EFL L1 transfer news: Blackpool and Lincoln City chase striker, Wigan Athletic star wanted, Reading FC and Bradford City battle for defender | OneFootball

We rounded up all the latest transfer news from League One as the January window approaches.

As the League One season approaches the halfway point, the attention of clubs from across the division will soon be turning to the January transfer window.

It has been a strong start to the season for many of the promotion favourites in League One, including the likes of Cardiff City, Stockport County and Bolton Wanderers, and a few surprise packages are also among the early front-runners, such as Bradford City, Lincoln City and Stevenage.

At the other end of the table, Port Vale and Doncaster Rovers have found life in the third tier difficult after their promotions from League Two, while Plymouth Argyle, Blackpool and Peterborough United are some of those who have had a much tougher season than expected so far.

Of course, the main focus for most in the league currently will be on navigating the busy festive period, but whether fighting for promotion or battling against relegation, the January window is always a potentially season-defining month, and transfer plans will be being drawn up at all 24 clubs.

As speculation begins to gather pace about possible incomings and outgoings, we rounded up all the latest League One transfer news.

Blackpool and Lincoln City face obstacle in pursuit of 12-goal striker

Blackpool and Lincoln may have spent this season at opposite ends of the League One table, but they are both setting their sights on one particular player ahead of the January transfer window.

As FLW exclusively revealed on Monday, the Seasiders and the Imps are both plotting a move for striker Eoin Kenny, who is currently a free agent after departing Irish side Dundalk at the end of his contract.

Kenny, who is the son of former Republic of Ireland manager Stephen, scored 12 goals and provided nine assists in 39 appearances in all competitions last season to help Dundalk to an immediate return to the Irish top flight, and he is a man in demand following his recent exit from the club.

While Blackpool and Lincoln are two of Kenny's admirers, FLW understands that the 19-year-old is attracting interest from across the EFL, as well as from clubs in Scotland and Belgium, so the League One pair will have to fight off plenty of competition if they are to land his signature.

Sheffield United set to reignite interest in Wigan Athletic man

It has been a solid if unspectacular season for Wigan Athletic so far, with Ryan Lowe's men currently sitting in 11th place, six points from the play-offs.

The Latics will have ambitions of making a push for the top six in the second half of the season, but the Lancashire outfit could face a battle to hold on to highly-rated goalkeeper Sam Tickle in the January window.

Tickle has been the subject of plenty of interest from elsewhere in the past, with the 23-year-old even reportedly rejecting a move to Premier League giants Arsenal last summer, and he was linked with a move to Championship side Sheffield United back in July.

The Blades were said to be monitoring Tickle in case they lost Michael Cooper, but while a move to Bramall Lane did not materialise on that occasion, journalist Alan Nixon claims that they are continuing to keep an eye on his progress at Wigan ahead of a possible January swoop.

After a decent start to life under new manager Leam Richardson, Reading will be looking to climb the League One table in the second half of the season, while Bradford will be hoping to continue their unexpected automatic promotion challenge.

The Royals and the Bantams may have experienced contrasting fortunes so far this season, but they could be set to do battle for Accrington Stanley defender Benn Ward in the January window.

According to Nixon, Bradford were among nine League One clubs who watched Ward in action in Stanley's FA Cup tie against Mansfield Town on Saturday, while scouts from League Two promotion hopefuls Chesterfield were also present, and both are expected to make an offer for the 21-year-old in January.

However, Reading are believed to be another club who could launch a move for Ward, who has been one of the standout performers for Accrington this season, and he got on the scoresheet in his side's 2-0 win at Harrogate Town on Tuesday night.

It has been an outstanding season so far for Cardiff, with Brian Barry-Murphy's men currently sitting four points clear at the top of League One as they look to make an immediate return to the Championship.

Barry-Murphy has given a host of the Bluebirds' talented academy products an opportunity in the first team this season, and his faith in youth has certainly been rewarded, with defenders Ronan Kpakio and Dylan Lawlor two of those who have particularly impressed.

However, it seems the pair's performances have not gone unnoticed, and TEAMtalk claim that Lawlor is attracting attention from Premier League sides Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, as well as Bundesliga trio Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig.

While the interest in Lawlor is more concrete at this stage, the report also reveals that his team-mate Kpakio has had "most of the Premier League watch him closely in recent weeks", so Cardiff could potentially face the threat of losing two of their prized assets when the winter window opens.