintain the core of his side is admirable, as stability will be key to the future success of his side. Whilst Manchester City’s inability to break the top four is attributable to a variety of reasons, the great influx of new players into the club has meant that the side have been bereft of continuity and flow. During his time at White Hart Lane, Harry Redknapp has not only brought in players, but successfully coaxed the best out of players who were at the club prior to his arrival (for example, David Bentley, Gareth Bale and Roman Pavlyuchenko). It is this sense of continuity that has allowed Redknapp to take Spurs from relegation candidates to a top-four team within 18 months.

In spite of the above sentiments, it is thought by many that Spurs do need to invest this summer in order to competitively challenge on both domestic and European fronts next season. Whilst the Tottenham squad has strength in depth, one would be hard-pressed to name an individual at the club who is unquestionably world-class.

This matter has been highlighted by Harry Redknapp, who told The Times that, “if we can find a special player that would make a difference to this team, I would say [it] to the chairman or owner. That is what I would like to do. It might only be one player. It might be an expensive player. But that would be really what I would look at doing. We are not going to sign Torres, but like Liverpool signed him, [we want] a player that could take us to another level. But where you find them, I don’t know.”

Cynics have argued that the need for a player in the vein of Torres is a luxury; a glamorous yet unnecessary ‘marquee’ signing would merely galvanise the club’s fans and appease their concerns. However, a look at the squads of England’s most consistently successful Champions League-competing sides (Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool) suggests that the presence of such individuals is imperative. The frontlines of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are spearheaded by Robin van Persie, Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney respectively – can any Tottenham fan honestly state that Jermain Defoe is as good as either of these players? Unsurprisingly, Spurs are rumoured to have shown an interest in a series of ‘marquee’ strikers, with Diego Forlan, Luis Fabiano and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar all linked with moves to White Hart Lane, although the side have yet to make serious offers for any of these players.

Having broken the Big Four ‘cartel’, Harry Redknapp will be under great pressure to ensure that his side remain within the upper echelons of the Premier League. How he seeks to achieve this is unclear, but the ‘signings’ he has made so far will certainly go a long way towards doing so.

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Sunderland target Heiko Westermann has confirmed that he would prefer to stay with Schalke rather than move to England.

Black Cats boss Steve Bruce had expressed his interest in the 26-year-old Germany defender who is currently recovering from a broken foot.

"I don't care whether Sunderland or any other club comes in for me – I want to stay with Schalke," Westermann told Germany's Kicker magazine.

"At the end of the day, we are playing in the Champions League next season and have high expectations.

"A transfer is not even a consideration for me."

On his injury, he added: "It makes no sense predicting when I will be able to train again."

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Westermann still has four years left to run on his contract with Schalke, but had been linked with a transfer because of the club's current financial worries.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien is confident he has made a full recovery from an injured-ravaged past season.

The Ghana international has been sidelined since December with a knee ligament injury which also forced him to miss the World Cup.

Essien made a goalscoring return to action in Saturday's 1-0 friendly victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park and was delighted by his comeback.

"It feels good, it's been a long time but I am back in full training now, everything is good and there is no reaction from the training, so things are looking good for me," he told the club's official website.

"I didn't have any holidays because of my rehab, but it will be good to start up again and I am looking forward to the rest of the boys coming back as well.

"I'd love to have been there playing at the end of the season, it wasn't easy for me but I supported my team-mates to win their matches, that's all I could do.

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"I became a supporter and to end the season with two trophies was amazing and I was enjoying it like everyone even though I didn't play the whole season."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez has set his sights on a move to England, having impressed in helping his side reach the World Cup semi-finals in South Africa.

The 23-year-old currently plays his football in the Netherlands with Ajax, but is expected to move on with a number of top clubs across Europe tracking the South American.

Suarez told the Daily Star Sunday:"I am not going to make any secret of my admiration for the Premier League.

"What I love about it is the fact that there are five or six Champions League quality teams in the league and no other league in the world boasts that.

"I know I have had a very good World Cup and with that naturally comes interest from other clubs.

"If a Premier League side comes in for me it will be very difficult for Ajax to keep me and I think they are fully aware of that.

"Manchester United are a great side and, along with Real Madrid, are the most prestigious club in the world.

"You know if you join Manchester United and are there for any length of time you will win things.

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"Tottenham hold appeal as well, though, they are a team with great ambition and have done well to reach the Champions League.

"If there are multiple offers from the Premier League I will take time to decide, but at the moment they are the two clubs that stand out for me."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Having not won any silverware since the 2005 FA Cup triumph, Arsenal supporters will be desperate to see their team pick up a trophy this season. Arsene Wenger though, will need to do certain things if Arsenal are to end the wait in this campaign.

1. Sign a centre-back

Arsenal currently have only three recognised centre-backs in their squad. Thomas Vermaelen is top-class, but new signing Laurent Koscielny is unproven and Johan Djourou is injury prone. Although William Gallas, Sol Campbell and Mikael Silvestre will not be terribly missed, Wenger will have to bring in another central defender if Arsenal are going to mount a serious challenge in the Premier League and Europe. Wenger has linked with a host of names this summer, including Per Mertesacker, Neven Subotic and Phil Jagielka. Jagielka has proven Premiership experience and is a quality centre-back, if Wenger can get a decent price for him, he would worth a serious look.

2. Sign a new goalkeeper

Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski are not good enough for Arsenal to win the title. As much as he needs a centre-back Wenger needs to find another ‘keeper. A top-class goalie can make a massive difference in the season, preserving crucial clean-sheets and gaining the team a few extra points along the way. Mark Schwarzer has been linked throughout the summer, and whilst he is preferable to Almunia and Fabianski, he does not provoke huge confidence. If Wenger can bring in a goalkeeper such as Joe Hart, Maarten Stekelenburg or Igor Akinfeev it would stand Arsenal in good stead for the season. Whatever happens, Arsenal will need a new goalkeeper.

3. Sort out defensive frailties

This is easier said than done, but if Arsenal are to challenge for the top honours then Wenger will need to sort out Arsenal’s defence, which leaked too many goals last season. He will hope Koscielny can bring solidity to central defence, but the mentality will also need to be changed. Too often Arsenal’s defence was caught too far up the field last season, with top-class teams especially punishing them with counter-attacks. Although Vermaelen is an attacking threat, he may have to rein himself in more than last season. Defence was Arsenal’s weakest link last season and it will need to remedied if a title is to be brought to the Emirates.

4. Shoot more often

Arsenal’s passing style is unmatched in the Premier League, and it is an effective form of football. However sometimes it is true that Arsenal can overplay it, especially in the final third. Too often a player has a good shooting opportunity only to pass it to another player in an attempt to create a perfect scoring opportunity. When the move breaks down, this can be frustrating. The more shots a team has the more they are likely to score and there is no problem with players shooting from outside the box. If Wenger can put it into the minds of his players to shoot a little more often, it could be of great benefit.

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5. Toughen the mentality

Although pundits like Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson are over-the-top when they lambast Arsenal’s lack of mental fortitude, there is a slight issue here. When Arsenal are losing and especially against the top sides, there can be a tendency for heads to go down. Even when Arsenal do take the lead, there is never total confidence they can ride out the victory. This though, is as much the players as the manager and both will have their parts to play in becoming that little more resilient. If Arsene Wenger can achieve all these things, then Arsenal will stand a good chance of winning silverware.

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After the World Cup build up, the World Cup game, the World Cup itself, the World Cup postmortem and the unfortunately scheduled post-World Cup friendly, we’ve now been blessed with two quick fire European Championship qualifiers. This means that with the Premier League season already almost a month in, we’ve already witnessed as many England games this season as we have domestic battles for each club. International football ey? It just won’t bloody go away. Here’s what I noticed from the mighty England’s triumphant battle with the dastardly Swiss.

1. Cometh the hour, cometh the man – As Jamie Redknapp and Richard Keys argued like a couple of school girls on a balcony (all in glorious High Definition 3D) the camera zoomed repeatedly, like an creepily obsessive voyeur, on Wayne Rooney, the center piece of the evenings entertainment and sure fire headline maker whatever occurred. Sporting a presumably ritualistic symbolic hair cut, and clean shaven, he stood stoically during the anthems like a 12 year old boy in assembly as Glenn Johnson muttered the words to a National Anthem that didn’t seem to have any relation to ours at all. Within 10 minutes, as sure as eggs is eggs, he gave lazy by-line writers everywhere the wet dream they’d be hoping for by sweeping in a low cross from Johnson and “Rooney scores away from home again” became the de-facto tale of the night, with the rest consigned to mere details. As for his actual performance, it stood somewhere between Bulgaria and Algeria, by which I don’t mean Tunisia. His movement and cross field passing were good, but his touch let him down too often and he still seems to be playing like it’s all not quite as important as it once was. Which may indeed ring true.

2. New kid on the block – After looking sprightly and impressive in the opening exchanges, Theo Walcott snagged his foot on a defender during the opening goal and had to be stretchered off. But we needn’t have feared (unless we were Arsene Wenger) as on came Adam Johnson, fresh from upstaging Walcott at Wembley and ready to do the same again. Within 10 minutes of his introduction, all memories of Theo’s impressive start were gone as the tricky City winger Cruyff turned his marker on the bounce and teed up Jermain Defoe, whose scoring boots from Friday unfortunately seemed to have been left on the plane. He went close with a few efforts in the first half before finally capping his display with a well taken goal from a sumptuous first time Steven Gerrard pass. It’s probably too early to say for sure that he’s more John Barnes than Steve Stone, but it’s fair to say the boy already looks like a star, what with his assured control and heroin chic Ian Curtis looks. Of the 19 Manchester City players on the field by the end, he looked by far the best.

3. City of Industry – Which wasn’t hard, what with Gareth Barry taking his role as ‘water carrier’ a little too literally, Joe Hart looking unusually flappy in the rain and Shaun Wright Phillips doing so well to lift Johnson above him in the wing standings you’d be forgiven for thinking it was carefully planned pact between them. On two occasions he found himself free on the right with more England players to find than Swiss and yet on both – quite skillfully – managed to hit the only pass available to him that couldn’t have found a team mate. Quite an achievement. But at least he didn’t have ignominy of having to come on with Peter Crouch this time. Still, City are certainly doing a good job of ruining English football so far.

4. Tonight Matthew, I’m going to be…Steven Gerrard – Whilst Garry Barry was hardly impressive in either game, he did at least provide a concrete answer (if one was even needed) to one of the longest running conundrums in England folklore. Yes, Steven Gerrard does play better without Frank Lampard. We didn’t really need confirmation of that, but it’s nice to have some evidence to point to the next time it’s brought up. Which will most likely be in the next game, when Super Frank returns from injury and Capello bottles his promise to start a fresh and plays with exactly the same team he did in the World Cup, minus the players who’ve forced his hand. What hope that Jack Rodwell will have gotten some games under his belt by then I wonder?

5. As Good As it Gets – All in all though it was a good night. Darren Bent capped it off with his first England goal after being denied an earlier opportunity by the bizarreness of Shaun Wright Phillips’ brain. Shakira may have grabbed a stunning goal back for the Swiss but England never really looked out of control, and should’ve won this by a greater margin in truth. Johnson’s forced his way into Capello’s thinking and Hart looks reliable. Rooney is back scoring and Gerrard is at peace with himself (for the time being.) It’s been as good as it could possibly have been for England after the horror show in the summer. Now we can all get back to hating these people because of the colour of their shirts again. I, for one, can’t wait.

Watch the video below to see why England should host the 2018 World Cup!

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[ffcvideo file=”england_bid”]

New Aston Villa manager is confident that his side will reap the benefits of striker Emile Heskey having retired from international duty with England.

The 32-year-old frontman has scored twice in five games this season and Houllier has every faith in his former Liverpool charge.

He said:"He decided to stop his international career, so now it means he can repeat games for us.

"The whole England team suffered for what happened in South Africa.

"But, if you remember the game against Germany,and I was at it, if the goal from Lampard had been allowed it would have been 2-2 at half-time.

"Sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don't, but whatever you say about Emile he is a good man and a good player.

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"I read a few things about what he said when he retired and it's very sensible what he said, that his time has gone now, he's 32-33, there are some young players coming through.

"Emile will be 100 per cent Villa and as the manager I am happy."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

The Israel Football Association have hit back at claims from Chelsea that midfielder Yossi Benayoun suffered a serious Achilles injury while away on international duty.

The 30-year-old has been ruled out for up to six months due to a torn Achilles, with Blues head coach Carlo Ancelotti adamant that his staff had not missed anything when they scanned the initial problem.

The Italian commented:"We are sure that when he left England they didn't have a tear on his tendon. We are sure of this.

"He had a calf problem. The MRI showed this problem, but the tendon was clear.

"He had a problem at the start of the season with inflammation on his tendon, had treatment and came back to play for us and the national team.

"I don't know what happened after he left England. I trust my doctor at this club and we are sure. I can say this – he didn't have a tear on his tendon when he left England."

However, IFA spokesman Gil Lebanony responded by saying:"When Yossi Benayoun came to Israel he didn't practise with us, even for a single second.

"He came with pain in his Achilles tendon and with a diagnosis from Chelsea that it was only a small tear.

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"But our doctor said immediately that it was a very serious problem and sent him for an MRI scan. The MRI doctor diagnosed the big tear immediately.

"We're sorry that he is injured because Yossi is so important for us, as he is for Chelsea, but we're not to blame for the injury."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email