Crystal Palace Consider Alternative To 75 y/o

Insider Dean Jones has revealed that Crystal Palace are "still speaking to" potential managers to replace Roy Hodgson in the summer.

Will Crystal Palace hire Roy Hodgson as permanent manager?

It's been a pretty incredible spell as interim boss for the 75-year-old since he returned to Selhurst Park to steady the ship.

Indeed, Hodgson has eased all relegation fears with five wins, two losses and just one draw in the eight Premier League games he's overseen this term.

However, the current Palace boss returned to the club having signed a contract to keep him around only for the remainder of the campaign.

But with things going so well, there could be the temptation to keep him around for next season as well – with The Sun reporting a new one-year deal is on the cards.

However, while discussing Hodgson on Chasing Green Arrows, Jones said that the Eagles were still discussing alternative options.

The journalist explained (30:25): “They are still speaking to people, Palace, as well outside – or they have at least in the last two weeks been scoping people out.

"So we'll have to wait and see what kind of manager they decide to bring in.

"But ultimately after seeing how he's [Eberechi Eze] been flourishing, Steve Parish will want someone who was guaranteed to let him free. So let's look out for that”

Who has been linked with the Palace manager's job?

When discussing the latest on Palace, Jones was talking about how well Eze has been doing under Hodgson and the midfielder is likely desperate for the current boss to stay in charge.

After all, he has scored six goals and played the full 90 minutes in every single Palace game since the 75-year-old arrived.

However, seeing as Hodgson was only supposed to be back on a short-term basis – having already left the club back in 2021 – it might be unwise to completely dismiss the idea of looking into hiring some other managers.

According to a recent report from The Daily Mail, Fulham boss Marco Silva is one man who could come in and take over.

Seeing as the Cottagers sit eight points above Crystal Palace on the league table, it's easy to see why this could be an appealing idea for Steve Parish and co.

Still, if Hodgson continues to win in the Eagles' final two games of the season, it might be pretty hard to simply let him go this summer.

West Ham Keen On Signing £60k-A-Week Ex-Liverpool Man

West Ham are believed to be interested in signing AC Milan forward Divock Origi in the summer transfer window, according to a new transfer report from Italy.

Could Origi leave Milan this summer?

The Belgian left Liverpool to join Milan last year, having become something of a cult hero at Anfield, scoring some iconic Champions League goals against the likes of Barcelona and Tottenham, not to mention big Premier League strikes along the way, too.

Origi hasn't quite managed to have the same impact in Italy, however, struggling to become a regular for Milan throughout the campaign and having been nothing more than a squad player. The £60,000-a-week attacker has only started 10 Serie A games in total, coming off the substitutes' bench 16 times, with only two goals coming his way in the competition.

While the 28-year-old is contracted to Milan until the summer of 2026, it could be that they decide to cut their losses at the end of this season and allow to him to move elsewhere, which is where West Ham come into play.

AC Milan forward Divock Origi.

Could Origi join West Ham this summer?

According to MilanNews.it [via Sport Witness], the east Londoners and Aston Villa are "ready to believe" in Origi in the summer window, with both Premier League clubs eyeing a move for him. The report states that the ex-Liverpool man "could already leave" once the current campaign reaches its conclusion, and both teams have "asked for information" regarding his services.

While the 32-cap Belgium international has failed to repeat his past performances in a Milan shirt, he could still be a shrewd signing by the Hammers this summer, as they look to make key attacking reinforcements.

His big-game mentality stood out so often during his time at Anfield, with such nervelessness shown in key moments in massive games, and his pace and physicality could make him an effective part of West Ham's attack, not to mention his ability to play both out wide and centrally.

Jurgen Klopp once hailed Origi as "world-class", showing just how much he thought of him, and at 28, he would be coming in at a good point in his career, still remaining at a high level for the foreseeable future. A tally of 59 goal contributions (41 goals and 18 assists) for Liverpool shows the pedigree that he has, and he is a Champions League, Premier League, Club World Cup, FA Cup and EFL Cup winner.

Arsenal Could Swoop for "Aguero-type" £51m Gem

Arsenal could be set to swoop for a Brazilian wonderkid, mirroring their prior successes in snagging talent straight from South America…

What’s the latest on Marcos Leonardo to Arsenal?

That’s at least the claims made by 90min, who offered an update on the widespread interest in Marcos Leonardo.

The 20-year-old’s fine performances have unsurprisingly caught the eye of many, and the report states that alongside Edu, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, AS Roma and much of the Premier League are all admirers.

Having been linked with Liverpool in the past too, the reported inclusion of a £51m release clause leaves the door open for such a switch this summer.

Who is Marcos Leonardo?

Despite his youth, the striker already boasts 141 appearances for Santos FC, denoting an experience far beyond many others within his age category.

He has married such knowledge with a fine personal year thus far, having notched eight goals and assisted a further three in just 21 games.

However, it is his work in the U20 World Cup that has truly caught the eye, with a 7.20 average rating upheld by three goals in as many games alongside 1.3 key passes per game, via Sofascore.

To sign directly from the source, cutting out the middle-man that Portuguese clubs often occupy, it would allow Edu to replicate the club’s masterclass of 2019 when they signed Gabriel Martinelli from Ituano.

That Brazilian international has gone on to play 130 games for the Gunners, scoring 15 goals this term as they mounted a surprise title charge. His importance to Mikel Arteta cannot be understated, and Leonardo could quickly rise to the same level should his form translate to the English game.

After all, South American football expert Tim Vickery even likened him to one of the Premier League’s greatest-ever forwards, noting: “There is a kind of Aguero-type striker there, he is not particularly tall but comes alive in the penalty box and I think there is talent there as well.”

gabriel-martinelli-arsenal

Given the former Manchester City finisher notched 260 goals in 390 games whilst in England, this comparison should please Arsenal fans should they force the deal through.

Having drawn attention from numerous European heavyweights, snagging Leonardo would not just be a fine coup for the club, but a huge statement of intent that the north London club are once again ready to battle with the best.

Newcastle Must Now Sell ‘Rusty’ £15m Dud This Summer

Newcastle United are in a fantastic position to cement their stature as one of Europe's elite after forging a remarkable campaign under Eddie Howe's stewardship, qualifying for the Champions League and reaching the Carabao Cup final.

It's a drastic improvement on the club's efforts in recent history, having failed to reach the top half of the Premier League across the past four seasons and last qualifying for Europe over a decade ago.

The PIF takeover in October 2021 has injected affluence unseen by all but a select few top footballing outfits, and the forthcoming summer transfer window will be imperative to bolster the ranks with first-rate additions, with Howe stating that 'elite' arrivals are imminent.

While the return of European competition will ostensibly provide greater opportunity for peripheral figures at St. James' Park, there are certain figures that will find their bit-part role in the squad only diminished with the expanding calibre of the Tyneside team, one of which being Jamal Lewis.

Should Newcastle sell Jamal Lewis?

Lewis is one ace who will likely be at the epicentre of the summer transition; with the likes of Kieran Tierney and Raphael Guerreiro targetted, it is clear that Newcastle are seeking fresh faces to fortify the defensive left flank.

Signing from Norwich City for £15m in 2020, Lewis has only made 36 appearances and clinched one assist, with 26 of those displays coming in his first term.

Described as "rusty" by Craig Hope during one of his scant opportunities to impress this season, during Newcastle's FA Cup defeat against League One Sheffield Wednesday, it is increasingly hard to believe that Howe will provide a player who has made just eight appearances under his wing.

As per Sofascore, the £38k-per-week defender recorded a dismal average rating of 6.46 in the top-flight last term, making just four starts, and 6.48 the previous campaign, where he enjoyed more frequency on the pitch and started 20 matches.

The 25-year-old was once a highly-rated prospect, emerging as an exciting, marauding full-back with the Canaries and forging 100 outings – scoring two goals and registering four assists – after rising through the club's youth academy.

He was integral in guiding his team to the Premier League and playing a central role in their 19/20 top-flight season, where he made an average of two clearances and 1.8 tackles per match and completed 79% of his passes, impressive despite suffering relegation back to the second tier.

And with Dan Burn, who is naturally a centre-back, entrusted with deployment in Lewis' position in an unorthodox role, the chances of the 30-cap Northern Ireland international flourishing at the club are indeed slight.

It simply hasn't worked out, and Lewis must be ditched this summer to end his misery on Tyneside and open up space for technical director Dan Ashworth to sign a first-rate new defender to enrich the Toon's burgeoning squad.

Arsenal Make £17m Bid For "Intriguing" Gem

Arsenal have reportedly submitted a bid for Galatasaray right-back Sacha Boey as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his squad ahead of next season.

What’s the latest on Sacha Boey to Arsenal?

According to Turkish outlet Turkiye Gazetesi, Arsenal have submitted a bid in the region of €20m (£17m) for the defender, however, Galatasaray are demanding €25m (£21.5m) for one of their prized assets this summer.

According to the report, the Turkish side want to negotiate and get a deal done which matches their demands, with Arsenal ‘expected to accelerate’ in order to complete the move.

Brighton and Hove Albion are also keen on the 22-year-old, yet the lure of Champions League football next season at the Emirates will surely prove to be the main factor for Boey.

Could Sacha Boey be an upgrade on Takehiro Tomiyasu?

Ahead of Arsenal’s first foray in Europe’s premier club competition since 2016/17, Arteta will be keen to improve various areas of his squad, with the right-back area clearly one that needs to be bolstered.

Ben White was often shifted from his usual centre-back position to deputise on the right last season, whilst Takehiro Tomiyasu made 32 appearances, yet only 13 of those were starts – might Boey be an upgrade on the Japanese defender ahead of next term?

The Frenchman has underlined his importance to his team as they claimed their first league title since 2019 this season. He ranked 6th for overall rating across the whole squad (7.11), fourth for big chances created (seven), third for successful dribbles per game (1.1) and second for tackles per game (2.7), clearly playing a key role in Galatasaray’s title triumph.

Tomiyasu in comparison, ranked 18th in the Arsenal squad for overall rating (6.68), 15th for big chances created (one), 20th for successful dribbles per game (0.0) and sixth for tackles per game (1.3), clearly indicating that the 22-year-old would make for a much better option on the right side of Arteta’s defence next season.

sacha-boey-transfer-gossip-arsenal-cedric-arteta-edu

Journalist Zach Lowy once described Boey as an “intriguing prospect” in 2021 before he made the move to Turkey, and it's fair to suggest that he has indeed developed into a well-rounded right-back, who can both defend and attack effectively, judging by his returns in the Galatasaray squad this term.

It’s evident that Arteta needs some major strength across his defence in order to sustain another Premier League title challenge in 2023/24 and luring Boey to the club for an aforementioned fee of £21.5m could prove to be a wise investment over the coming years.

Manchester City Eyeing Swoop For 14-Year-Old Youth Prospect

Manchester City's hunt for the best youth prospects in the game has led them to Toby Bell at Sunderland, with Alan Nixon reporting that the European champions want to seal a deal for the goalkeeper.

Who are Manchester City signing this summer?

The Premier League outfit have sealed a historic treble this season, completing the feat by successfully seeing off Inter Milan in the Champions League final. In what was a closely fought encounter, a second-half strike from Rodri was enough to scrape past the Serie A outfit.

With Pep Guardiola's side having also leapfrogged Arsenal and claimed first place in the top flight and with an FA Cup victory over rivals Man United to boot, the side have won nearly every competition they have entered over the course of the 2022/23 season.

Now, they are keen to strengthen more this summer and that could also involve moves to strengthen their youth ranks. City have previous for nurturing and bringing through young talent, with Phil Foden one of the most notable to make the step-up to the first-team squad. Having burst onto the scene in 2017/18, the attacking midfielder has since gone on to feature in 129 Premier League games with 35 goals and 19 assists. He is also now an England regular.

This year, Guardiola has also given playing time to youth prospects Rico Lewis, who is just 17-years-old, and Cole Palmer. Both of those are now used as rotation options and could be given more chances going forward as the next two off the City conveyor belt.

Now, a report from Alan Nixon states that the club are eyeing a move for Toby Bell at Sunderland, who they want to add to their academy ranks. The goalkeeper is just 14-years-old but has clearly stood out, with City now looking to try and snatch him for their own reserve team.

Are Man City signing a goalkeeper?

With Bell being so young, there aren't a lot of metrics to go off when it comes to assessing how the shot-stopper has fared in the Sunderland academy so far.

However, you would trust City when it comes to scouting and recruiting talent, so he must have some ability to have the newly crowned Kings of Europe sniffing around. The club have regularly added exciting young prospects to their ranks such as Eric Garcia, who has gone on to play for Barcelona, Ivan Ilic, who plays for the Serbia national team, and Gavin Bazunu to name just three. Bell could be the next in line to join as a youngster and eventually burst into senior men's football.

Fulham: Whites In Pole Position To Sign Brazilian Star

Fulham are "on pole" for the signing of Fiorentina centre-back Igor Julio, and he is believed to be on closing in on an exit from his club, according to journalist Dimitri Conti.

Who could join Fulham this summer?

Marco Silva's side enjoyed a successful first campaign back in the Premier League last season, finishing in the top half and above the likes of west London rivals Chelsea.

They were even contending for a European spot at one point but fell just short with the likes of Aston Villa, Liverpool and Brighton beating them to Europa League and Conference League qualification places.

It was a promising season for Fulham and one which has resulted in plenty of interest in their key assets, with midfield star Joao Palhinha attracting interest from Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Man United.

Meanwhile, it is believed Silva wishes to reinforce his squad this summer as the domestic window officially opens today.

Gil Vicente striker Fran Navarro, for instance, is reliably believed to be of interest to Fulham with Man United duo Harry Maguire and Fred also on their radar.

It has also been mentioned that Fulham are plotting a move for Austria international and Wolfsburg star Patrick Wimmer, as they are with Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Another player they have been linked with is Igor, with reporter Conti sharing an update in a piece for TUTTOmercatoWEB.

Soccer Football – Europa Conference League – Group A – RFS v Fiorentina – Skonto Stadium, Riga, Latvia – November 3, 2022 Fiorentina’s Riccardo Saponara celebrates scoring their third goal with Fiorentina’s Igor REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

According to his information, a major overhaul could occur at Fiorentina this summer as the future of manager Vincenzo Italiano appears to be resolved.

La Viola reached two major cup finals last season, but that apparently won't stop some players seeking pastures new, with Igor being one of them.

Conti says his suitcase is "already in hand", meaning he is on the verge of leaving, and Fulham are "on pole" to bring him to England.

The Whites are apparently favourites for his signing as they seek to build upon last season's brilliant efforts.

Who is Igor?

The Brazilian was one of Fiorentina's key defensive players last season – ranking in their top three for tackles made, interceptions and clearances completed per 90 in the Italian top flight (WhoScored).

He also sits sixth in their squad for most Serie A minutes played, and with just over 12 months remaining on his deal, Fulham could get him for a fairly reasonable price.

The left-footed centre-back is also still just 25-years-old, meaning he has many years at top level still feasilbly ahead of him.

Chelsea Could Launch Move For £60m-Rated Shot-Stopper

Chelsea's pursuit of Mike Maignan may have received a huge helping hand, with the Italian media, via Tribal Football, reporting that the player has refused to discuss fresh terms with AC Milan and could now leave.

How good is Mike Maignan?

The shot-stopper currently plays in Italy and has slowly established himself as Milan's first-choice option inbetween the sticks, despite having only played for the side for two seasons now.

In his first campaign in Serie A, he helped them to a league title with only 21 goals conceded in 32 games, but his minutes tailed off in 2022/23 due to an injury. In that most recent season, he played on 22 occasions and conceded 21 again, as the side dipped to fourth in the standings.

Even though his playing time fell, he still ranks as one of the best in his position across Europe. When you compare Maignan to othe 'keepers across the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues, his 50% save rate for penalty kicks puts him in the 92nd percentile there while his rate of goals against puts him comfortably in the 89th percentile.

What's the latest transfer news on Maignan?

Despite being successful so far in Milan, reports from the Italian media, via Tribal Football, suggest that the player will not be agreeing a new contract at San Siro, or even engage in talks with them.

That could mean he is available on a deal this summer, with Premier League sides Chelsea and Man United ready to pounce to bring in the 27-year-old and the player himself keen to explore something new.

Whilst he wouldn't be cheap – the asking price for the shot-stopper could be a whopping 70 million Euros (or £60m) – it appears as though a deal is doable. That is because interested parties such as the Blues are being told by intermediaries to go in with a formal bid.

Chelsea Mike Maignan

Maignan has been praised for his performances in Italy with AC Milan over the last few years, with football journalist Josh Bunting for example calling the player "impressive" in the past.

His aforementioned stats certainly back that up and if he did make the move to Chelsea, then it would surely help solidify their backline given their struggles in the goalkeeper department this season.

Wolves Could Replace Neves With £35m ‘One-Man Army’

Wolverhampton Wanderers are on the verge of their squad taking a huge hit this week as captain Ruben Neves is set to complete a move away from the club.

The Portuguese midfielder is poised to join Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal in a deal reported to be worth €55m (£47m) as the Premier League side have decided to cash in on the former Porto prodigy with one year remaining on his contract.

Julen Lopetegui will now be in the market to replace the 26-year-old with The BBC claiming that the funds from the sale will be used to strengthen the squad.

Who could replace Ruben Neves at Wolves?

Wolves could find their heir to the current skipper by securing a deal to sign reported transfer target Kouadio 'Manu' Kone from Borussia Monchengladbach, who is valued at £35m by the German side.

The 22-year-old dynamo is a defensive-minded midfielder who could unlock the best out of Old Gold forward Matheus Cunha by providing a shield in front of the back four to free up the attackers to do what they do best in possession.

He made 3.6 tackles and interceptions per match in the 22/23 Bundesliga campaign and this suggests that the French talent is able to have a similar impact to Neves, who made 3.7 per Premier League outing in the season just gone.

His ability to drive forward with the ball could also mean that Cunha is able to take up better positions in the final third instead of needing to drop deeper in order to get involved in the game.

Wolves forward Matheus Cunha.

Kone ranks in the top 4% of players in his position in the Men's Big Five Leagues over the last 365 days for successful take-ons completed per 90 (1.97) and has made 2.04 progressive carries per 90 in that time.

Whereas, Neves has averaged 0.57 successful take-ons and 0.83 progressive carries per 90 in the Premier League for Wolves over the last 365 days, suggesting that the Gladbach powerhouse would be a significant upgrade in terms of moving the team up the pitch to open up space for others to thrive in the final third.

Cunha only scored two goals in 19 domestic matches for the club in 22/23 but his tally of 13 goals and 11 assists in 56 league games for Atletico Madrid and Hertha Berlin combined through 20/21 and 21/22 suggests that there is far more to come from the Brazilian ace.

Kone, who talent scout Jacek Kulig once described as a "one-man army", could slot in behind Cunha in the team and use his defensive screening and progressive dribbling to provide the ex-LaLiga ace with a better platform from which to build a successful Wolves career next term.

Tottenham: Spurs Believe They’ve Sealed "Gem" For Ange

Tottenham Hotspur believe they’ve signed an “absolute gem” in goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli, according to journalist Rahman Osman.

Who have Spurs signed this summer?

After weeks of chasing Brentford goalkeeper David Raya, with Spurs eventually priced out of a move, the north Londoners instead opted to bid for Vicario as a far cheaper and capable alternative.

Raya was said to be commanding a £40 million price tag, which is arguably hefty given he has just 12 months remaining on his Bees deal, and Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy was always unlikely to reach that figure.

As a result, Tottenham instead turned to Vicario, with a deal coming to fruition quickly and reliable transfer journalists Fabrizio Romano soon after giving his famous “here we go” to the move.

The Italy international apparently completed his medical yesterday, and commenting on that development, reporter Osman shared an interesting bit of background.

Those close to Vicario see the shot-stopper as a potential “superstar” in the making, while Tottenham themselves believe they’ve signed an “absolute gem” in the 26-year-old.

After Vicario, it is believed Spurs are seriously chasing a deal for Leicester City star James Maddison, with Ange Postecoglou also in the hunt to sign a new centre-back and further forward options.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba, Juventus defender Gleison Bremer and Man United’s out-of-favour centre-back Harry Maguire are all being considered (The Telegraph).

What’s been said about Vicario?

Italian footballing legend Gianluigi Buffon, speaking on DAZN (via The Athletic), has seriously endorsed Vicario as a keeper.

“Vicario is the goalkeeper who, on the whole, is doing the best,” Buffon said.

“In the future, he could be part of the national team setup for a long time either as first or second choice.

Meanwhile, The Athletic’s goalkeeping analyst Matt Pyzdrowski, a coach and former goalkeeper who played in the United States and Sweden, also holds Vicario in high esteem but also issues a note of caution.

“One thing to keep an eye on with Vicario is, yes, he makes a lot of saves, but he gives up a lot of rebounds, often into dangerous areas,” Pyzdrowski said.

“I watched a whole load of different videos and one of the saves he got a ton of credit for was the triple one against Roma, but that comes from when he pushes the ball right back into a dangerous area where you weren’t expecting him to.

“Credit to him, he’s so athletic he can make up for it, but that’s something to keep an eye on.”

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