EFL Transfer Notebook: How Hull won Carvalho race plus emotional Leeds exit hint
Transfer battles are being won and lost up and down the country with the January window wide open, and there is plenty of drama left in store for EFL clubs for the rest of the month.
With all 72 teams across League Two, League One and the Championship busy scouring the market for great deals, we have all the best news, gossip and rumours courtesy of our EFL Transfer Notebook, along with expert analysis from our EFL 72 team...
How Hull won Fabio Carvalho battle
Everybody loves an exclusive about a wonderkid, and Hull Live came up trumps following the dramatic loan signing of Liverpool starlet Fabio Carvalho. City correspondent Barry Cooper had an exclusive interview with Hull City owner Acun Ilicali on Monday, who spilled the beans that the club badly wanted Carvalho on loan.
Liverpool recalled the 21-year-old from RB Leipzig due to a lack of minutes on loan at the Bundesliga club, and the Portuguese playmaker will now spend the rest of the season on loan in the Championship. Carvalho had also been linked with Hull's Championship rivals Leicester, Southampton and Leeds United, but Hull Live reports that the player was "impressed with the way in which the club have helped progress Tyler Morton's career" since he joined on loan from Liverpool as well.
EFL 72 says:Signing Carvalho is a real coup for a Hull side needing a bit of spark as they push for a Championship play-off spot. Southampton will rue missing out on a talent who could mean the difference between automatic promotion and the play-offs, though it's possible Carvalho saw Hull as the better chance of guaranteed game time with more chance of progressing into Liverpool's first time as a result.
Klopp's dream Liverpool line up as last-gasp January transfers rejected
Middlesbrough's Shankland move
Fresh off the back of signing Fizz Azaz from Aston Villa, Middlesbrough are on the hunt for more new signings. 'Boro are reportedly interested in Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland, though Hull and Southampton have also been linked with the 28-year-old Scotland international.
Carlton Palmer told Football League World that although it's always a 'gamble' moving from Scotland to the Championship, it could be worth taking - but Shankland may not come cheap. Palmer said of Shankland: "He’s still got 18 months left on his contract and, being a Scottish international, I’m sure that Hearts will be looking for a sizeable fee, and yes, there’s always a risk to take someone from north of the border, but he’s bang in form and scoring goals, so maybe it’s a risk worth taking if the price is right."
EFL 72 says:As Palmer says, a transfer like this carries some element of risk - but then again, so does any transfer. Shankland has proven he can score plenty of goals at the highest level in Scotland, and a goalscorer is always worth taking a risk on.
Amad on swapping Man Utd for Birmingham
There is plenty of desire for Amad's loan signature this month following the Manchester United forward's return after a knee injury. Amad shone on loan at Sunderland last season, though it remains to be seen whether Erik ten Hag will sanction another temporary spell away given United's goalscoring struggles - and Antony's form in particular.
It's been suggested that Birmingham should hijack a deal for Amad given he could link up with former Black Cats boss Tony Mowbray, adding: "I'm sure Amad will be keen to join him there." However, those quotes were shared on X via a United fan account - and Amad was unimpressed, writing in response: "Stop lying mate.!"
EFL 72 says:It remains to be seen whether Amad has a long-term future at Old Trafford, though he can't do much worse than the current batch of forwards struggling to score or assist at all this season. The winger may sense a unique chance to stake a claim given United's abject form, but you would think if Ten Hag seriously rates him, it's surely a case of now or never.
Long Leeds goodbye?
Leeds United are pushing for promotion straight back to the Premier League, though that does not mean Daniel Farke is beyond trimming his squad this month.
Luke Ayling is Leeds through and through, but his time at the club could be coming to an end if the emotional scenes at the end of the Lilywhites' FA Cup win at Peterborough were anything to go by. While Daniel Farke would not be drawn on Ayling's immediate fate, it certainly looked like a goodbye.
Leeds Live's United writer Beren Cross concluded: "Full-time applause for supporters is nothing new, but Ayling’s address was pointed, lingering and drew embraces from team-mates like Daniel James and Liam Cooper. The latter even intervened when a young pitch invader’s love for Ayling seemed too much for the right-back to bear."
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EFL 72 says:A parting of ways will be emotional for both sides, but Ayling needs to kickstart his career - and Middlesbrough are reportedly interested. A move makes sense for all parties.
Salah in, Soumare out?
Over to Leicester now, where City have been linked with Salah. No, not that Salah - it’s Stade Rennais winger Ibrahim Salah. According to French experts L’Equipe, Leicester have ‘already come forward’ to sign the 22-year-old.
Salah started the season brightly but has fallen out of favour since early November, and is also said to be wanted by a host of clubs including Feyenoord, Toulouse, FC Lorient, Brest and Olympiacos.
EFL 72 says: Signing somebody called Salah doesn't seem too bad an idea, though his lack of minutes of late are a potential concern for the Foxes. If they're looking to blood him in and get him ready as a Premier League squad option for next term, it could make a lot of sense.
Sticking with the Foxes, Boubakary Soumare could be set to leave the Leicester wilderness for Napoli - but it’s a complicated deal. Soumare is on loan at Sevilla where he isn’t getting a huge amount of game time, though the Spanish club would still need to agree to break the midfielder’s loan deal to let Leicester sell him - hence why getting it all done in January could be a tricky sell.
EFL 72 says:Seville or Naples - some people have all the luck! Napoli looks a great move for Soumare, but Leicester will have to consider whether they can get a fee for the midfielder before they consider potentially paying a penalty for breaking his loan deal.
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