TalkSPORT understands West Ham do not want to sell Lucas Paqueta in January.
Paqueta took to social media to play down claims he wanted to leave the relegation-hit side in the upcoming transfer window.
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The 28-year-old attracted strong interest from Aston Villa in August and Villans manager Unai Emery remains an admirer.
However, while there is a consensus within West Ham’s senior management that the Brazilian is likely to leave next summer, they are aware that an earlier win would significantly dent their survival hopes.
Sources close to owner David Sullivan also insist that Paqueta has expressed no desire to pursue a transfer.
Rodgers’ surprise exit scuppers Celtic Bellamy’s plan
Celtic’s succession plans for Brendan Rodgers have been thrown into turmoil following his surprise resignation.
As The Pitch Prospect previously reported, the Glasgow giants planned for Rodgers to leave at the end of the season when his contract expired.
That would have given them several months to find a suitable replacement.
Rodgers’ decision to quit earlier this week sparked an angry statement from club owner Dermot Desmond and has made that task even more difficult, with many of Celtic’s top targets in the works and unwilling to move mid-season.
They include former striker Craig Bellamy, who is stuck in World Cup qualifying with Wales, and Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna, who would also be an expensive hire due to wage and compensation demands.
The Pitch Prospect have been told that former boss Ange Postecoglou is also unlikely to return to Parkhead at this stage.
Other potential options include former Celtic loanee Robbie Keane, who currently manages Hungarian champions Ferencvaros.
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England are considering calling up a Championship star
Coventry City goalkeeper Carl Rushworth is on England’s radar after his record-breaking start to the season.
Rushworth last went 613 minutes without conceding a goal, the longest such streak in Sky Blues history.
The Pitch Prospect understands England scouts are paying close attention to the Brighton loanee’s form.
Rushworth almost moved to Rangers in the summer but Brighton blocked the deal with sources close to the player suggesting it was due to owner Tony Bloom’s interest in Hearts.
With the Gers struggling and Coventry top of the Championship and making history under Frank Lampard, this turnaround has worked in his favour.
Chelsea’s English youngster could change countries
Chelsea’s England U21 defender Josh Acheampong is in Ghana’s sights.
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Acheampong, who is enjoying a breakthrough season at Stamford Bridge, is eligible to play for the African team through his parents.
The central defender can also play for the Republic of Ireland, but has played his entire youth career for England.
Ghana are aware that Acheampong’s decision will take time but will hope that qualifying for next summer’s World Cup can convince him.
Acheampong is enjoying a breakthrough into the Blues’ first team this season, having made five Premier League and two Champions League appearances so far.
He also scored the first goal of his senior career in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest.