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West Ham had a €40million (£35m) bid rejected for Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata last month, per Gianluca Di Marzio.

The Hammers were keen to strengthen their strikeforce in January and identified a number of striking targets, with Di Marzio claiming Zapata was the subject of an offer.

What’s the word?

The Hammers endured an intriguing January transfer window.

Marko Arnautovic was the subject of a major bid from China and the majority of the month was spent with the Hammers making preparations in case the Austria international forced a move.

A loan bid for Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi on transfer deadline day fell through – he eventually joined Crystal Palace – while a reported pursuit of Celta Vigo striker Maxi Gomez bore no fruit.

Check out the video below to see Pl>ymaker FC’s American Soccer Fan give his take on all six ‘field goals’ in West Ham v Burnley…

Di Marzio claim that the Irons were also interested in a move for Zapata, who has scored 21 goals in 31 appearances in all competitions this season.

However, an offer worth €40m was snubbed by the Italian side, who are currently fifth in Serie A.

Zapata, who has won five caps for Colombia, is seen as integral to the side’s push for potential Champions League qualification, per the report, and thus they decided to retain his services.

Arnie the key

West Ham needed Arnautovic to leave if any deals were going to be done.

The Austrian was valued at £40m by the Irons and they did not pluck that figure out of thin air.

Football FanCast understands that the number was built around securing a replacement, with the majority of the money set to be reinvested into the squad.

Instead, Arnautovic ended up sticking around and, as a result, there was little money for the club to invest.

This bid for Zapata, then, would have been speculative and the club should be relieved that it was rejected.

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Liverpool fans have taken to Twitter to react with joy after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain took part in training with the first-team out in Spain, as he steps up his return to full fitness.

The England international suffered a serious knee injury in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final tie against Roma at Anfield last season, which looked likely to rule him out for the entirety of the current campaign.

However, the 25-year-old midfielder has made a remarkable recovery and was able to take part in a session involving rondos, core exercises and ball-work drills with his teammates, who will be happy to have him back for the title run-in.

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

The former Arsenal man has also been included in the Reds’ Champions League squad for the knockout phases as Jurgen Klopp hopes to have him back and available soon.

Understandably, fans of the Merseysiders on Twitter are overjoyed with the news…

[ad_pod ]With fears of a points deduction in response to the ‘spygate’ controversy now dispelled after the EFL handed Leeds a £200,000 fine, the Whites can get straight back on top against Bolton this weekend – a win could see the Yorkshire outfit regain their lead at the top of the Championship table.Regardless of whether they win the league – or even secure promotion – the Elland Road faithful can feel immensely proud of the huge strides that their beloved club have taken this season after a bang average 17/18 campaign.As a team, massive improvements have been made and the job Marcelo Bielsa is doing with a numerically limited squad is remarkable. Who, though, has come on furthest since last season and who has declined?Read on to find out who Leeds’ ‘most improved’ and ‘far removed’ players are…

Most improved: Kalvin Phillips

The aforementioned lack of squad depth, combined with a hefty injury list, has seen Kalvin Phillips deputise at the heart of defence this season – the 23-year-old has excelled there, despite being a natural midfielder.

Such is the impression the utility man has made on the Leeds fans this season, some have even felt an England call up is warranted.

Since the return of Liam Cooper alongside Pontus Jansson at centre-half, Phillips has been forced to vie with Adam Foresaw for the number 4 role he vacated in order to play in defence earlier this term. If the 5-foot-10 ace continues to replicate the fantastic shift he put in against Swansea, though, there is surely only one option for Bielsa.

If Leeds do indeed earn promotion, Phillips will undoubtedly be vital in next season’s attempts to retain top flight status.

Far removed: Barry Douglas

Having signed the versatile left-back from last season’s Championship winners Wolves in the summer, Leeds would surely have been expecting more from Barry Douglas this term.

Previously a vital cog in Nuno Espirito Santo’s machine, the Scotsman chalked up an incredible five goals and 14 assists under the Portuguese in the 17/18 Championship campaign and so the Whites’ acquisition of his services for just £3m looked like brilliant business.

Who do you want to see promoted this year? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have picked their 3 favoured teams in the video below…

Instead, the 29-year-old has recorded just four assists for the Peacocks and been hampered by injuries, with only one of those setups coming since September. Nowadays, Ezgjan Alioski is holding down the No.3 berth.

If Leeds get promoted, it will be with little thanks to Douglas.

If reports are correct, new Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers could already be making a huge mistake signing Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson.

Following a disastrous spell under Claude Puel, the Leicester City board were forced into bringing in former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers a little sooner than they had initially planned.

Rodgers, known for his work with youth, having brought through the likes of Raheem Sterling, has a whole host of young talent at his disposal at Leicester. Harvey Barnes, Demarai Gray, James Maddison, Ben Chillwell and Hamza Choudhury to name a few.

So why, we ask, is he interested in blowing the bank on Callum Wilson?

However senseless, The Sun believe it’s a there’s a very good chance that the Bournemouth forward will be the first recruit to join Leicester’s rank under their new boss for a mammoth £40m.

For us, that’s a truly ridiculous sum to be spending on Wilson. Especially with the ever-dangerous Jamie Vardy still going.

Yes, he’s done extremely well this year and we can’t take that away from him. Bournemouth are pretty much safe knowing they’ll be spending another season in the Premier League because of it.

But realistically what does he have over the former England international that screams ‘I’m worth £40m’?

Age, maybe. But the engine of Vardy doesn’t look like it’s slowing anytime soon, and he provides some much-needed experience in an extremely young side.

They’ve both got pace, they both finish well, and by all accounts, they’re both nightmares for defenders.

To sign Wilson wouldn’t so much make a footballing impact than it would a symbolic one: that the man Leicester have always relied on is disposable.

What kind of impact will that have on the dressing room?

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Tottenham Hotspur sustained a serious blow in their bid to keep pace with Manchester City and Liverpool on Sunday, as they lost 2-1 to Burnley at Turf Moor.

Goals from Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes gave Sean Dyche’s men all three points, with the result surely ending any slim hopes that Spurs may have had of winning the Premier League title.

Following the conclusion of the game – in which Harry Kane made his return for Tottenham and scored his side’s goal – manager Mauricio Pochettino and referee Mike Dean were involved in a heated on-field argument.

Burnley’s first goal came from a corner that should have been awarded as a goal-kick, with many speculating that the decision provoked the Argentine’s ire.

Whatever prompted the debate, many Spurs fans on Twitter took Pochettino’s side and insisted that Dean never seems to give their side the decisions they deserve. Take a look at the best reaction below!

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After the apathetic end to Arsene Wenger’s reign, this season has been one of progress for Arsenal. For starters, they have a genuine chance of finishing in this season’s top four, but performances as well as results have seen an uplift – Unai Emery has insisted upon a more energetic, aggressive and tactically versatile mantra since taking the reins in the summer.

While Arsenal have impressed as a collective though, our writers have sought to answer one key question – which individual has shown the most improvement? Read their verdicts below…

Harry Sherlock – Alex Iwobi

“Alex Iwobi is perhaps the most improved player at Arsenal this season. He is not the most technically gifted player at the club but he has the work rate and the tenacity to ensure he becomes a major star. Across the next couple of seasons, Emery would be wise to build around him – Iwobi has a very particular skillset and is only likely to get better.”

Billy Meyers – Granit Xhaka

“Granit Xhaka has matured a fair bit this season, and is starting to become a more reliable presence in the middle of the park rather than the liability he has been in previous campaigns, and even the start of the current season to be honest. The Swiss international is starting to cut out silly errors in his game, and has shown his willingness to work for the team by playing in a number of positions this season, including left-back.”

The North London Derby of 2008 may never be matched for drama. Lewis from Norwich City Central explains why it’s his all time favourite derby in the video below…

Will Jones – Sead Kolasinac

“Honourable mentions for Iwobi, Alexandre Lacazette and Rob Holding, but Sead Kolasinac deserves this recognition. The Bosnian powerhouse was an absolute liability this season. This time around, though, he’s come on leaps and bounds defensively, whilst retaining his threat in the final third. Many, including myself, had written him off somewhat, but he is now central to Emery’s plans and may even legitimately represent a better option ahead of Mr. Consistent, Nacho Monreal.”

Harry Elnaugh – Alexandre Lacazette

“Lacazette has been brilliant this season and, if he can get into the positions Aubameyang does a little more regularly, he will surely be a fixture up front. The former Lyon man is a far better footballer than Aubameyang and looks set to exceed his tally of 14 goals from last season – he currently has 12 to his name with nine games to go. Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Holding have also come on leaps and bounds but the former has only done so in recent weeks while the latter has been set back frequently by injuries.”

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Aston Villa midfielder Conor Hourihane believes, in quotes reported by The Express & Star, that the pressure has been taken off of the club a little following recent results, but his comments are slightly surprising.

What’s the word, then?

Well, there is no doubt that it has been a disappointing campaign for the Midlands outfit, who would have been expected pre-season to be comfortably in the top six by now.

However, ahead of their trip to Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night they lie four points outside of the play-off positions, thanks to two successive victories against Derby County and then arch-rivals Birmingham City on Sunday.

Speaking to The Express & Star, the Villa midfielder said: “Is the pressure off a little? Maybe so. But we expect a lot from ourselves and we have not done what we wanted to do over the course of the season.”

Confusing comment

What the Republic of Ireland international is probably trying to say is that the pressure is off of them as they chase a top-six spot rather than having to hold onto one.

However, given their stature, the players they have at their disposal and the money they have spent over the past couple of years at this level, the pressure is very much still on them.

They should be competing for the top two let alone the play-offs, and the latter should be the bare minimum they achieve this term.

That means that there is actually a weight on their shoulders to continue delivering, and positive performances and results against Forest and Boro this week would certainly help.

He has been an unbelievable servant for Sheffield United, hasn’t he? When Billy Sharp started his professional career at Bramall Lane nearly 15 years ago, no one would have thought he would amount over 100 goals for the Blades in just 236 games across three different spells. That is remarkable.

Aged 33, Sharp continues to provide for United as he is currently the second top goalscorer in the Championship, with 22 goals in 33 games. He has stepped up to the plate year upon year since he began his third spell in Sheffield and currently holds the title of having scored the most goals in England’s top four League’s in the 21st century, reflecting his astounding career.

Moving back nearly four years now, in late July of 2015, Sharp signed from Leeds United on what was originally a two-year deal. The move certainly excited lots of Blades.

In contrast, some Leeds fans felt that Sharp was not given the opportunities he deserved and wished him all the best.

It is safe to say he has thoroughly excelled in his most recent spell at his boyhood club and the fans will surely be hoping that he can help fire the Blades to the Premier League where Sharp can continue to play a key role in the side.

West Brom are managerless right now, and it is a situation that needs resolving fast, if their hopes of reaching the Premier League are to be maintained.

But whether they appoint a long term manager or not, or whether they are in the promoted or not, one thing that the new manager needs to address is the midfield situation at the Hawthorns.

With an ageing pair of James Morrison, 32, and Chris Brunt, 34, among their go-to midfielders, regardless of how loyal their service to the Baggies’ cause has been, it is time for new blood to come in next season.

Jake Livermore has been the first choice in the middle of the park this season — and has even captained the side on a number of occasions — but he has simply missed too many games, having been sent off three times this season, while picking up 10 yellow cards, resulting in seven absences through suspension.

Whoever is installed as the next Albion boss, they should be looking at Mo Diame’s situation at Newcastle in the summer.

Diame’s contractual future is up in the air and he could leave at the end of the season, and is exactly the type of midfield enforcer that West Brom need, and with his current contract expiring in June, he would be available on a free.

His presence, both on the field and in the dressing room, is one that will gain him instant respect and could see him transform a Baggies side that needs to move in a new direction in months to come.

With only three yellow cards in his 25 Premier League appearances for the Magpies this season, discipline is not an issue, despite his combative style of play.

The Senegal international would be a great addition to the Hawthorns side, and his knowledge of what it takes to get out of the Championship, and be a success in the Premier League.

So regardless of what division Albion find themselves in next year, Mo Diame will be the ideal signing.

What do you think West Brom fans? Do you think Diame is the type of player your club should be looking at? Join in the debate below…

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Sunderland are sweating over the fitness of Will Grigg, after the striker suffered an ankle injury on international duty.

What’s the story?

According to The Sunderland Echo, Grigg will not take part in Northern Ireland’s Euro 2020 qualifiers against Estonia and Belarus.

The 27 year-old did not feature in training for his international side on Wednesday, and is expected to return to Wearside.

Sunderland of course will be hoping it is nothing serious, as the Black Cats face a gruelling schedule after the Checkatrade Trophy final with eight League One games in the month of April.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals why Tyne-Wear is a more intense derby than anything London can offer – check out the video below….

Promotion in jeopardy

Let’s put it this way: If Grigg is seriously injured, Sunderland will not get promoted.

Sitting two points behind Barnsley with a game in hand, Jack Ross’ side need to put together a flawless run to charge into the automatic promotion spots, and doing so without their only real goalscorer will be incredibly difficult.

Grigg has netted three times and added two assists since his arrival on Wearside, and Charlie Wyke has shown on multiple occasions that he is not good enough to carry the goalscoring load.

Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill says the injury is “an ongoing problem that he’s had for some time”, so fans will have to hope and pray that he hasn’t worsened it on international duty.

If he has done exactly that, the setback could end Sunderland’s quest to jump back into the Championship.