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According to TEAMtalk, Celtic are interested in signing James McCarthy from Crystal Palace, but the Eagles simply can’t afford to let their midfield diamond go.

What’s the word?

The Bhoys want to bring McCarthy back to his hometown of Glasgow as they apparently see him as the obvious successor to club captain Scott Brown. Neil Lennon’s side have struggled for consistency so far this season, having lost two out of their last three games in all competitions.

However, they may have a tough task trying to prise McCarthy away from Selhurst Park, as a number of Premier League clubs have reportedly taken an interest in the Republic of Ireland international, including Burnley and Aston Villa.

The 30-year-old, who has played for Hamilton Academical in the past, is arguably exactly what Celtic need, although Lennon has previously warned his players that they can’t live off of their former glories, which implies that he doesn’t want to sign players who will be approaching the twilight of their careers.

But from Palace’s point of view, Roy Hodgson simply can’t afford to lose his midfield enforcer.

Keep McCarthy at all costs

Reunited with his old comrade James McArthur at Selhurst Park, McCarthy has turned out to be a shrewd signing since he arrived at the Eagles from Everton for £3m, after six seasons at Goodison Park.

Together, the ex-Hamilton pair have helped Hodgson’s side cement their place in the Premier League

McCarthy has played a combined 261 games in the Premier League for Palace, Everton and Wigan, winning 88 games and losing 104. On average, he produces nearly 42 passes per match, showing he is an important part of the supply chain for the likes of Jordan Ayew, Michy Batshuayi and Wilfried Zaha.

Whilst this might not seem like a lot, only Luka Milivojevic averages more passes per game from the midfield, which shows precisely what Hodgson has to work with.

Not only has McCarthy made 40 appearances for Palace, but he is also averaging 2.3 tackles, 1 interception and 1.2 clearances per game in the top flight this season, via WhoScored.

Valued at £4m via Transfermarkt, it would make little sense to essentially let him leave for a small profit, especially when you consider the fact that these kinds of numbers would be incredibly hard to replace in a winter transfer window that seems more uncertain than ever before, given the current unprecedented circumstances clubs are currently operating in.

Palace’s form has been patchy at best so far, as a promising start to the season – which saw Hodgson’s side stun Manchester United at Old Trafford – has quickly tailed off, with three defeats in their last four fixtures in the league.

It goes without saying that his potential departure would be a total disaster for Parish but a major coup for Celtic.

AND in other news, Wilfried Zaha: Steve Parish can’t afford to gamble on Crystal Palace talisman’s future amid links abroad…

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has questioned the decision to exclude veteran Keiren Westwood from the squad this season.

The 36-year-old has not featured for the Owls in nearly a year with Garry Monk option to run with academy graduates Joe Wildsmith and Cameron Dawson instead, which is rather damning with the long-serving shot-stopper thought to be on around £30k-per-week at Hillsborough.

Westwood was not given a squad number for the 2020/21 season and has been left to train away from the first-team squad. He was also reportedly available for transfer during the summer but no approaches were made.

Kirkland, who worked with the experienced Owls man during his stint in south Yorkshire, is baffled by the situation and has called on Monk to bury the hatchet to save their season.

He told FFC:

“I think they’ve got an issue. I think you have to talk about the goalkeeper situation there.

“I have worked with both Joe [Wildsmith] and Cam [Dawson]. Keiren Westwood should be playing without a shadow of a doubt. He’s the best keeper there. He should still be playing in the Premier League but there’s obviously question marks. People talk about Keiren and his attitude and stuff like that, but he was always great with me. I had no issues with him there.

“Other managers have seen a problem there and that’s probably why Garry [Monk] isn’t playing him now because there is obviously an issue behind the scenes. You don’t keep somebody who is one of your top-earners and as good as he is on the bench unless there are big problems behind the scenes.

“With Keiren not playing, that’s a huge mystery. I think if they’re going to do anything this season, they’ve got to bury whatever has gone on. He’s got to get back playing –  and now.”

Westwood has played 179 times for Sheffield Wednesday and appears unlikely to play for the club ever again whilst Monk is still in charge, especially with his contract up at the end of the current campaign.

The Owls have only conceded ten goals so far this term, which is fewer than league-leading Reading, Brentford, Blackburn Rovers and Bristol City.

It remains to be seen what the exact issue is between Monk and Westwood, but clearly, Kirkland believes the Owls would be a far stronger side with the Republic of Ireland glovesman between the sticks than either of their younger options.

AND in other news, Exclusive: Chris Kirkland tips Dejphon Chansiri to make a major call soon…

According to reports, Aston Villa will try again in the January transfer window to sign Strasbourg defender Mohamed Simakan.

What’s the word?

Reports back in the summer suggested that Villa’s fellow Premier League side Burnley were keen on putting together a £15m deal to entice him away from France, but that failed to come to fruition, with Simakan staying put.

Now, an intermediary for the defender, Francesco Di Frisco told Italian publication Calcio Mercato that Villa, and a number of other clubs across Europe could make a renewed attempt to sign him.

He said (via Sport Witness): “There were many teams on Simakan: Lyon, Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund, especially the Germans tried until the last hours of the market. In January, I think these clubs, including Milan, will try to push again. The boy has picked up where he left off, showing his qualities and it’s possible that his admirers will also increase.”

Lange must win the race

At just 20-years-old, it’s little wonder that some of European football’s most prestigious sides are often Simakan.

The starlet, who is capable of playing at either centre-back or right-back, has all the qualities to become a real top defender at the highest level, especially when you consider that Strasbourg’s club president, and former France international, Marc Keller, said he had shades of Real Madrid star Raphael Varane.

Simakan has already established himself as a key part of his team’s starting eleven, playing the full 90 minutes in every single Ligue 1 game this season. Despite Strasbourg’s lowly position – they currently find themselves 18th – the 6 foot 2 powerhouse putting in some exemplary individual displays.

Spot the fact from the fib: Are these Premier League records true or false?

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As per Whoscored, he is averaging an impressive 2.1 tackles and 2.1 interceptions per game in the French top-flight. To put that into context, among all players in the division, he ranks 44th and joint-20th for those two stats respectively.

With Tyrone Mings being left-footed, and also capable of playing in a back-three as shown by his performances with England, Simakan’s own versatility of being able to play at full-back could see him become the perfect partner for the Villa ace. Johan Lange must surely do everything he can to win the race to sign him in January.

West Ham boss David Moyes could be sleepwalking into a transfer disaster this summer if fresh reports are to be believed…

What’s the word?

According to Football Insider, the Hammers have pulled a U-turn on their young winger Grady Diangana and are now prepared to sell him if they receive an offer of £25m.

They claim that Moyes had been reluctant to let the 22-year-old leave the London Stadium before next season after his impressive loan spell at promotion-winning West Brom.

Now the club would like to move him on in order to garner some extra funds to use in the transfer market.

Moyes mistake

With the likes of Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko also on the chopping block this summer, it would be a strange move to get rid of Diangana too.

This really could be one of Moyes’ biggest mistakes at the Irons.

The enigmatic winger provided eight goals and six assists as the Baggies clinched the runner-up spot in the Championship this term – he only started 23 matches, which makes it all that more spectacular. Diangana also averaged 2.4 dribbles, 1.6 shots and 1.4 key passes per game, via WhoScored.

Only one Hammers star (Michail Antonio) scored more goals than the 22-year-old whilst no other player managed to match his assists for the season.

Diangana’s performances at the Hawthorns haven’t gone unnoticed either, Lee Hendrie believes he has set himself up “to be an absolutely fabulous player” and a “total nightmare” for defenders whilst EFL pundit Keith Andrews has described the wide man as “explosive”.

West Ham are better off having him around next season. He’s hungry to be a success and will be on less than half the money that the majority of the squad – flops included – are on.

It’s no wonder SPFL giants Celtic and Rangers are hot on his tail. They’d both make Moyes rue this blunder.

AND in other news, Hammers hope to use Moyes flop as makeweight for £20m star…

Both Liverpool and Manchester United have been linked to a loan move for Ousmane Dembele as the transfer window ticks down.

It appears as though the Reds have capped off their summer spending after welcoming Kostas Tsimikas, Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota over the threshold. However, there could be room for just one more deal – especially a short-term one.

Spanish outlet Sport (via The Mirror), claim the Reds had made contact over a season-long move for the Barcelona man. Manchester United are also in hot pursuit of his services though, also looking to strike a loan deal with the La Liga giants, according to the Manchester Evening News.

Liverpool could snub Man United for Dembele

Although the Merseysiders look unlikely to make any more additions to their squad, temporarily bringing in Dembele could be a smart move. Transfermarkt value the forward at £50.4million, so any option to buy could see Barca demand a fee in that region. With Liverpool already splashing £45million on their shock move for Jota, funds could now be low in the bank of the champions.

Similarly, if they are keen on bolstering their attack and bringing in Dembele, they may have to pay a large chunk towards his mammoth £209,000 weekly wage (via wageindicator.co.uk).

But both Jota and Thiago came as surprise packages which could indicate Fenway Sports Group do indeed have the cash to spare. If finances aren’t an issue, Dembele could favour a move to Anfield over Old Trafford.

Why would Ousmane Dembele sign for Liverpool?

Despite being primarily a winger, the France international can also be deployed further up the pitch as a right midfielder, or in the No.9 position. This would provide excellent cover for Liverpool’s current front three, who look exposed in terms of back-up.

Jota was a very smart signing from the Reds, but should more than one injury occur across the attacking trio, Liverpool need more than just one reliable option.

Xherdan Shaqiri missed a total of 11 matches through injury last season and Divock Origi managed just six goals in 42 appearances (via Transfermarkt).

Jurgen Klopp’s side also boast good chances of winning back-to-back titles, which Dembele would definitely love to be a part of. If Liverpool make an offer for his services, it will be hard for him to turn them down.

In others new, Neil Mellor discusses Rhian Brewster’s Liverpool future

Manchester United face stiff competition from Arsenal in the race to sign Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille, reports claim.Â

Gabriel finds himself on the Red Devils’ radar amid interest from a number of European clubs this summer with Arsenal among them.

According to Goal, Lille still haven’t decided where his future lies, and he is currently considering his options ahead of a potential move.

It is understood that the Ligue 1 club want at least £25m for the highly-rated centre-back.

Recent reports had suggested that the Red Devils were close to completing a deal for the defender but this doesn’t seem to be the case.

While Man United have made contact with his agent, Fabrizio Romano revealed they are not in talks with Lille at the moment.

The Italian transfer expert tweeted that Arsenal are ahead of their fierce rivals as they have started discussions with Les Dogues to sort out a deal, while Napoli remain interested but are waiting to see what will happen with United’s other defensive target, Kalidou Koulibaly.

It is common knowledge that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to sign a centre-back to play alongside Harry Maguire at the back, as Victor Lindelof has struggled for consistency, and Eric Bailly has barely played at all.

The 22-year-old Brazilian is exactly the sort of player he needs to bring to Old Trafford this summer.

Gabriel, who has been described by Lille president Gerard Lopez as an “absolute machine,” has the pick of the crop after putting in a string of impressive performances at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy last term.

United are a more attractive option than Arsenal, as Solskjaer can offer Champions League football, while their top-flight rivals will have to settle for playing in the Europa League next season.

Admittedly, Mikel Arteta’s side may have an advantage, as Raul Sanllehi worked with Lille chief executive Marc Ingla during their time together at Barcelona, which is believed to have worked in their favour while negotiating for Nicolas Pepe.

Ed Woodward will have his work cut out as it seems as though the centre-back has dropped a huge hint on social media. However, there are bound to be plenty of twists and turns as the transfer saga continues to unfold in the coming days.

United fans, do you think Woodward will sign Gabriel this summer? Let us know down below!

Darren Bent insists appointing Ledley King as a first-team coach at Tottenham Hotspur is a “masterstroke” by Jose Mourinho.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Spurs striker admits he is surprised it hasn’t happened sooner.

Recent reports revealed that King had held talks about joining the backroom staff at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after Mourinho announced his assistant Ricardo Formosinho would be leaving north London to pursue his own career as a head coach.

Mourinho has now confirmed that the club’s former captain will be linking up with his coaching staff next season.

Spurs qualified for the Europa League with a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace on the final day of the season, and Mourinho dropped the news immediately after the game.

The pundit, who played with King at White Hart Lane, believes the move will win Mourinho favour with the fans.

Bent told assistant editor Russell Edge “that guy can do the lot, he can do everything – play, defend, everything, and he did it with one leg.”

“Do you know what’s mad though? I’ve always thought to myself surely when he retired one of the managers would get him on board on the coaching staff defensively. Honestly, outstanding.”

“I don’t know if it was him that didn’t or what but it didn’t happen but I always felt managers were missing a trick with him because this guy, the fans love him – that’s a way to get the fans on board because they idolise him – he’s obviously that good as well.”

“It’s a masterstroke from Mourinho if he pulls that off.”

It is hard to argue with Bent here, as King is a hugely popular figure amongst the fan base.

King, 39, made 323 appearances for Spurs, scoring 14 goals in all competitions, famously winning the League Cup in 2008.

After breaking through the ranks, the academy graduate led the club for seven years, until a recurring knee injury forced him to retire at the age of just 31.

The arrival of Martin Jol coincided with King’s revival, as together the duo laid the foundations that turned Tottenham into a team capable of challenging for a place in the Champions League.

The firm favourite enjoys the honour of hearing his name ring out on the 26th minute of every game to mark his shirt number and he has worked as a club ambassador up until now.

Despite the fact his playing career was sadly cut short, King knows the club inside and out, and his local knowledge could prove useful.

The Lilywhites have leaked goals for fun throughout the season and fans will be hoping the veteran can fix their defensive frailties on the training pitch.

Whether or not he will be able to make an immediate impact remains to be seen.

Tottenham fans, are you excited to see Ledley King link up with Mourinho? Let us know down below!

With just seven games to go, Leeds inch ever closer to their return to the Premier League after dismantling Fulham 3-0 at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon.

The Whites saw rivals West Brom slip to a 1-0 defeat to Brentford the night before, and they took advantage of that slip-up with the minimum of fuss.

Patrick Bamford, Ezgjan Alioski and Jack Harrison all notched in a comfortable victory, and the latter in particular drew some high praise from the club’s fans for a virtuoso performance.

Aside from his goal and assist, Harrison also provided two key passes, created one big chance and finished with a 7.9 match rating as per Sofascore – only goalkeeper Illan Meslier finished with a higher score (8.1).

And after seeing his display, Leeds fans flocked to Twitter to share their reactions.

A couple of Leeds fans talked up how good Harrison looked playing out on the right-hand side, with most of his appearances this season coming on the opposite flank (38).

A few fans made it very clear they wanted to see Harrison signed permanently, with reports back in January suggesting that parent club Manchester City are willing to let him go for around £8m.

If Leeds get one key piece of transfer business done this summer, then surely securing Harrison on a permanent deal is right up there at the top of the list.

Can you name every one of the Leeds’ top goalscorers from the past 15 seasons? It’s a tricky one…

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The 5 foot 9 ace has been an ever-present for Marcelo Bielsa’s side this season, playing in every single Championship game, and has scored six times and provided eight assists across all competitions.

He’s had the kind of impressive campaign that should have Victor Orta and co with a fairly simple decision to make about whether to bring him back for next season.

Tottenham Hotspur have launched an offer for Bayern Munich wonderkid Taylor Booth, according to Football Insider.  

Tottenham are trying to prise the teenager away from the Allianz Arena in the summer, despite the fact he has two years remaining on his current contract.

A source close to the situation told the outlet Spurs are prepared to hand the prospect a lucrative professional contract.

The Daily Mail recently reported the 18-year-old impressed backroom staff with his performance against the Lilywhites in the UEFA Youth League last year.

Booth signed for Bayern back in January 2019, but has grown frustrated with the lack of opportunities in Hans-Dieter Flick’s senior squad, and Spurs have already made the first move.

Consequently, this latest development could be bad news for Harry Winks.

Ever since he arrived at the Bundesliga champions in 2019, the American has been tipped for greatness, after he put in an impressive performance as Bayern’s Under-19s thrashed Tottenham 3-0 back in December, finishing the game with a tally of two assists.

Moreover, the holding midfielder has been capped by USA at all levels up to his age group. He has also regularly featured in the German youth league, creating 3 assists in 11 games so far (Transfermarkt).

On the other hand, Winks has arguably struggled for consistency up until now. Remarkably, the 24-year-old is still yet to score or create an assist in all competitions at the time of writing.

Indeed, the Englishman has failed to register a single goal or assist in the Premier League this season, taking a mere 0.4 shots per game, averaging under one clearance, although he has made 1.3 tackles on average in the English top flight (WhoScored).

Daniel Levy is set to try to lure Booth away with an offer the club feels he won’t be able to resist.

As it stands, the whizzkid is unsure about his future at the German giants, as Die Roten are on course to claim another league title after beating rivals Borussia Dortmund earlier this week.

Spurs have a history of developing young players into world-class talents, with the club churning out the likes of Harry Kane and Gareth Bale in recent years.

If Booth moves to England in the upcoming transfer window, it is Winks who could miss out on a place in the squad in the future, as he has been unable to shield the defence over the course of the campaign.

Furthermore, Daniel Levy splashed the cash to sign Tanguy Ndombele, so it is unlikely the chairman would be willing for the club’s record signing to make room for the American teen in the squad. Giovani Lo Celso has also received a higher rating than his English counterpart via WhoScored.

Mourinho has certainly given the England international plenty of chances, but he has largely failed to live up to expectations so far, and he stands to lose the most if Booth joins the North London club.

Tottenham fans, do you think Daniel Levy should sign Taylor Booth in the summer? Let us know down below!

Chelsea have reportedly agreed a fee to pay for Ugurcan Cakir’s services ahead of next season.

According to Haber365 (via Sport Witness), the Blues have agreed a €33m (£29.7m) fee to sign Trabzonspor’s first-choice goalkeeper. If the deal goes through, the shot-stopper will become the most expensive player to be bought from the Turkish Super Lig.

It seems that Frank Lampard is not including Kepa Arrizabalaga in his long-term plans and is on the lookout for his replacement. Should talks come to fruition, Cakir will join fellow new additions Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner at the west London club.

The Turkey international helped Trabzonspor to a second-placed finish in the Super Lig this season, behind only Istanbul Basaksehir by four points.

Cakir has admitted that a move to the Premier League would be a ‘dream come true’ for him. He would be joining a team undergoing an exciting transition which could see them consistently challenge for silverware.

Trabzonspor is the 24-year-old’s boyhood club, but a new avenue for fresh challenges and opportunities could see the best of his game flourish at Chelsea if he makes the move to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea fans, would you like to see Cakir join the club next season? Have your say in the comments below…