Former Wanderer Owen Beck is closing in on a return to Lancashire to play in the Championship.

Beck is set to join Blackburn Rovers on loan, according to our sister paper The Lancashire Telegraph.

The 22-year-old left-back had a spell at the Toughsheet Community Stadium during the first half of the 2022/23 campaign.

However, he had to play catch-up following a tough stint in Portugal with Famalicao and went on to make five league appearances.

Beck spent last season on loan at Dundee in the Scottish Premiership, playing 29 times and scoring twice as the Dee secured a top-half finish.

He now heads to Ewood Park as Blackburn aim to build on their 19th-place finish last term, securing safety on the final day following victory at champions Leicester.

John Eustace, who took charge in February following Jon Dahl Tomasson’s departure, has overseen a positive start with wins against Derby and Oxford.

Blackburn have signed several players this summer including Makhtar Gueye, Yuki Ohashi, Andi Weimann and Danny Batth.

However, star man Sam Szmodics was snapped up by Ipswich after netting 33 goals in 48 matches last season.

Meanwhile, Newcastle have reportedly reignited their interest in James Trafford heading into the final days of the window.

The former Bolton goalkeeper made 28 appearances in the Premier League for Burnley last term and also earned a first call-up to the England senior squad for the friendlies against Belgium and Brazil.

Trafford was named in the preliminary squad for the Euros in Germany but didn’t make the final cut behind Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale and Dean Henderson.

The 21-year-old has played twice in the Championship this season, including the 1-0 defeat at Sunderland last weekend.

Burnley boss Scott Parker was quizzed about Trafford’s future earlier this month. He said: “At this moment in time, he is here.

“What you need to understand is that speculation is speculation. James is here and James has got the shirt, hence why he played.”

Parker added: “What happens in the future? I don't know, I can’t answer that. But as of now, this is someone who I thought was brilliant. He showed his quality again.”