Crystal Palace has managed to score 37 goals with 27 Premier League games played so far this season, which is eight more than they had managed by the same point in their previous campaign, showing a significant improvement in the Eagles’ attacking ability in front of goal.
Despite this, one player that hasn’t contributed much to the south London club’s goalscoring record this year is winger Jordan Ayew, who has only found the back of the net on one occasion, which came during their 2-2 draw against Southampton back in December.
The 30-year-old has also managed to rack up a lower average of shots per game (1.2) than Odsonne Edouard (1.6), who has played fewer minutes in the league than the Ghanaian, as well as Conor Gallagher (1.7), who plays in midfield.
With this in mind and the fact that his current contract at Selhurst Park is set to expire in the summer, there’s every possibility that Patrick Vieira may be thinking of getting rid of the former Swansea City attacker at the end of the season if he doesn’t think he offers enough for the team going forward.
If this were to be the case, the 45-year-old may already have an ideal replacement for Ayew, whose performances on the international stage have been described as “worrying” in the past by former Hearts of Oak star Dan Quaye, already in his ranks at the south London club.
Since joining Palace back in the 2020 January transfer window from Scottish side Dundee United, 20-year-old winger Scott Banks has gone on to make 25 appearances for the club’s U23 side, racking up an impressive number of 12 goals and six assists along the way, showing that he certainly knows how to score and set up goals.
In the 12 league appearances he’s made for the U23s this season, there have only been four games where he hasn’t managed to make a goal contribution, showing not only how important he is for them, but how devastating he can be in the final third.
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Labelled as a “smart” player by Vieira, the winger should definitely be in the Frenchman’s mind for a potential senior call up next season. If Ayew ends up leaving, it would give the youngster a clearer path to the first team if he can end this season with more goals and assists to his name.
In other news: Sold for £10m, now worth 82% less: CPFC pulled a blinder over £37k-p/w “disaster” – opinion
Samuel Luckhurst has been left slamming the display of Aaron Wan-Bissaka in Manchester United’s 4-2 win away at Leeds United in the Premier League.
The Lowdown: Big three points
Given the rivalry down the years between the two teams, and the fact that United are in the race for the top four, it was a big three points for Ralf Rangnick’s men.
After the Whites shocked them by coming back quickly from 2-0 down to level the score at 2-2, goals from Fred and Anthony Elanga calmed things down again for the Old Trafford faithful.
The Latest: Wan-Bissaka slammed
Taking to Twitter, Manchester Evening News journalist and chief writer Luckhurst slammed Wan-Bissaka during the match, suggesting that Atletico Madrid will want to play against him midweek:
“Atletico will be hoping Wan-Bissaka keeps his place.
“History repeating itself with other players.
“Pogba, superb in the first-half, has gone quiet, Fernandes is rattled and #mufc probably need a change on the flank.”
The Verdict: Dalot back in
While the Red Devils won the game, Wan-Bissaka would have been disappointed with his own individual performance.
The right-back lost out on six of his duels, and failed to block any shots on his goal, while he also recorded no key passes, accurate crosses or long balls, losing possession 15 times in total (SofaScore).
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Given that Diogo Dalot is averaging more tackles, clearances, shots, crosses and long balls in the Premier League than Wan-Bissaka so far this season (WhoScored), the Portugal international should provide a sterner test for the reigning La Liga champions in the UEFA Champions League first leg, and coming off the back of this display, Rangnick should really consider dropping Wan-Bissaka for him for the clash.
In other news, find out which Liverpool target MUFC are now eyeing a summer move for here!
A big Rangers injury update has emerged from Giovanni van Bronckhorst on Ibrox attacker Ryan Kent and his fitness after the club’s win over the weekend.
What’s the latest?
Van Bronckhorst has confirmed that the Gers forward has not suffered any long-lasting damage after he was left worse for wear from a challenge on Sunday.
The attacker went in for a 50/50 tackle and ended up hobbling off the pitch before receiving treatment, in the form of an ice pack, on the bench after being substituted. However, the head coach has allayed any fears that he will be out for a significant length of time.
He told the Glasgow Times: “He is fine. He just had a bruise, I don’t think it was anything special.
“I wanted to take him off just before it happened but he is ok.”
Connor Goldson, James Tavernier and Fashion Sakala scored the goals for the Gers as they booked their place in the semi-final by breezing past Dundee FC.
Rocking
The Ibrox faithful will surely be left rocking with this news as they would not want to see Kent out injured for any spell of games. He is a massive player for the club and having him available will be crucial heading into the final months of the campaign.
Kent has racked up two goals and 15 assists in all competitions for the Gers this term. This includes an impressive four assists in seven Europa League outings and this shows that he has the quality to be a constant creative threat down the flank.
One negative you can throw his way is his lack of goals. He has averaged 2.8 shots per game across 21 appearances in the Premiership and has two goals to show for it, but his creativity goes a long way to making up for that as he is setting up his teammates on a regular basis.
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The ex-Liverpool man has created a whopping nine ‘big chances’ in the league, along with three in Europe, and this shows that he is delivering quality end product. A key pass can be as little as him passing the ball four yards for Ryan Jack to take a shot from 30 yards but his ‘big chance’ creation numbers prove that he is supplying high-quality openings.
This is why the supporters will be rocking to learn that he has not suffered a big injury blow, with Ibrox buzzing when his name is read off the teamsheet in anticipation of another great performance. Having him available will be crucial and a major boost because of the threat he provides and van Bronckhorst will surely be hoping that he will be fine to face Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday.
AND in other news, Forget Tavernier: “Surging” Rangers gem whose “quality is evident” stole the show…
Manchester United’s central midfield hunt feels as though it has lasted for many months, with no number one target appearing ahead of the January transfer window.
Bruno Fernandes, who has operated in such a role this campaign, looks set to miss the next few weeks, after limping off with a hamstring issue against Aston Villa.
As a result, Manuel Ugarte, Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo remain as the only senior options available to Ruben Amorim in his push to claim a top-four spot in the Premier League.
INEOS will no doubt want to invest further into the playing squad to bolster the options at the 40-year-old’s disposal, but it remains to be seen who they go after.
One player has been strongly linked over recent months, but it’s currently unclear if the Red Devils can convince his current employers to part ways with him this winter.
Man Utd could see £35m bid accepted for LaLiga star
Over recent months, Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton has emerged as a key target for United, with the youngster seen as an immediate and long-term solution.
The 21-year-old has made himself a full-time England international over the last few years, which has no doubt increased the fee the Eagles can demand for his signature.
It’s been reported that Oliver Glasner’s side are demanding at least £75m to part ways with the youngster, a fee which could prove to be outside the Red Devils’ price range.
However, he’s not the only Englishman currently in their sights ahead of the January window, with Atlético Madrid star Conor Gallagher another option they’re considering.
According to talkSPORT, the LaLiga side would be willing to offload the 25-year-old this winter, should they receive an offer in the region of £35m for his services.
It also states Amorim’s side would prefer a loan deal instead of a permanent one during the upcoming window, but it remains to be seen if such could be reached.
Why Gallagher would be United’s very own Wharton
There’s no doubt United need a huge overhaul of the central midfield department, with the current options at Amorim’s disposal, unfortunately, not at the level required for success.
However, given the huge investment over the summer, numerous temporary solutions will no doubt be needed in January to provide a short-term fix until the end of the season.
The summer will be the time when the board can once again invest and complete an overhaul to help achieve the success the fanbase have been starved of in recent years.
Wharton will no doubt be one of the main targets the hierarchy decide to pursue, with the 21-year-old a player who could feature in the role for at least the next decade.
However, Gallagher could be the perfect short-term solution if a deal can be agreed, with the Atlético star potentially being their own version of the Palace sensation.
He has previously played for the Eagles, like Wharton, with such a move being the perfect stepping stone to establish himself in the Premier League.
Gallagher is also a box-to-box option, just like the youngster, with the pair being ranked as similar players for their performances in England’s top-flight a few years ago.
However, when delving into their stats from the ongoing season, the 25-year-old has also produced numerous figures which are better than his fellow big-money target.
The Atletico star, who’s been dubbed “sensational” by scout Felix Johnston, has completed more of the passes he’s attempted, whilst also registering more progressive carries per 90.
How Gallagher & Wharton compare in 2025/26
Statistics (per 90)
Gallagher
Wharton
Games played
18
15
Goals & assists
2
2
Pass accuracy
87%
85%
Progressive carries
2.7
1.1
Tackles won
1.7
1.2
Tackle success rate
47%
42%
Interceptions made
1.6
1.1
Blocks made
1.6
0.7
Aerials won
53%
45%
Stats via FBref
Such numbers showcase his incredible ability with the ball at his feet, potentially offering the side an excellent ball-playing option within the heart of the midfield.
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Gallagher has also dominated without the ball, as seen by his higher tally of tackles won, whilst also managing to make more interceptions than per 90 in Spain’s top-flight.
His quality over his compatriot is further demonstrated without the ball, as the former Chelsea star has made more blocks, whilst also coming out on top in more aerial battles.
From such numbers, it shows that the 25-year-old is an excellent option in and out of possession, but it’s unclear if the player would be open to a move to Old Trafford.
Wharton will certainly still be the supporters’ first choice to fill the void at the heart of the side, but Gallagher will no doubt be the perfect immediate option this winter.
However, if it is to be completed, the two clubs need to find an agreement in the weeks ahead to get the best possible deal in place for all of the parties involved.
Worse than Sesko: Man Utd's big-money flop is now becoming another Martial
Manchester United appear to have another problem on their hands alongside Benjamin Sesko.
Having lost their previous Premier League game away at Southampton, Everton are back in action once again this evening for their latest attempt to move away from the relegation zone.
The Toffees will be welcoming league leaders Manchester City to Goodison Park later today, who will be looking for a reaction after getting beaten by Tottenham Hotspur at home in their previous league outing.
On the chalkboard
In terms of which players Lampard could pick to be in his starting XI to take on Pep Guardiola’s side, one figure that played through the entire game against Southampton that we feel should not be in the team on this occasion is full-back Jonjoe Kenny.
As a product of the Merseyside club’s youth academy, the defender has made 58 senior appearances for Lampard’s side across all competitions, chipping in with five assists along the way.
During the defeat at St. Mary’s, the 24-year-old failed to make even one tackle throughout the match as well as failing to win any of the six duels he was involved in and giving the ball away 15 times.
This display ultimately earned the full-back an overall match rating of 6.2/10, making him the lowest-rated Everton player that started the game according to SofaScore.
With that in mind and the fact that City wingers Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez are the top two goalscorers for the Manchester club with a combined total of 18 goals between them, it could be another difficult day for Kenny if he gets picked to defend against either of those players.
Having been slammed in the past for being “the most negative player” he’s ever seen by Scottish football pundit Gordon Dalziel, Kenny could cost conceivably cost his side the game if he isn’t able to contain City’s attacking players such as Sterling or Mahrez given how deadly they have been in front of goal this season.
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Moving forward, if Everton want to have any chance of picking up a positive result this evening against a side that have scored 35 more goals and conceded 23 fewer than the Toffees this season, Lampard will need his side to be as strong as they possibly can defensively and particularly clinical going forward, which could be a worry for Kenny and his chances of starting.
In other news: Moshiri suffered an Everton howler over £27m-rated “monster”, Lampard will be gutted – opinion
Newcastle United are in Premier League action once again this afternoon following the latest international break.
This time, the Toon are on the road again with a trip to the capital to take on Tottenham Hotspur after losing their two previous league games before the break.
On the chalkboard
In terms of which players Eddie Howe could select in his starting XI to take on Antonio Conte’s top-four chasers, one man who hasn’t started for the Magpies since mid-February but we feel should be unleashed from the beginning on this occasion is Allan Saint-Maximin.
Despite scoring five goals and providing three assists in 25 league appearances this season, the Frenchman has only made three substitute appearances for the Magpies in their past four league games.
In addition to his goal contributions, Saint-Maximin’s overall performances have highlighted what a crucial figure he is for the Toon, with WhoScored giving him a season rating of 7.14/10, making him the highest-rated Newcastle player to start more than four games.
From an attacking point of view, the 25-year-old has racked up 92 shot-creating actions in the Premier League this season, putting him in the top 10 for that statistic for the entire league ahead of players such as Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Harry Kane.
The winger, who is currently valued at £28.8m by Transfermarkt, also leads the way for dribbles attempted in the Premier League with 175 to his name at a success rate of 60%.
This shows just how much of a nuisance the attacker could be for Newcastle in today’s clash against a Tottenham side which has kept three clean sheets in their past five league games.
Having been praised for his “breathtaking” speed and movement on the pitch by Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, Saint-Maximin certainly has what it takes to cause Spurs and their defence a lot of problems.
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With that in mind, if Newcastle want to pick up all three points and move further away from the relegation zone, then starting their £93k-p/w French star should definitely be in Howe’s mind when coming up with his starting XI today.
In other news: Sold for £10m, now worth £45m: Newcastle had a howler on “immense” £53k-p/w dynamo
Selling Matty Cash to Atletico Madrid could allow Aston Villa to sign Philippe Coutinho permanently, transfer insider Dean Jones says.
The lowdown
Fabrizio Romano revealed in February that Atletico are ‘seriously interested’ in signing Villa right-back Cash, who’s scored three goals and provided four assists this season.
‘Direct contacts’ took place between the two clubs during the January transfer window, he said, and Cash remains on the reigning Spanish champions’ list.
Coutinho, meanwhile, is currently on loan at Villa Park from Atletico’s La Liga rivals Barcelona.
Villa will have the option to buy the Brazilian in the summer, but it will cost them £33million.
The latest
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones said it would be a ‘shame’ for Villa to see Cash go but thinks it could prove to be a ‘win-win’ for all parties if Villa put the funds to good use.
“It’d be a shame to lose Matty Cash, but you can understand why he might also be interested in that move,” he said.
“And if it allowed Villa to bring in Coutinho on a permanent basis, then it’s a win-win for everyone.”
The verdict
It’s somewhat surprising to hear that Villa may need to sell to buy.
After all, they have one of the highest net spends in Europe over the last decade, eclipsing the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern Munich – perhaps that’s finally beginning to catch up with them.
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In addition to Coutinho, Villa are also said to be intent on signing Kalvin Phillips from Leeds United in a deal that could cost them a whopping £60million.
The sale of Cash, an ‘outstanding’ player in the words of former Villa boss Tim Sherwood, could cover around a third of that sum if his £19.8million Transfermarkt valuation proves to be accurate.
In other news, Gregg Evans celebrated this Villa development.
West Ham are expected to be set for a busy summer at the end of this season, particularly if they qualify for the Champions League via the top four spots, or by winning the Europa League.
With a number of players linked with moves away like star man Declan Rice and club hero Manuel Lanzini, as well as captain Mark Noble’s contract expiring, there could be a number of departures and arrivals.
One way manager David Moyes could save a bit of money to add to his transfer budget is by selling “clumsy” ‘keeper Darren Randolph, and replacing him with academy graduate Nathan Trott, who is currently on loan with Nancy in the French Ligue 2.
With Randolph, who is valued at £900k by Transfermarkt, currently on an extortionate £40k per week, even if they sold the Irish shot-stopper for nothing, it would effectively earn them an extra £2.1m next year, if they promote Trott to third-choice.
Trott, who at just 23-years-old has already made 49 senior appearances while playing for three different teams, has earned regular first-team football for Nancy, where he has struggled at times – largely due to the poor defence in front of him which has landed them at the bottom of the table, while he has averaged a match rating of 6.63 according to SofaScore.
A couple of matches ago he was one of their standout players though, in their 3-0 victory at home to second-placed Paris FC, averaging a 7.9 match rating after making four saves including two excellent ones from close-range as he lived up to his own billing of being a “powerful” stopper.
He should have also had an assist too after sending one of his ten accurate long balls over the top of the defence to create a big chance – which his teammate squandered.
The former England youth international, who was once “highly thought of” by former Hammers academy director Terry Westley, may be worried about lack of game-time should he remain apart of the squad next season as opposed to going back out on loan or signing elsewhere permanently.
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Liverpool ‘keeper Caoimhin Kelleher is proof that a third-choice keeper can become the club’s hero, after he was drafted in ahead of former Hammers star Adrian to the starting XI for the Reds’ Carabao Cup final victory over Chelsea, and Trott should take inspiration from that as he attempts to forge a career at the top level.
In other news: West Ham plot enormous bid to sign £36m-rated “destroyer”, just imagine him and Soucek
Aston Villa could try to sign Georginio Wijnaldum just a year after he joined Paris Saint-Germain, according to a report from Calciomercato.
The lowdown
The 31-year-old signed for PSG last June following the expiry of his Liverpool contract. His honours at Anfield included the 2019/20 Premier League and the 2018/19 Champions League, among eight trophies he has won throughout the course of his career.
The Dutchman may have made 27 appearances for Mauricio Pochettino’s side in all competitions, but he has been limited to 12 Ligue 1 starts and was an unused substitute for the recent Champions League round of 16 victory over Real Madrid.
Wijnaldum admitted in the autumn that he was ‘not completely happy’ with his situation at PSG, although he did say that he would ‘work hard to turn it around’.
The latest
The report from Calciomercato stated that Wijnaldum ‘could leave’ the French capital in the upcoming transfer window after only one season at the Parc des Princes.
Atletico Madrid are apparently considering him as a ‘possible reinforcement in midfield’, and Villa are one of three sides who could look to bring him back to the Premier League, along with West Ham United and his former club Newcastle United.
The verdict
Signing Wijnaldum would feel like a real coup for Villa. After all, this is a player who featured in the 2018/19 Champions League squad of the season after scoring twice in Liverpool’s fabled semi-final comeback against Barcelona. Indeed, Jurgen Klopp considers him an Anfield ‘legend’ given his contribution to their success.
The Athletic’s Gregg Evans has written of Villa’s intentions to land a defensive midfielder this summer, and while the Dutchman is naturally more of a central midfielder, he has played 38 games in a number 6 role during his career.
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Would the deal be viable from a financial standpoint? Wijnaldum is valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt, which looks payable for Villa when you consider their recent spending, but he might have to agree a pay cut as his £180,000-a-week wage could break the existing structure at the Midlands club.
In other news, Ashley Preece has ‘tears’ in his eyes after this club update
Crystal Palace are enjoying a comfortable season in the Premier League, currently 11th in the table but there is no doubt that Patrick Vieira will want to push for that top half finish in his first season in charge at the club.
The French manager’s team have been grinding out results as of late and are currently unbeaten in their last four league games in the Premier League, most recently holding the Premier League champions to a draw at Selhurst Park.
Vieira will now be hoping that he can inspire that final charge to get inside the top half of the table, especially when they are so close, just two points behind ninth-place Aston Villa.
Palace must seize every opportunity open to them in the final months of the campaign, and with that in mind, it might be a good opportunity for the manager to freshen up the attacking line with a player who is a proven and experienced goal-scorer.
Odsonne Edouard has not been given much time in the team for the last few months, despite only Conor Gallagher and Wilfried Zaha scoring more goals than him this season so far, but for some reason, he has only played 26 minutes of football in the team’s last five league fixtures. It’s a wonder why when you consider the attacking threat he offers.
The £79k-per-week star who was hailed a “special talent” by former manager Neil Lennon, has been effective in offensive play with six goals and three assists, creating two big chances and making 0.8 key passes per game, playing 52 minutes on average during his 23 appearances this season, according to SofaScore.
When he plays consistently in a team, his threat in front of goal only heightens which is something we saw at Celtic last season when he played in Lennon’s side week in, week out. He tallied up 22 goals and six assists in 40 appearances for the Hoops, which ultimately caught the eye of Palace.
Now with a highly competitive attacking line in Vieira’s side, Edouard has found himself pushed out of the team and unable to gain minutes.
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However, judging by the statistics in his previous performances and goal involvements for both Palace and Celtic last term, the centre forward could be the key to unlocking that top half finish come May.
In other news: Parish dropped big CPFC howler on “super talented” £20m machine