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It seems too cold and dark to be thinking about Wembley finals, but we now know two of this year's EFL Cup semi-finalists, after Manchester United and Newcastle made it through to the last four on Tuesday night.

Nottingham Forest host Wolves and Manchester City travel to Southampton on Wednesday night in the next two quarter-final ties.

Speaking of EFL Wembley finals, Bolton Wanderers are into the last four of the EFL Trophy after beating Portsmouth 1-0 at home in the quarter-finals in what would have been a Premier League encounter not too long ago (they last played each other in the top tier in April 2010).

Wanderers, who lifted the EFL Trophy back in 1989, are the last former winners left in the competition after Accrington, Plymouth and Cheltenham also made it through to the semi-finals.

The draw will take place on Saturday, 14 January, with the ties taking place in the week commencing 20 February.

Read more here.

Marcus Rashford does not turn 26 until October 31, but the in-form Manchester United striker must be thinking all his birthdays have come at once after scoring two more in Tuesday's night's 3-0 win at home to Charlton in the EFL Cup quarter-finals.

The brace took his tally to 18 goals for the season.

It looks like Jamie Vardy (see 09:31 GMT) shares his birthday with Bayern Munich's former Manchester City winger Leroy Sane and Real Madrid full-back Dani Carvajal...

Leicester City

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Former England midfielder Steve Stone believes Leicester "have too much quality" to be worried about relegation this season, but accepts their recent form is concerning.

Brendan Rodgers' side have only won against MK Dons and Gillingham since the return from the World Cup and were well beaten by by Newcastle in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

The Foxes are hampered by a lengthy injury list and, sitting just two points over the drop zone, Stone says they need players to return as soon as possible.

"They're stretched at the moment, they really need bodies back," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

Everything Leicester in one place – bookmark the page or if you’re using the app hit the bell icon for club notifications.

Jamie Vardy is 36 years young today...many happy returns.

Lord knows, there has not been much to celebrate at the King Power since the end of the World Cup break.

Leicester were on a fine run of form heading into that tournament, with five wins from six matches, but have lost all four games against Premier League opposition since the reset in late December.

Manchester United

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Wout Weghorst would offer "a short-term fix" at Manchester United, according to former England midfielder Steve Stone - who worked with the Netherlands striker at Burnley last season.

"Wout is incredibly professional at what he does," said Stone on the Football Daily podcast. "Technically, he is very good. He leads the line and brings others into play."

But Dutch football journalist Marcel van der Kraan argued Weghorst would not be on United's wishlist if money was available.

"I've been told there is no money at the moment to invest heavily," he said. "Otherwise I do not think Weghorst would be the first pick.

"He is a cheap and easy option. It's maybe a case of Weghorst or nothing."

Everything United in one place – bookmark the page or if you’re using the app hit the bell icon for club notifications.

Real Madrid's reported interest in Tottenham's Harry Kane may be today's hot piece of transfer gossip, but that story will more likely rumble under for some time yet before we really get to the bottom of it.

One move that does seem imminent is that of Netherlands striker Wout Weghorst to Manchester United from Burnley, via Besiktas.

It is a complicated piece of business, with the 30-year-old Dutch frontman even reported to be offering to pay a compensation fee to his Turkish loan club to help seal the deal.

BBC Sport has the latest on the transfer on it's Manchester United club page...

Everything United in one place – bookmark the page or if you’re using the app hit the bell icon for club notifications

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Better not show that Dan Burn dance clip (see 08:36 GMT) to Gianluigi Buffon - he would probably end up needing a new hip if he tried to replicate those moves.

Saying that, the legendary former Italy keeper, now 44, rolled back the years in Parma's stubborn display against holders Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia last 16.

Inter needed extra time before finally getting past Buffon et al.

Parma's stopper was making his first appearance for the Serie B club since October following a hamstring injury.

He won the cup once during his first spell with Parma and five times with Juventus, having made his debut in this tournament 25 years and 129 days ago.

Stanko Juric's brilliant 25-yard strike gave Parma the lead but Lautaro Martinez's late deflected goal sent the game to extra time, before Francesco Acerbi headed in the winner.

"We fought to chase a dream," Buffon wrote on Instagram after the match. "We really gave everything we had but unfortunately it wasn't enough. Losing is always sad but nights like these can only make us realise our real value."

As well as the Transfer Gossip Daily podcast, BBC Sounds is also home to BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, which is a snackable summary of the day's main footballing talking points.

The latest issue looks at a pretty satisfying night for Newcastle United's Dan Burn (refer to his snake-hips dance moves in our post at 08:36 GMT).

BBC Sounds

In the spirit of stoking debate, how about this one for a talking point?

How much is Harry Kane worth?

Real Madrid are reportedly interested in signing the England striker, whose current deal at Tottenham runs until 2024.

The question is pondered on the latest edition of Transfer Gossip Daily on BBC Sounds.

Click on the link below to listen to the full podcast and join the debate by using #bbcfootball or by sending a text message to 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply) or to WhatsApp on 03301231826.

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As always, we want to hear your thoughts ahead.

As Manchester United and Newcastle booked their places in the EFL Cup semi-finals, we ask is Marcus Rashford the most in-form player in Europe at the moment? And can the Magpies win their first trophy in more than 50 years?

Get in touch...

Newcastle United

You can get the latest on Newcastle United’s transfer links, loads of expert opinion and plenty of fan viewpoints on our dedicated Newcastle page.

The page is right here

You can bookmark it and come back each day. Or if you are using the BBC Sport app, when you land on the page, hit the bell icon and you'll get Newcastle United notifications.

Dan Burn expresses how it feels to score your first goal for your boyhood club in the medium of dance...

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"You couldn't script it," said boss Eddie Howe after Dan Burn's first goal for his boyhood club Newcastle set up a place in the Carabao Cup semi-final with victory over Leicester.

The Magpies, who sit third in the Premier League and are hunting a first trophy in more than 50 years, did not let St James' Park down.

They wasted a host of chances until 6ft 6in defender Burn ran on to Joelinton's pass, beat two defenders and slotted a shot into the bottom corner, before Joelinton himself scored the second goal to wrap up the win.

For Leicester, it was another miserable night as they have only beaten MK Dons and Gillingham since the break in their season in November.

Read more from the match report here.

Everything Newcastle in one place – bookmark the page or if you’re using the app hit the bell icon for club notifications

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says Diogo Dalot and Donny van de Beek will have to be assessed ahead of Saturday's Old Trafford derby.

Dalot limped out of the first-half of United's 3-0 win over Charlton last night, whilst Van de Beek has still not received a full diagnosis on what appeared a severe knee injury he picked up during the Premier League win against Bournemouth on 3 January.

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And here's another magical moment - for the Beckham family and anyone in the 500+ crowd at the Park View Road stadium in Bexley on Tuesday night.

Romeo Beckham had a 35-minute run-out from the bench on his debut for Brentford B.

It proved a successful cameo as the 20-year-old son of former England and Manchester United midfielder David Beckham helped his new side to a 3-2 win at Erith & Belvedere , externalin the London Senior Cup.

There was a silver-lining for the home side, who reported a new record attendance of 553.

Romeo Beckham joined Brentford's B team last week on loan from Inter Miami II until the end of the season.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Talking about magical moments at Old Trafford, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says he has a "ridiculous" idea about how to beat Erik Ten Hag's United in Saturday's lunchtime Premier Leasgue encounter.

Guardiola has won nine out of 17 meetings with United since replacing Manuel Pellegrini in 2016, and has lost six.

"I would like to arrive against United with the average of minutes in the legs of the players quite similar because I have a few ideas, thoughts, ridiculous ones against United," he said.

Erik ten Hag is the fourth different United manager he has faced in that time. Guardiola has beaten them all, most recently the Dutchman, in a 6-3 victory at the Etihad Stadium in October.

However, United are in a fine run of form, dropping just seven points in 10 Premier League games since and have won their last four, their best run since March 2021.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Charlton boss Dean Holden couldn't hide his pride at managing his team at Old Trafford last night.

Holden was brought up in nearby Swinton, was a Manchester United fan as a kid and his dad has been going to games for 60 years.

"It was pretty magical, an incredible experience," he said.

"During the match I was totally focused, I could have been coaching my daughter’s under-8s but the bit around it… I have stood in every corner around this ground over years but never once did I believe I could be stood in that technical area.

"My dad is stood next door (in the directors' lounge). He is 70 years old and has been coming here for 60-odd years."