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Babacar chase on FOOTBALL’S N0.1 TRANSFER GOSSIP COLUMN
WEST BROM have joined CRYSTAL PALACE and BRIGHTON in the hunt for Fiorentina striker Khouma Babacar.
Palace boss Roy Hodgson had the 24-year-old watched in December and he is interested in bringing him to Selhurst Park this month.
Brighton manager Chris Hughton had a deal in place to take Babacar in the summer, only for it to fall through late in the window.
Hughton is keen to resurrect a move for the Senegal striker, but the door has now opened for Hodgson and Baggies boss Alan Pardew to make their moves.
Christian Benteke has struggled for goals at Palace and so has Salomon Rondon at West Brom.
Babacar is keen on a switch to England this month. TONY PULIS is ready to allow Adlene Guedioura to leave MIDDLESBROUGH – setting up a reunion with Mick McCarthy at IPSWICH. The 32-year-old Algeria international, who worked with McCarthy at Wolves, is unwanted by Boro. ASTON VILLA are growing anxious that a loan move for MANCHESTER UNITED’S Axel Tuanzebe, 20, may not be pushed through before the end of the month. The Villans have an enquiry with Jose Mourinho and are awaiting a response after Villa boss Steve Bruce was hopeful of landing the powerful defender. BARNET are looking for a new head coach amid a shake-up of their management structure. Current boss Mark McGhee is set for a director of football role as the Bees seek a way out of relegation danger in League Two. AMBITIOUS Championship club LEEDS are beefing up their Under-23 squad.
They lead the chase for 17-year-old FOREST GREEN midfielder Jordan Stevens – but face competition from EVERTON and BRIGHTON.
Leeds are also very keen on 19-year-old HULL midfielder Tyler Hamilton. DAVID MOYES will test Everton’s resolve to keep hold of midfielder Tom Davies.
The West Ham boss is keen to take the teenager to the London Stadium as he seeks to rebuild the Eastenders.
Toffees’ chief Sam Allardyce has a top-heavy squad at Goodison Park and will listen to offers for several of his players.
Whether that includes Davies (right) remains to be seen – but Moyes wants to add the 19-year-old to his engine room.
Allardyce does not have a reputation for blooding young talent and Everton supporters would be unhappy if one of their academy graduates was allowed to leave on the cheap.
Former boss Ronald Koeman handed the England youth international his chance in the first team last season.
Since then, he has built up a considerable body of experience without establishing himself and Moyes is hoping to trade on that – as well as handing Davies a hefty pay rise.
The Scot has been assessing his resources in the capital and wanted to bring Robert Snodgrass back f r om hi s temporary spell at Aston Villa. However, the Hammers banked a hefty loan fee from Villa – understood to be in the region of £ 2million – and Steve Bruce would demand that was repaid before any move could be sanctioned.
Snodgrass, 30, also suffered the embarrassment of Hammers co-owner David Sullivan questioning his £10.2m signing from Hull last January.
Sullivan said his kids begged him not to buy Snodgrass, although previous boss Slaven Bilic wanted the deal done. It is understood the fact that cash needed to change hands has scuppered any chance of the Scotland international returning from Villa during the window.
Meanwhile, West Ham are set to offer Declan Rice (below) a new contract that will more than double his wages.
Outstanding
The 18-year-old defender has made a huge impression on Moyes and his assistant Stuart Pearce. He has played in central defence and also in midfield – and was outstanding against Tottenham in the 1-1 draw in the Premier League. Rice was also one of the few Hammers to come out of the goalless draw at Shrewsbury in the third round of the FA Cup a week ago with any credit. Rice – who has pl ayed f or t he Republic of Ireland at Under- 21 level and is rated by Irish boss Martin O’Neill – has a deal that runs out next year and currently earns around £10,000 a week. WEST BROM BRISTOL CITY FLEETWOOD are set to lose Baily Cargill amid Championship interest. The centre-back, 22, who has been on loan with the Cod Army, could be recalled by BOURNEMOUTH after the Cherries received enquiries from the second tier and are considering bringing Cargill in. CELTIC C IC are trackingg SCHALKE striker Franco