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Ryan Inniss has endured a tough time since joining Charlton Athletic back in October with the bulk of his campaign being hit with a long-term quad injury but on Saturday afternoon, he made a long-awaited comeback and arguably stole the show for Nigel Adkins.

Indeed, it was only the 25-year-old’s seventh appearance for the Addicks and first since the start of November, when he played the full match in their 1-0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup first round.

Nigel Adkins picked up his first win in charge of the south-east Londoners, defeating fellow promotion hopefuls Doncaster Rovers 1-0 at the Keepmoat Stadium, and Inniss played a crucial role in keeping the opposition out.

Having drawn 2-2 with AFC Wimbledon in his maiden match, Adkins altered his backline and made a total of six changes to include the former Palace man – and evidently, it paid off.

A lot of the plaudits may go to Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen, a left-back by trade, as he bagged his first-ever career goal despite playing out of position on the right flank.

“[Maatsen] has got the attributes [to play further forward]. I don’t think he’s played there before. He’s been playing left-back. But you can see he’s a very good footballer,” explained Adkins to LondonNewsOnline.

However, if it wasn’t for Inniss, there may not have been a clean sheet and subsequently, that goal would’ve counted for nothing.

The 6 foot 5 colossus was an absolute rock in the heart of the defence, alongside captain Jason Pearce, he made a match-high seven clearances whilst he also put in three tackles, two blocks and one interception.

Industrious would be one word for it, but the centre-back was not letting Rovers score, even despite them having the bulk of the attempts (12 total compared to the Addicks three) and the majority of the possession (60%), as per SofaScore.

No other Addicks player was graded higher than the Englishman’s 8.1 rating – not even the match-winner Maatsen (7.8).

Despite being a man-mountain in height, Inniss wasn’t easily beaten by Doncaster’s nifty forward line, as he won 100% of his five duels on the ground to supplement his five of seven aerial battles won – making a total of 83%.

After 146 days on the sideline, the Addicks monster returned to the starting XI and duly delivered a mighty display. Inniss stole the show up in Yorkshire, and that’ll undoubtedly delight Adkins ahead of the playoff run-in.

AND in other news, Charlton heading for big mistake over Chuks Aneke…

Speaking to Football Insider after West Ham United images emerged of Declan Rice celebrating in the stands last weekend, pundit Paul Robinson has dropped a transfer claim involving the Englishman.

Rice is currently sidelined with a knee injury and had to watch from the stands as the Hammers pick up a vital three points in the race for an unprecedented European finish.

Goals from Jesse Lingard (x2) and Jarrod Bowen were eventually enough to fight off a Leicester City side determined to mount a late comeback.

Robinson drops Rice transfer claim

David Moyes’ men managed to cling on for a 3-2 win at the London Stadium, with images emerging during the encounter of sidelined star Rice appearing over the moon.

In reaction to these photos, Robinson has claimed the 22-year-old will be ‘licking his lips’ at the prospect of Champions League football next season and is very unlikely to go anywhere this summer amid transfer links. 

“I think the likelihood of being in Europe and potentially even the Champions League make Declan Rice’s decision easier,” explained Robinson to Football Insider.

“West Ham will be able to attract top players to the club this summer if they finish in Europe.

“They have made huge stride as a club this season and why would you want to leave?

“You can see that he is very happy at the moment and I am sure he will be licking his lips at the prospect of playing in Europe in front of a packed London Stadium.

“I cannot see him going anywhere this summer.”

Transfer Tavern take

As West Ham continue to exceed all expectations, we also believe that Rice definitely won’t be going anywhere.

The midfield maestro has been a crucial cog in Moyes’ system this season, making a brilliant two interceptions per game in the Premier League before his injury (WhoScored).

As a result, GSB and co reportedly value him at somewhere around £100 million (Sky Sports), and in this climate, it’s very unlikely any club will be able to afford that – even if Rice did want to leave.

In other news: West Ham eyeing this colossus, find out more here.

Former Norwich City star Jon Newsome has told The Transfer Tavern that the club will have to let Emiliano Buendia go if they receive a bid of £40m this summer.

Reports have suggested that the Canaries have slapped a major price tag on the attacking midfielder, who has dazzled at times this season in the Championship.

Arsenal are said to be interested in a deal to sign the Canaries playmaker, per Metro, and he has been in absolutely unbelievable form at times, with Norwich romping to the Championship title.

He has made 35 appearances in the second-tier and he has scored 12 goals, while laying on 16 assists.

Still just 24, he is contracted at Carrow Road until 2024 but Newsome has no doubts that a huge bid would force Norwich into doing business, and he fully expects that there will be a number of clubs interested in snaffling him away.

He told TT: “Will he have clubs sniffing around him? Yes, I think he will. There’s been stuff in the papers already that they’ve put a 40 million pound price tag on his head.

“But if that kind of number comes in the door, it’s very, very difficult for a club like Norwich City to turn down really. So yeah, I fully expect him to generate a lot of interest this summer.”

Norwich secured promotion to the Premier League on Saturday without kicking a ball, although they were beaten 3-1 by Bournemouth at Carrow Road later in the day, with Buendia scoring the only goal for the hosts.

Ben Jacobs has claimed that the Premier League are ‘confident of winning’ their pending arbitration case against Newcastle United related to the potential takeover.

As per a tweet from the journalist, who has regularly commented on takeover matters, the English top flight do not expect ‘any liability’ from the arbitration hearing as taken from the annual report, and added: “In theory, they could have financial liability since ‘reasonable’ costs can be awarded to successful party & Nick De Marco clearly isn’t cheap.”

Arbitration result key

The result of the arbitration case is likely to be key in determining whether the proposed deal between Mike Ashley and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) group can still be revived or not.

Given the the PL seem confident that they will win the legal battle, it could be worrying times ahead for the St. James’ Park faithful as they look to see how they can turn the case in their favour.

However, a positive result for the North East club could well pave a pathway for the KSA’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) to come back to the table, which would surely bring the bid one step closer to completion.

Nonetheless, the fact that the Premier League are seemingly confident that they are going to win may cast a few doubts in minds at the Tyneside club, especially after Luke Edwards claimed he has been ‘told something’ that could completely end the takeover hopes -Âfind out what worrying claim Edwards dropped on the potential takeover here!

Liverpool fans have been reacting to a post on Twitter, which relayed reports that the Reds are interested in the signing of Sevilla centre-forward, Youssef En-Nesyri, this summer.

According to the report by Foot Mercato, both Liverpool and Manchester United are thought to be interested in a move for En-Nesyri in the upcoming transfer window, with the LaLiga side though to be demanding a fee of around €46 million (£40 million) in order to part with the 23-year-old.

So far this season, the Morocco international has highly impressed over his 32 league appearances for Julen Lopetegui’s side, with the former Malaga man bagging 17 La Liga goals, as well as scoring a further six goals in eight Champions League fixtures.

And, after LFC Transfer Room relayed news of the Reds’ interest in En-Nesyri on Twitter, fans of the club flocked to have their say on the matter, with many appearing delighted at the prospect of their club making a move for the striker this summer.

So, what exactly did these Liverpool fans have to say in reaction to the Reds’ interest in Youssef En-Nesyri?

“He’d be so good for our crossing hoofball as a plan B. Elite finisher. Yes please.”

@FabinhoBall

“Please.”

@lfcjason1

“Sign him.”

@ii_am_dml

“Please please get him.”

@MoAshoor25

“Now that’s a signing I want.”

@_Nastee

“I literally said on here yesterday we should go for him! I hope there’s some truth to this.”

@JasnRoberts

“Yes please. Absolutely ideal 9 to play alongside Mo.”

@TwoFootedPod

“Oooo – this. He’ll be dangerous.”

@itssaliiiiii

In other news: ‘Will be official’ – Journalist drops ‘massive’ Liverpool transfer claim – find out more here!

Southampton have been handed a potential boost in their hopes of signing Swedish midfielder Matthias Svanberg from Bologna this summer, as recent reports have suggested that the Serie A side will have to sell their top talents due to financial difficulties.

Bologna manager Sinisa Mihajlovic recently admitted that the Italian side will have to cash in on some players this summer when asked about their transfer strategies, saying:

“We have to sell by force of circumstances, then we’ll see who: it depends on the market, not on us.”

Southampton, Leicester City and AC Milan have all been linked with Svanberg since January, with rumours re-emerging as we approach the summer transfer window.

The 22-year-old has established himself as a regular with I Rossoblù since joining from Malmo in 2018, as he has now made 82 appearances for the Serie A side, contributing six goals and five assists.

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This season has been something of a breakthrough for the midfielder in terms of attacking returns, as he has managed five goals and two assists in 30 league appearances, so it is easy to see why he is attracting interest from the Saints.

Svanberg, who is currently rated at £8.1m by Transfermarkt, would seemingly fit in well with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s transfer policy at Southampton this summer, with the Austrian suggesting recently that the South Coast club will almost exclusively target players who will cost £10m or less this summer.

Given that the Swedish international has featured in a number of positions in his career thus far, you could certainly argue that his versatility would be a big boost for the Saints next season if he were to make the move to St Mary’s, as their lack of depth, particularly in central-midfield, has certainly been exposed at times this season.

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Therefore, after the news that Bologna may be forced to cash in on Svanberg this summer, Southampton CEO Martin Semmens should do everything he can to sign the 22-year-old for Hasenhuttl’s side before another club gets a deal done.

And, in other news… Better than Stephens: Semmens could amend key Hasenhuttl issue by signing 6 ft 4 beast

In an exclusive interview with The Transfer Tavern, Rob Lee, who made 280 Premier League appearances, can’t see Raphinha leaving Leeds United this summer despite his good performances this season.

Raphinha was a deadline day signing by Marcelo Bielsa and after playing and scoring for Rennes on the final day of the transfer window, the Brazillian had 20 minutes to decide if he wanted to join Leeds.

The £60,000-a-week winger has been linked with a move to Liverpool this summer as they continue to prepare for a potential exit of both Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, who have been linked with moves to both Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively.

Speaking on why Raphinha won’t be leaving Leeds this summer and how he must continue to perform for more than a season, Lee told FFC exclusively:

“I think recently he’s been very good but at the start of the season I don’t think he was that great, and I think it’s just taken him time to adapt to the Premier League.

“Some of these players do well for three months and think they have a God-given right to leave the club they are at. It bewilders me sometimes that players have a few good games and think they’re better than the club they’re at.”

The 24-year old winger has missed the last three games after he picked up an injury during their 2-1 win against Manchester City when Fernandinho blocked him off.

Raphinha has taken to the Premier League with ease as the 24-year old has managed six goals and six assists, all while playing for a newly promoted team.

When Barry Douglas comes back to Leeds United this summer, Marcelo Bielsa must finally make a ruthless call and offload him.

The Scotland international is currently out on loan at Championship side Blackburn Rovers, and has been a permanent fixture at Ewood Park, making 30 appearances in the league alone.

But, former Leeds man David Norris has insisted that while Douglas may be playing week-in and week-out at Blackburn, he expects Bielsa to move him on when the summer transfer window opens.

He said: “Bielsa never trusted him in the back four so I don’t see how him going out on loan will have changed anything. If I’m being honest, I expect him to move on.

“He looked pretty sharp when he came back from injury and looked like he might start playing regularly, but I think after being out on loan this season I would expect to see Douglas moved on.”

Given how Douglas has only made 44 appearances for Leeds since joining from Wolves in the summer of 2018, the time has surely come for Bielsa to wave goodbye to the left-back this summer.

Speaking earlier this campaign, The Athletic’s Phil Hay seemed to hint that the writing seemed to be on the wall for the £40k-a-week earning forgotten man at Elland Road, saying: “It tells its own story that Stuart Dallas is currently the best left-back at the club. There is interest, Watford are very keen, Blackburn have spoken about him.

“On the basis that he didn’t make the 18 against City, when Jack Harrison was unavailable, if, in those circumstances, Douglas isn’t in the 18 you know he’s on his way.”

And while Gjanni Alioski also looks set to depart, the Whites would simply be better off investing in a new first-choice left-back, and then potentially even promoting young Niall Huggins into the first-team set-up too – that’s not to mention the versatile Dallas being able to play there too as Hay notes.

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Whatever the case, Douglas’ time at Leeds has run its course, and Bielsa must offload him this summer.

Meanwhile, Leeds must reignite their interest in this Premier League star…

Despite a potential impending points deduction, Wayne Rooney’s Derby County side look likely to be spared relegation from the Championship this season.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to The Sun journalist Alan Nixon, who claimed in a post on Twitter that, despite recent reports suggesting that the Rams could yet still be relegated from the second tier following their dramatic final day 3-3 draw with Sheffield Wednesday due to a breach of financial fair play rules, any points deduction will be imposed on the club as of next season, rather than the campaign just past.

He said: “Hear EFL will reveal findings of their appeal in the next 24 hours. Then it goes to charges and any appeal. Any points penalties will next season. As was the case with Sheffield Wednesday. Interesting to see the details… [they will be] key to all this and how hard they will be hit.”

Fans will be buzzing

Following what has been a rather disastrous 2020/21 campaign for Derby fans to endure, with their side only narrowing avoiding relegation to the third tier of English football due to, ultimately, Sheffield Wednesday incurring their own six-point penalty, the news that the club look set to avoid any deductions to this season’s points total will leave the Pride Park faithful buzzing.

Having said that, if Derby do not buck up their ideas next season, both in terms of the way the club is run from a financial perspective as well as the performances of Rooney’s players on the pitch, then the joy of avoiding relegation this season could well be short-lived.

However, with a summer transfer window ahead of him, the 35-year-old manager has plenty of time to put a team together that is capable of a much more respectable league position than their 21st placed finish this term, be that with or without a points deduction.

In other news: Get him gone: Rooney must ruthlessly axe Lampard’s £20k-p/w Derby flop this summer – opinion

Former Scotland defender now BT Sport pundit Alan Hutton believes Helder Costa may leave Leeds United this summer, due to not adjusting to Marcelo Bielsa’s style of play.

The Lowdown: Lack of playing time

The Whites have enjoyed a superb return to the Premier League, looking like an established top-flight outfit throughout the campaign.

There have been some star players who have stood out, from Raphinha to Patrick Bamford, but Costa hasn’t been one of them.

The 27-year-old has been limited to just 13 starts in the league, scoring three times in his total of 22 appearances in the competition and often finding himself on the substitutes’ bench.

The Latest: Hutton tips Costa to leave

Someone who believes Costa may have played his last game for Leeds is Hutton, who told Football Insider that Bielsa may not see him as the right fit anymore:

“Possibly. It’s difficult for a winger to really take on board what Bielsa wants in a way.

“You know what wingers can be like, they can switch off, they don’t want to do the hard yards. He wants them to do that but also be an attacking threat. You need a certain player to be able to do that.

“It’s not easy to run like that for 90 minutes. Maybe he just doesn’t suit that style of football. I think that’s maybe what it comes down to. He is a good player but Bielsa asks a lot from his players, defensively and offensively.

“Maybe that’s where it’s just not quite worked out. He’s picked up some injuries, probably due to the intensity of it.

“I think he’s a good squad player but I don’t think he’s going to be that guy who is going to play week in, week out. It’s really going to come down to him whether he fancies that or he wants a move somewhere else to play more regularly.”

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The Verdict: Time for a fresh challenge

Costa is a talented winger, possessing quick feet and trickery, but it does feel like the right time for him to move on.

The brutal truth is that Raphinha and Jack Harrison both represent better options for Bielsa, working harder and registering 13 goals involvements apiece between them in the league this season.

Leeds should be able to receive a decent fee for Costa, considering he is 27 and his current deal doesn’t expire until 2024, so it makes sense to move him on and look for an upgrade this summer.

In other news, Leeds have been linked with another winger ahead of the summer transfer window. Find out who it is here.