A Leeds United player who earns £70,000 a week is wanted by two clubs ahead of the January transfer window opening, and he could leave after talks with Daniel Farke.
Leeds United transfer rumours
January could be a busy month for the Whites, as manager Farke is surely going to want to freshen his side up ahead of the second half of the season, where he will hope it ends with them being promoted to the Premier League.
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One player who could be heading to Elland Road in the New Year is Louie Barry. The forward has been sensational in League One this season on loan at Stockport County, and it looks as though parent club Aston Villa are set to recall him in January and then loan him out to a Championship team. Leeds are among the teams interested but face a battle to win the race, as Sheffield United and Middlesbrough are also chasing his signature.
The Yorkshire side are also among the teams interested in signing Ben Godfrey from Atalanta. The centre-back’s move to Italy hasn’t quite worked out, and he could soon be returning to England. Leeds are interested in signing Godfrey, as Farke has worked with the player before at Norwich City, but any deal weighs on them securing promotion to the top flight; therefore, they could miss out on the transfer if a Premier League club makes a move next month.
£70k-p/w Leeds player wanted by two new clubs in January
While incomings will be on Farke’s mind, he may also have to deal with an exit, as according to TEAMtalk, Leeds’ Patrick Bamford is wanted by Genoa and Wrexham in January and an exit could happen.
Bamford, who earns £70,000 a week at Elland Road, has been at Leeds since 2018 but has played eight times for the Whites in the league this season, failing to start any of those games.
Despite his injury troubles, both Genoa and Wrexham are interested in signing the experienced forward in the New Year. Both teams are keeping an eye on his situation, but Farke is keen to have depth to his attacking options, and that makes a move in January for Bamford more difficult, but it hasn’t been ruled out.
Apps
196
Goals
60
Assists
22
The 31-year-old is said to be considering his future options ahead of the transfer window opening and has spoken to the Leeds boss about his lack of playing time. Bamford is currently behind Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph in the pecking order, and if promotion to the Premier League is sealed, his game time could decrease even more.
Farke still sees Bamford as an “important” part of the team, but this report states that a move away in 2025 is “realistic,” as he is under contract until 2026, but an exit will depend on whether Leeds can bring in a replacement.
Whilst West Bromwich Albion’s main priorities at this moment in time rest on appointing a new manager, the January transfer window will also obviously be on the club’s mind.
After all, the Baggies will need some new recruits here and there to ensure they can sustain a battle for the rest of the season to be in and around those Championship playoff spots, regardless of who Carlos Corberan’s successor ends up being.
West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan.
Whilst the rumour mill is very active in throwing out names in that regard, it is also going into overdrive with some rumoured incomings on the pitch at the Hawthorns, with this exciting loanee touted to make a move to the West Midlands.
West Brom make enquiry over Championship star
As per a fresh report by the Daily Mail Online, West Brom have made an enquiry about snapping up Liverpool youngster Lewis Koumas, who is known to Championship fans already for some standout moments on loan at Stoke City this season.
Sheffield United are also named as an onlooker keen on adding the 19-year-old winger to their ranks this month, but the Baggies could hold an advantage in this tussle.
Stoke City'sLewisKoumascelebrates scoring their first goal
Koumas’ father Jason was a beloved figure for the promotion candidates when he dazzled defences on a regular basis as a maverick in the middle, with those at the Hawthorns now hoping his son can be equally as spellbinding in attack if a move does materialise.
It remains to be seen whether or not Liverpool will cut short the Stoke deal to allow West Brom to swoop in, but if a deal were to happen, Koumas’ addition might well have the same impact as Mikey Johnston’s arrival in through the door last January conjured up.
What Koumas can offer West Brom
The teenager will obviously hope he has a bright future at Anfield ahead, but in the here and now, the 19-year-old would love to make a step up the division and show the Baggies what he’s made of in the midst of a promotion push.
In a Stoke camp that has underperformed to the point where a managerial dismissal took place, the raw Welshman has still managed to stand out with an encouraging four goals and two assists tallied up from 29 appearances, which included this acrobatic effort against Bristol City sailing in back in October.
Club played for
Games played
Goals scored
Assists
Stoke
29
4
2
Liverpool (first team)
1
1
0
Liverpool U21s
21
9
5
Liverpool U18s
24
18
6
Liverpool (youth league)
6
2
0
Koumas could also take to the pressure of playing for a team near the top of the Championship table in his stride, having scored on his senior debut for the Reds after lighting up many a youth pitch for his boyhood employers, with Jurgen Klopp labelling his contribution as “wonderful” to watch.
Of course, he won’t walk straight into the side, with the likes of Johnston shining in recent weeks in attack after he was once just a loan punt himself.
Now, he’s a consistent performer for his side week in week out after penning a permanent deal last transfer window, with nine goals and four assists amassed from 42 games.
There would have been some anxiety in the air that the Republic of Ireland international would be a flop, having put in some solid but unspectacular numbers for Celtic with 13 goals and 12 assists tallied up in Glasgow, but he would ultimately explode into life in England.
Southampton's James Bree in action with Stoke City'sLewisKoumas
At least in this instance, it’s known that Koumas can perform at the level – and with the added plus that he can play all across the attacking positions – this will surely be an addition the new West Brom boss will love working with.
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Liverpool were quite clearly tired against Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening, and you could maybe say the same for their Premier League draw against Manchester United last weekend.
Arne Slot’s side have been fantastic this year, mounting a title challenge that has seen them outplay their rivals to take a six-point lead (with a game in hand) at the campaign’s midpoint.
Liverpool managerArneSlot
Sometimes in football, things don’t go to plan. Liverpool’s 24-match unbeaten run was snapped at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in controversial circumstances, but the plain truth is that the Reds were toothless in attack and wobbly at the back.
Perhaps a good way to counter these problems and restore the feel-good factor would be to work somewhere in the middle and strengthen Liverpool’s midfield this month.
An opportunity for a new number six might have emerged. Ryan Gravenberch has been sensational this year though has started all 15 matches across the Premier League and Europe, and needs support.
Liverpool eyeing another midfielder
As per German reporter Christian Falk, Liverpool are interested in signing Joshua Kimmich this year, with the Bayern Munich star out of contract at the end of the season.
The 29-year-old midfielder is engaged in discussions with his employers to extend his £314k-per-week deal, but Liverpool are now in a position to canvass their proposal and could tempt him to try his hand outside his homeland for the first time.
If FSG are serious about their interest, it might be wise for them to act prudently and bring him in this winter, for Manchester City are also sniffing around and keen on landing him this month for a bargain £10m fee.
What Joshua Kimmich would bring to Liverpool
Typically, Liverpool like to sign players before their prime, identifying exciting talents and shaping them into elite-level superstars. Typically. FSG do make exceptions, Thiago Alcantara being the most salient.
Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara
In 2020, Thiago joined Liverpool from Bayern Munich (what d’ya know) in an eye-catching £25m deal. The Premier League champions saw an opportunity and grabbed it, the Spaniard being one of the eminent midfielders of his generation.
It wasn’t a skillset that Liverpool were used to under Jurgen Klopp’s tutelage, but Thiago was arguably the most technically talented midfielder in Europe and added something different to the team.
Indeed, the Reds were treated to some incredible football with Thiago at the centre, but unfortunately, injuries limited him to partial success, less so than his thrilling years with Bayern and Barcelona, winning Champions League titles with each and many lifting many league trophies too.
Back to Kimmich. FSG might be wary about repeating the move with a player of a similar age from the same stadium, but the German’s fitness record is far better than his one-time teammate’s. Moreover, he could replicate the ball-playing quality in a Slot system that is better tailored to it.
The now-retired Thiago only started 51 Premier League matches across his four-year stay at Liverpool, averaging out at around 13 per term. The fact that he left such an indelible impression on the Anfield fanbase despite his fitness struggles suggests that Kimmich could have an incredible effect.
TalkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino has actually hailed Thiago as “maybe the most gifted player I’ve seen in the Premier League.” Liverpool are grateful for the time they spent with the distinguished Spaniard, but it could have been so much more.
Certainly, there are tactical similarities between the players. Comparing Kimmich’s statistics from this term against Thiago’s in 2021/22, when he received the aforementioned praise from Cascarino and was at his ostensible Liverpool peak, you can see that his quality is indeed recognisable through elements of Kimmich’s skill set.
It’s food for thought. Slot would relish the opportunity to enhance his team with a different variety of “world-class” deep-sitting midfielder – as hailed by Julian Nagelsmann – one who differs from Gravenberch, to be sure.
Goals
0.06
0.07
Assists
0.23
0.27
Shot-creating actions
3.93
4.73
Pass completion
88.9%
90.3%
Passes attempted
88.47
119.93
Progressive passes
12.56
11.87
Progressive carries
1.41
1.87
Ball recoveries
7.39
6.53
Tackles + interceptions
4.34
2.33
Looking at the two players, you can see that both bring the gold standard when it comes to pulling strings with their influence, threading an obscene number of progressive passes each match while showcasing athleticism through their ball recoveries.
Furthermore, Kimmich may not be as active a defensive force in the Bayern first team but he’s still more than reliable in that regard, having won 66% of his ground duels in the Bundesliga this season, as per Sofascore.
Given that Thiago is regarded as, perhaps, the most technically gifted player to have graced the Premier League, and that Kimmich is able to go punch-for-punch with him across similar metrics, there’s a solid case to be made that Liverpool would get their mitts on their best midfielder since the Spain star, should Kimmich be brought in.
Slot’s long-term project could prosper with him in the mix, jockeying with Gravenberch for that number six spot, but it could also be that FSG launch a £10m move this month to give Liverpool that added something in the centre. It might make all the difference.
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An intriguing January transfer update has come out of Aston Villa in the last 24 hours, following NSWE’s talks to seal another winter window signing before deadline day on February 3rd.
Unai Emery hints at more January signings for Aston Villa
Donyell Malen has already arrived at Villa Park in a £21 million deal from Borussia Dortmund, alongside right-back Andres Garcia from Spanish Segunda Division side Levante, but more incomings are entirely possible this month.
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Diego Carlos has departed for Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbache, leaving Emery short of a centre-back, and the Villa boss has stated in his latest press conference that they’re still very much open to doing business.
“We are open to trying to improve the squad until the last moment, and as well, we are open in case someone is leaving,” said Emery on January transfers.
West Ham United (home)
Tomorrow
Wolves (away)
February 1
Ipswich Town (home)
February 15
Chelsea (home)
February 22
Crystal Palace (away)
February 25
“Of course, Diego Carlos left in the last week, and we have to replace him, and of course we are as well focusing on which players could be potential players to replace Diego Carlos.”
As Emery confirms that Villa are in the market to sign a replacement for Carlos, links understandably still surround a potential move for Sevilla defender Loic Bade.
NSWE have been tipped to move for the Frenchman, who won a silver medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, throughout this transfer window – but the potential deal is far from plain sailing.
Villa have even threatened to walk away in talks for Bade, according to some reports, while others suggest that Emery’s side rejected a bid from Sevilla for highly-rated 21-year-old midfielder Lamare Bogarde during discussions (Pete O’Rourke).
Bade, who stands out as a mainstay in Sevilla’s starting eleven, would be an ideal replacement for Carlos – given he currently ranks among their top six players in La Liga according to WhoScored – averaging a solid 4.1 clearances per 90 and their joint-second highest rate of tackles on average.
Members of the media have also called the 6 foot 3 defender a “quality” centre-back, highlighting why Emery and co are targeting him to reinforce Villa’s backline.
Now, as per journalist Pete O’Rourke, Villa are not giving up in their attempts to land his signature.
Aston Villa poised to make new bid for Loic Bade
Writing for Football Insider, the reporter claims that Villa are set to submit a fresh bid for Bade, after getting the green-light from Emery to carry on pursuing a deal for the former Ligue 1 star.
They’re expected to go back in with another proposal after seeing their first offer rejected, writes O’Rourke, with Sevilla open to selling given their precarious financial situation.
Following these January talks for the 24-year-old, other reports state that Bade could cost around £25 million, but Villa won’t want to pay over the odds, considering just how careful they’re being with PSR right now as well.
Liverpool are now leading Manchester City in the race to sign a £317,000-p/w star, with internal talks currently ongoing, according to reporter Tobi Altschäffl.
Reds eyeing Trent Alexander-Arnold replacement
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future at Anfield is still in major doubt, having emerged as a major target for Real Madrid in the summer transfer window, and the Reds have started to look at potential replacements.
The main target Arne Slot’s side have been linked with is Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich, with reports from earlier this month suggesting they have already made contact with the Bundesliga side to discuss the terms of a deal.
The German’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, meaning he has been attracting the attention of a number of top clubs, including Manchester City, with manager Pep Guardiola believed to be a big fan and City reportedly moving into pole position for the deal this week.
Kyle Walker is now poised to join AC Milan, meaning Liverpool’s Premier League rivals may also need to bring in a new right-back at the end of the season, but there has been another twist, with the Merseysiders taking the lead back in the race for Kimmich’s signature.
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Rousing The Kop relay tweets from BILD reporter Tobi Altschäffl, who has revealed the Reds are still discussing a move for the right-back internally. Man City, he claims, are no longer considering a move for the 29-year-old, as they are planning to rebuild their squad with younger players after a major drop-off in performance levels this season.
Altschäffl makes it clear the most likely scenario is the defender signing a new contract to remain at the Allianz Arena, but if he does decide to move on, it would appear that Liverpool is now a more likely destination than Manchester.
Kimmich is the best option to replace Trent
The hope is that Trent rejects Madrid to commit his long-term future to his boyhood club, but if the 26-year-old does move to Spain, then the Bayern defender is most likely the best option to replace him.
Bayern Munich's JoshuaKimmichreacts in front of referee Tobias Reichel
The Germany international has a track record of winning trophies, having won eight league titles and a Champions League with Bayern, and he has a plethora of experience at international level, amassing 97 caps for his country.
Lauded as “sensational” by members of the media, the £317k-per-week star would also be a versatile option for Slot, given that he is capable of playing in central midfield too.
It will be difficult to find any player capable of matching Trent’s ability to pick out a pass, but there are signs that Kimmich is very assured in possession of the ball, having averaged the most passes per game of any player in Europe’s top five leagues, as of December 29th.
As such, if Kimmich decides he wants a fresh challenge next season, Liverpool should make sure they are right at the front of the queue for his signature.
Following Trevoh Chalobah’s return to Chelsea, Crystal Palace are now reportedly plotting a complicated deal to sign a replacement before the end of the January transfer window.
Crystal Palace transfer news
The Eagles have rediscovered their best form under Oliver Glasner in recent weeks, but have undoubtedly been dealt a blow by Chelsea’s decision to recall Chalobah. Leaving them short on central defenders, those at Selhurst Park must turn towards the transfer window where they could find their second reinforcement after already welcoming Romain Esse earlier this month.
The rumours have certainly been coming thick and fast as the window comes to a close too, with names such as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain threatening to steal the headlines as he potentially seeks a return to the Premier League.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Besiktas.
Alongside Esse, the former Liverpool man would undoubtedly add an extra spark to Glasner’s attack behind the clinical Jean-Philippe Mateta. Whether the Eagles swoop in and win the race to sign the Champions League winner remains to be seen, however.
First and foremost, the priority in South London may well be the welcome a central defender to replace Chalobah in the coming days.
According to BBC Sport’s Alex Howell, Crystal Palace are now plotting a deal to sign Tiago Djalo before Monday’s deadline, but could face a complicated move given that Juventus would need to recall their defender from his loan spell at Porto.
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The 24-year-old has already enjoyed quite the journey around European football, swapping Sporting Club’s youth side for AC Milan’s before joining LOSC Lille and earning a move to Juventus. Now, following a mixed spell at Porto, Djalo could be on his way to Crystal Palace and the Premier League.
There’s certainly a lot of work to be done to complete any potential deal though and there’s no denying that all parties face a race against what is a rapidly ticking clock.
"Amazing" Djalo can replace Chalobah
A player who should only just be entering his peak years at 24 years old, Djalo has already gained some impressive experience around Europe’s top leagues – experience that Palace could now benefit from. Replacing Chalobah this late on will, of course, be no easy task either which makes their chase to sign the Juventus defender all the more worthwhile.
Throughout his rise, Djalo has earned plenty of praise from the likes of football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who described the central defender’s performance against Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain as “amazing” as a young talent.
Three years on from that performance, Djalo’s rise has stalled somewhat after a frustrating loan spell at Porto which could yet see Palace play the role of heroes and come swooping in to revive the central defender.
Arsenal now hold a strong interest in a “lethal” £50m striker, who is seen as an ideal solution to their attacking issues, according to a report.
Doubt over Havertz's Arsenal future
Although the Gunners are still in the Premier League title race, currently sitting six points behind Liverpool, there is a feeling they could have done with bringing in some extra attacking firepower during the January transfer window.
In a recent interview with Football Insider, former scout Mick Brown revealed Mikel Arteta is set to pursue a new striker in the summer, casting doubt over Havertz’s long-term future at the Emirates Stadium.
“I don’t think their position has changed since they first started looking at options. Arteta wasn’t happy that they didn’t strengthen in January, because they needed to.
“So if Arsenal can get a top-quality replacement, I expect them to do that in the summer.”
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Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko are among the main strikers to be linked with a move to north London in the summer, but reports from Spain have now revealed there is another name on the list of targets.
Arsenal are said to hold a strong interest in Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui, having been impressed by his performances this season, which has attracted the attention of a number of big clubs.
Atalanta's MateoReteguicelebrates with the match ball
Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are also ‘bidding strongly’ for Retegui, so there may be stiff competition for his signature, with Atalanta set to try and hold out for up to €60m (£50m).
With the Gunners still lacking a reliable striker, the Atalanta star is viewed as an ideal solution, but they are yet to make any concrete moves towards getting a deal done.
Retegui on fire in the Serie A
It is no surprise the Italian has attracted Arsenal’s attention, as he has been prolific in the Serie A this season, scoring 20 goals in 22 games, most recently bagging four in his side’s 5-0 victory against Hellas Verona.
Italy manager Luciano Spalletti was full of praise for the 25-year-old earlier this season, saying: “Inside the box, he is lethal. And now he has learned how to connect with the team better. He’s going to become a top player.”
If the Gunners are keen on an out-and-out striker, Retegui could be their man, given that he ranks in the 96th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.
As you’d expect, Havertz outperforms the Atalanta forward on a number of key defensive metrics, while he has also provided far more assists during the same timeframe.
However, the most important thing for any striker is to find the back of the net, and the Argentina-born marksman certainly knows how to do that, so it is promising news the Gunners are considering a summer move.
Everton are unrecognisable – and for the better. David Moyes’ three-game winning run in the Premier League might have ended in the Merseyside derby but this is a coherent and dangerous unit.
Relegation fears are in the background. Of course, you can never be certain in this division, but the Toffees have raced toward the outskirts of mid-table and have a ten-point buffer over 18th-place Leicester City.
Everton celebrate in the Merseyside Derby
Moyes’ tactics negated Liverpool’s fluid attacking play, and while the onus is on preserving top-flight status until the summer, the new owners, The Friedkin Group, are going to try and make headway in the transfer window. Signings will be posted to the Everton Stadium.
However, there are going to be several current stars heading out of the turnstiles. Let’s take a look at who they might be.
The players leaving Everton this year
While TFG and Moyes have big plans, there’s going to be an exodus at Everton. First-team stars such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin are out of a deal at the end of the campaign, with a host of veterans set to depart too.
Everton's DominicCalvert-Lewincelebrates their third goal, an own goal scored by Tottenham Hotspur's Archie Gray
Calvert-Lewin is a talented and powerful centre-forward, but he’s only scored three Premier League goals across 22 matches this season.
Abdoulaye Doucoure, Idrissa Gueye, Ashley Young, and Michael Keane, all in their 30s, are also reaching their conclusions, so it is clear that Moyes will need to bring a range of faces to Merseyside, charging a project that will lift the club away from the bottom end of the division.
Moreover, there are a number of loanees who may see their permanent clauses activated, namely Charly Alcaraz and, possibly, Armando Broja. The same could be said for Jesper Lindstrom, but along with Jack Harrison, the right-winger has failed to register a single goal contribution with the Toffees this term.
Market Movers
Everton haven’t been good enough at cutting ties with stars who haven’t cut the mustard in recent years, but one former player departed at the right time, Tom Davies; the 26-year-old is worth even less than many of those soon-to-leave veterans.
Tom Davies' Everton career
Everton academy graduate Davies never lived up to his billing, chiefly due to injuries disrupting his development. However, the 26-year-old was once considered to be a high-class talent and did make 179 senior appearances for the side, scoring seven goals and supplying eight assists, before joining Sheffield United after the end of his contract in 2023.
Everton's Tom Davies
There’s typically a frustrating overreaction when a young talent takes strong steps on Premier League soil for the first time, but Davies did carry himself with the swagger and certainty of a midfielder headed straight for the top.
Reports from 2017 – when he broke through – even suggested that Chelsea were keen on swiping the Toffees teenager and adding him to their large Cobham ranks.
Former Everton midfielder Tom Davies
The fact that Davies is now worth even less than Keane, 32, says it all. According to Transfermarkt, the Blades midfielder has a market value of just £4m, whereas the Everton centre-half’s price tag sits at about £5m.
There’s no bad blood between Davies and his former Merseyside outfit but it’s a real shame that he didn’t live up to the hype, especially since he was touted to become as good as one of Liverpool’s most iconic footballers.
Indeed, journalist Adrian Durham, speaking to talkSPORT in 2019, even went as far as to say that Davies could become “better than (Steven) Gerrard was for Liverpool” as he pushed for a prominent role in the Toffees first team.
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard
In hindsight (or perhaps at the time for many) this seems rather silly, but Evertonians will recall Davies’ excellent start to life, showing such promise with his technical ability and energy.
Aged only 18, the English prospect put in a man-of-the-match performance as Everton thrashed Pep Guardiola’s nascent Manchester City side 4-0, dominating the central battle against none other than Yaya Toure. It made a telling comment on his future success, his potential in the Premier League.
Picture this: Davies collects down the right touchline, he’s in his own half. A quick drop of the shoulder and he’s away, driving forward and skipping inside. He’s going to get swarmed, neatly plays across to Ross Barkley; Barkley plays it back, Davies arcs it above Claudio Bravo, all finesse and composure. It squeezes inside the post.
Goodison Park erupts, making that special kind of noise that most stadiums are unable to produce.
You can see, to be sure, that Durham’s belief in Everton’s academy star, his vision that Merseyside had found its Gerrard regen – this time in Blue – had substance.
22/23
19 (4)
0
0
21/22
6 (2)
1
0
20/21
25 (17)
1
0
19/20
30 (23)
1
0
18/19
15 (10)
0
0
17/18
33 (20)
2
1
16/17
24 (18)
2
3
Davies fell by the wayside in the end, his Everton career tapering off year by year, fading like a pen running out of ink.
Keane isn’t exactly a mainstay in the current Everton team, had fallen into the fringes of Sean Dyche’s squad, and has been noted for “always struggling”, according to talkSPORT’s Perry Groves. It’s highly unlikely that Moyes will want to risk stagnation by renewing the ageing star’s signature.
But he’s still worth more than the once Gerrard-esque Davies, something that underscores just how far the injury-affected pro has fallen.
The shining light in all this is that Davies has returned to fitness with Sheffield United and has recently started six matches in the Championship, notably completing 88% of his passes and winning 57% of his ground battles, as per Sofascore, as he instils composure and control in the engine room.
The Blues will simply hope that he can maintain his form and enjoy a successful coming chapter of his career. It’s just a shame that he’s a shadow of the prospect who once suggested so much.
Everton struck gold selling £14m flop who's now worth less than Doucoure
He’s part of a long list of disappointing additions under the Farhad Moshiri umbrella.
Crystal Palace are expected to lodge an enquiry over signing a “quality” £25 million player in the summer, according to a recent report.
Crystal Palace eye attacking signings
The Eagles still have 11 games left to play in the Premier League and an FA Cup quarterfinal tie to think about, but plans already appear to be getting underway for what could be a busy summer at Selhurst Park.
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Oliver Glasner is keen for his side to strengthen in the wide areas of the team, with it emerging last week that Liverpool’s Ben Doak and Lewis Koumas are of interest to Palace. The South Londoners are interested in signing not just one, but both Liverpool loan stars, who have been thriving at Middlesbrough and Stoke respectively this season.
Palace are also keeping a close eye on FC Midtjylland striker Franculino Dju and have sent scouts to watch him in action in recent weeks. However, they are not the only team interested, as Leicester City are also keen on a deal, though their interest hinges on them remaining in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, former chief scout Mick Brown has also stated that Palace are interested in signing Tyler Dibling from Southampton, but again, there are many other teams also interested in the young star.
Crystal Palace expected to make enquiry to sign £25m Spurs star
But as well as looking to strengthen their forward line, the Eagles are also looking to strengthen their midfield, as according to Give Me Sport, Crystal Palace are interested in signing Yves Bissouma from Tottenham Hotspur.
The report states that Spurs are willing to let Bissouma leave come the end of the season, with no indications of a new deal being discussed, as he will enter the final 12 months of the contract he signed when he became one of the several Brighton success stories to be sold for profit. Palace are monitoring the situation and are expected to make an enquiry into a possible deal, while several other teams are also expected to join the race.
French sides Marseille and Nice are also interested in signing the midfielder, and Bissouma is open to moving back to Ligue 1, but Palace will hope the opportunity to remain in the Premier League outweighs a return to France. It is unclear how much Spurs would be looking to get for Bissouma, but they may struggle to get near the £25 million they paid Brighton to sign him in 2022.
Apps
20
Starts
12
Goals
2
Touches per game
41.9
Passing accuracy per game
29.3 (90%)
Tackles per game
1.9
The 28-year-old, who was dubbed “quality” by Jamie Carragher two years ago, has fallen out of favour somewhat at Spurs this season. The midfielder has started 20 of the 32 games he has played in all competitions, but the rise of Lucas Bergvall and the performances of Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Sarr have seen Bissouma fall down the pecking order, and given his contract situation, a move could be on the cards this summer.
The Eagles will be hoping to keep hold of Adam Wharton, but Bissouma could be seen as a potential replacement should Palace find it hard to keep the young Englishman.
Manchester City are safely through to the FA Cup quarter-finals thanks to a 3-1 win at home to Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle.
This game had the potential to be a tricky one to navigate for the Citizens given the Pilgrims knocked out Premier League leaders Liverpool in the previous round.
As it happened, the visitors took the lead at the Etihad Stadium. It was a poor goal to concede from City’s point of view, as Argyle centre-back Maksym Talovierov found himself unmarked from a corner and rose highest to head home.
However, City did not have to wait too long for their equaliser. Youngster Nico O’Reilly levelled the game back up in first-half stoppage-time and got himself a second to give City the lead with 15 minutes left.
Pep Guardiola’s men sealed their place in the next round thanks to a goal from Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian, who put in an impressive performance, ran onto a through ball from talismanic striker Erling Haaland and poked home from just inside the six-yard box.
It was a professional performance on the whole from the Citizens, although one player who struggled at times was youngster James McAtee.
James McAtee's stats v Plymouth
Make no mistake, McAtee’s performance was by no means a poor one. However, the City ace, who operated in the No 10 role against the Championship outfit, did not really have a big influence on the game.
Manchester City'sJamesMcAteecelebrates after the match
That said, this was not through lack of effort. The midfielder, who was substituted on the hour mark for Haaland, worked incredibly hard, but simply struggled to get into the game.
McAtee’s stats from the game on Sofascore show just how tough of a match it was for him. The 22-year-old had just 35 touches, although he did manage to create two chances in that time.
Joe Krishnan, a journalist for The Express, gave the attacking midfielder a post-match rating of 6/10 for his efforts. He explained that he “looked bright in the early stages” and was “recognised with a warm ovation” upon his substitution.
It was certainly a mixed night for McAtee, although the same cannot be said for another City academy star who didn’t just outclass the academy graduate but also the great De Bruyne.
The Man City player who thrived most vs Plymouth
It was an excellent evening for Nico O’Reilly. The youngster has now played nine times for the first team this season following his performance against the Pilgrims, and has impressed with his ability on the ball and versatility.
On Saturday night, the youngster started at left-back, but he has also played at centre-back, across the midfield and even as a No 9 this term, which is certainly handy for Guardiola to rely on.
His goals were impressive, too. Both were headers from set-pieces, with the first a glancing effort from a De Bruyne cross that the goalkeeper got a hand to, but nothing more. O’Reilly’s was teed up by Phil Foden for his second, scoring with a towering effort at the back post from a corner.
The youngster’s stats from the game showed how big his influence was. He had 90 touches and completed 89% of his passes. The City left-back also made one clearance and one interception.
Stat
Total
Touches
90
Pass accuracy
89%
Passes completed
65/73
Shots on target
2
Goals
2
Clearances
1
Interceptions
1
Krishnan highlighted that O’Reilly had to grow into the game, pointing out that he “initially struggled to make the same impact” as Josko Gvardiol in an attacking sense. However, he gave him an 8/10 for what was ultimately a decisive performance.
O’Reilly is certainly an exciting talent and really feels like the future feature of the Citizens team for the coming years.
His ability to play anywhere required of him on the pitch and his capability of finding the net is extremely useful.
Nico O'Reilly for Manchester City
The 19-year-old has certainly not done his future first-team chances any harm after Saturday’s showing. Perhaps City will get used to the sight of him donning that famous sky blue shirt with Haaland and co on a more regular basis.
Man City hit the jackpot on £76m ace who has genuine Ballon d'Or potential