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There has been plenty of change at Crystal Palace this year. Manager Roy Hodgson’s four-year tenure came to an end with Patrick Vieira coming through the door. Plenty of new players also joined, with the Eagles now boasting an exciting handful of young prospects.

A famous win at the Etihad will arguably be the highlight, with a success over Tottenham also up there with Palace fans’ favourites from 2021 whilst heavy defeats against the likes of Manchester City and Burnley will be pushed to the back of their minds.

The South London club is certainly a work in progress under Vieira, but there will certainly be hope at Selhurst Park that next year will see the Eagles spread their wings.

Take our big, fat Crystal Palace quiz of 2021 and see if you can get 100% – only real fans will be able to!

Celtic may well go on to win the Premiership crown this summer, a deserved title for Ange Postecoglou in his first year with the Hoops.

However, he might have some tricky dilemmas to work out as he heads towards a summer transfer window where a lot of work will need to be done behind the scenes at Parkhead.

What’s the word?

Celtic are in danger of losing a few players in the upcoming market with Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers both set to see their loan deal expire.

Talks have begun to keep the latter in Glasgow but the future of Jota, their diminutive and skilful Portuguese sensation, is a lot more unclear.

It’s thought Celtic have a £6.5m option to buy the winger but Postecoglou has been rather coy on whether they’ll look to activate that clause.

Should they opt against it, the Bhoys must revive their chase of Kristijan Lovric.

He’s like Mbappe

Celtic have been interested in the Croat now for a number of years with a bid of £4.5m even believed to have been rejected for his services.

Yet, if they still have the NK Osijek man in their services, they must line up another bid even if he has only just moved in the winter market.

A move to British shores would surely be tempting for the player and if Postecoglou’s recruitment team can stump up the cash, his current side would find it difficult to turn it down given their financial status.

Jota will be an incredibly hard player to replace given his 20 goal contributions this term but in Lovric, they’d have someone who is more than capable.

The 26-year-old found the back of the net on 54 occasions for Gorica and has grown an enviable reputation for being one of the most dangerous players in the Croatian top tier.

Indeed, speaking about Lovric previously, HNTV commentator Damir Petravic said: “He dribbles and scores in the style of Robben, shoots free throws like Pirlo or Pjanic, and knows how to sprint like Mbappe.”

That sounds like an incredibly dangerous attacker, one who judging by his 28 assists, is also capable of creating regular scoring opportunities for his teammates.

Jota has been sublime at points this term but has still had the tendency to run a little hot and cold. In Lovric, however, they may well find a player capable of being more consistent.

It would be a significant deal to complete and a tricky one given his circumstances but it’s evident he’s someone Celtic have admired for some time. This summer could be the perfect chance to head back into the market for him.

AND in other news, Sources: Celtic now in talks over “important” Lennoxtown deal, Ange will be buzzing…

Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan says he expects the Whites to make several new signings this summer ahead of what could be a busy transfer window.

Marcelo Bielsa has built an impressive squad at Elland Road, as highlighted by his side’s 1-1 draw at home to Liverpool on Monday night.

Leeds are now sitting 10th in the table after an excellent first year back in the Premier League, but they cannot afford to rest on their laurels this summer. New faces could be brought in, allowing the Whites to go up another gear and potentially finish in the European places next season.

[freshpress-quiz id=“351040″]

Whelan gives thoughts on Leeds’ summer business

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan gave his thoughts on how he expects Leeds’ summer to pan out, with as many as four new faces coming in. He said:

“No club in the Premier League now or Championship is not preparing for next season.

“If they’re not working on a list of players in areas that they need or players that they would like or may be available, then there’s something wrong.

“Preparation, for me, usually starts around about end of January, February time, when you’re looking at someone for next season.

“Even with Covid, I don’t think that will have stopped. We know where they need players. They need players in central midfield, they need another striker, they need a natural left wing-back. There’s three straight away.

“Will they need another keeper if Kiko Casilla leaves? Absolutely. There’s four players straight away that they’ll be thinking about.”

Transfer Tavern take

It is imperative that Leeds continue to go in an upwards trajectory, which may only happen if the squad is strengthened sufficiently.

As Whelan has suggested, additions seem particularly important at left-back and in central midfield, with Ezgjan Alioski expected to leave and Kalvin Phillips arguably relied upon too much in the middle of the park.

Similarly, Kiko Casilla’s likely exit will mean that a backup to Illan Meslier is required, further showing why reinforcements will be needed in the coming months.

In other news, Leeds are reportedly interested in making a move for a Premier League ‘big six’ player this summer. Read more here.

Jurgen Klopp and Julian Ward could bring a new striker to Liverpool this summer in the shape of Lautaro Martinez.

What’s the word?

That’s according to the latest reports from TuttoMercato, who claim that the 24-year-old has decided that he wants a move to a “big club with many titles” and the Reds have him in their crosshairs as a result.

The Italian outlet suggests that Martinez will not be playing his football for Inter Milan next season, with the Nerazzurri looking to free up some budget.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-liverpool-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-salah-gnabry-isak-romano” title= “Read the latest Liverpool news!”]

The fee will of course depend on the way he ends the season but is reported to be around €80m (£67m).

It is said that Arsenal and Atletico Madrid had made their interest known, though the Argentinian striker was not willing to entertain a move to either side, with his sites set on joining a club that has won “many titles.”

Possible destinations suggested by TuttoMercato are Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester City or Bayern Munich.

An elite club

Thanks to their historical success and silverware as of recent, Liverpool are in an elite and forthright position to sign the “sensational” £76k-per-week talent.

Klopp would be right to do so, with Martinez notching up some impressive numbers in regards to his goal returns. In 42 appearances this season, the Argentina international has three assists.

Lautaro has demonstrated that he can be more creative, having created 11 assists last season, when Lukaku was the main man in Milan.

Being an out-and-out striker, he would offer a presence up-top that Liverpool have not had since Luis Suarez.

Capable of adapting to the style of Lionel Messi, his teammate in the national team, Martinez could find a new partnership with Mohammed Salah.

Of recent, Salah has established an identity as a top goalscorer, and if he would be willing to collaborate with the 24-year-old in Liverpool’s frontline, we could well see a deadly duo in the Premier League.

This is a transfer that few clubs have the opportunity to pull off, so it would be worth a look at least from the perspective of Jurgen Klopp.

In other news: Julian Ward could now unearth Liverpool’s next Trent in £540k-rated “wonderkid”…

For those in the Celtic reserve side, their chances of securing regular first-team action seems difficult to envisage.

That was certainly the case under a stubborn Neil Lennon. Very rarely did the northern Irishman change his methods and it eventually led to his downfall.

An underlying problem at Parkhead has been the lack of opportunities for their young players. Cameron Harper has headed back to America as a result, while the likes of Armstrong Oko-Flex and Karamoko Dembele look set to depart when their contracts expire in the summer.

With that in mind, they have to start handing more minutes out. Adam Montgomery has been on the bench since John Kennedy was put in interim charge but someone who must join him is Luca Connell.

The 19-year-old joined in 2019 from Bolton Wanderers but has, rather bizarrely, never been given a chance in the senior side.

The teenager arrived with 12 appearances for Bolton in the EFL to his name, something which makes his lack of football in Glasgow even stranger.

When he put pen to paper two years ago, he surely wasn’t expecting to sit in the reserves. With the Bhoys signing Liam Shaw in a few months time, another with a similar level of experience under his belt as Connell, he will be hoping his career doesn’t follow in a similar path.

The Hoops have little to play for between now and the end of the season so throwing in players like Connell wouldn’t be a bad idea. By giving him minutes, it could help Kennedy and co. prepare for Scott Brown’s potential exit.

The veteran is out of contract in the summer and thus, there will be a vacancy in the middle of the park to fill. Ismaila Soro will be at the front of the queue but following behind should be Connell.

He is strong in the tackle and assured with his passing, earning numerous positive reviews in his short career to date.

Connell was given a chance to train with Ireland a few years ago and earned the following appraisal from Mick McCarthy, someone linked with the Celtic manager’s seat: “He’s a breath of fresh air around the place,” he began.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-celtic-transfer-news-onuachu-edouard-dembele-turnbull” title=”The latest Celtic news and views!”]

“He’s left-footed and he can certainly find a pass. He hits it with a bit of authority and lets people have the ball. He doesn’t mind putting his foot in either so he’s fitted in pretty well,” McCarthy concluded.

That final passage is what should excite Celtic supporters. As Brown and Soro have shown, you can’t play in this Hoops midfield without having a bit of bite about you. Despite his tender age, Connell possesses plenty of that.

With the Hoops skipper potentially on his way out, it is surely now or never in terms of the teenager’s Celtic career. Kennedy needs to give him a chance.

AND in other news, 109 dribbles: Celtic could seal huge Ryan Christie upgrade by signing 18-goal wizard…

Many Wolves fans have been left to fume as a transfer update emerged on Samu Costa.

As per Record (via Sport Witness), the Midlands club are reportedly interested in signing the Portugal U20 international in the summer window, and there is a belief that they would be willing to pay the €25m (£21.5m) fee required in order to secure his signature.

While Costa is a very promising player in his own right, having represented his country youth level and helped Almeria reach the La Liga 2 play-offs while on loan from Braga in the 2020/21 season, he is still quite raw at just 20 years of age, and has no prior experience of playing in the Premier League.

Thus, £21.5m does seem a bit steep for someone who is not guaranteed to be a success at Molineux.

Wolves fans on Costa transfer update

These WWFC supporters fumed as the transfer update was shared on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that it was ‘stupid’:

“If this happens at these prices then it will just confirm who is driving our transfer strategy. Absolute joke”

Credit: @PaulaAdey

“This smells funny”

Credit: @Ry_Oakley

“If they sign this kid for that price Fosun need to drop any pretence of them not being Mendes pocket greasers. Joke”

Credit: @LoneWol99231327

“Poor business that”

Credit: @logan67890

“This is so stupid”

Credit: @Millenwwfc

“Joke of a price”

Credit: @lewis__wwfc7

In other news, find out what transfer update has been slammed by Wanderers here!

Wolves are interested in 19-year-old SL Benfica forward Goncalo Ramos, according to a report from Portuguese outlet Novo.

They claim that the club are in ‘early talks’ with the Liga NOS outfit over the signing.

The lowdown on Wolves target Goncalo Ramos

Ramos is primarily a second striker rather than an out-and-out number nine.

After scoring 15 goals and providing six assists for Benfica’s B-team, he earned his opportunity at senior level, and he’s hit the ground running with six goals in his first 13 appearances.

Ramos has also featured eight times for Portugal’s Under-21s, including a substitute appearance in the final of the European Championship earlier this month.

Portugal, whose starting line-up for the game included Wolves loanee Vitinha, lost 1-0 to Germany.

Were he to join Wolves, he would be seen as part of their next attacking generation, along with Fabio Silva, a £35.6million signing last summer.

Fan feed Talking Wolves relayed the report, and here’s what the fans made of it.

Wolves fans react as Ramos talks get underway

“Are we running a football club or a crèche?”

Credit: @MKG661

“On a real note, would we need him since we have Fabio though? Wouldn’t we need a slightly older backup striker?”

Credit: @iamrockymstar

“Wonderkid FC”

Credit: @xGJHP

“That’s not how you spell Sergio.”

Credit: @wolfinbristol

“Another one for the youth them loaned out…. Another Rafa Mir”

Credit: @Wolfie71209247

“We’re just playing Football Manager, aren’t we?”

Credit: @adamwwfc03

In other news, fans were much happier with this transfer update. 

Leeds United are not planning to sell goalkeeper Illan Meslier this summer.

That’s according to an eport from Football Insider, who have been informed by a Leeds source that the Whites won’t listen to offers for the Frenchman and he will remain as Marcelo Bielsa’s number one next season.

Meslier’s impressive Leeds form

Meslier, on £16,500-a-week in Yorkshire, had been linked with French giants Paris Saint-Germain and Premier League rivals West Ham following an impressive first season in the top flight.

He’s missed just one Premier League game all season and his solid displays have resulted in his market value soaring from £4.05m to £15.3m in under 12 months.

Transfer Tavern take

His contract at Elland Road doesn’t expire until 2023, so Leeds aren’t exactly under major pressure to sell.

Bielsa is clearly happy with the towering youngster, believing he has had ‘a good season’. He’s placed his trust in Meslier over the experienced Kiko Casilla – with the former making a whopping 115 saves during the current campaign.

Meslier turned 21 earlier this month and it seems as if the Frenchman will continue to be first choice under Bielsa for the foreseeable future.

In other news: Leeds keen on England U-21 international alongside European giants, find out more here. 

Former Leeds United striker and now Football Insider pundit Noel Whelan has urged the Whites to make a move for Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard.

The Lowdown: Edouard set for exit

It seems as if Edouard has now played his final game for the Hoops. The Frenchman started in the club’s final game of the season against Hibernian on Saturday, with the Easter Road clash ending in a stalemate.

Reports in recent months have suggested that the 23-year-old wants to leave Celtic Park this summer, regardless of who comes in to replace Neil Lennon. Leicester City are reportedly confident of securing Edouard’s services, but Whelan wants Leeds to make their move over the coming months.

The Latest: Whelan urges Leeds to make move

According to Football Insider, Leeds are putting plans in place to sign a new, young striker and have set aside £20m-25m to bolster their attacking ranks.

Speaking to Football Insider about the subject, Whelan staked his claim for Edouard, who Lennon described as ‘magnificent’ earlier this season. The 46-year-old said:

“We’ve got to look long term here.

“You want someone you can improve, can grow into the side, grow into the football club and be there for three to four seasons. There’s already a player out there – Edouard.

“I keep saying it, go get him. He’s at Celtic. He fits that mould, he’d be competition. There’s many, many clubs interested in him, why shouldn’t we be? You can get him at a really good price.

“We’ve got to start looking at other people. Can we take away the players that other teams are trying to get?

“Victor Orta’s not failed us yet. What we do need is that striker. That’s the right criteria that we need to bring into the football club.”

The Verdict: Hoops need a proven replacement

With Edouard seemingly on his way out of Parkhead, we feel it is pivotal that Celtic bring in a proven replacement this summer. The Frenchman has netted 57 Scottish Premiership goals in 100 appearances, with 16 of those coming in the current campaign.

Mohamed Elyounoussi is the only other Hoops player to net double figures this season in all competitions, and he’s set to return to Southampton over the coming weeks.

Immediate firepower seems to be what is required under the new manager, so it looks set to be a crucial summer window for new Celtic CEO Dominic McKay.

In other news: ‘Something happened’ – McAvennie shares inside Celtic claim as news emerges on ace who wants out, find out more here. 

Danny Cowley has provided an update on Ellis Harrison which explains why he did not move to Bolton Wanderers.

What’s the talk?

The Portsmouth manager has explained why the Trotters failed to secure a deal for the striker during the transfer window.

Bolton were reportedly keen on a move for the centre-forward, with Cowley now revealing that Harrison asked to stay at the south coast club on deadline day as he was not looking to seal an exit from Fratton Park despite transfer interest.

He told Hampshire Live: “I had a really good conversation with Ellis on the telephone [on Tuesday] evening. He explained his reasons. It is absolutely his prerogative to want to stay.

“We didn’t want to lose him. He’s in the last year of his contract. He is motivated, he knows that it is really important for him in his career after a difficult year last year that he plays regularly and he knows that he controls that and he owns that.

“We need to get him fit enough, so that when he penetrates, he can become a handful because he stretches the pitch. Defenders don’t like forwards that run in behind and then defenders get deeper, it then gives him the opportunity then to pin up and you can play in to him and up to him and then he can start to link the play.

“I think there had been some interest, he had spoken to clubs, but he still feels he has got unfinished business here.”

Frustration for Evatt

Ian Evatt will surely be frustrated by these comments from Cowley as it means that Harrison decided he would rather play a supporting role at Pompey instead of potentially coming to Bolton and being a key figure. If the Trotters’ interest in him was genuine, that means he snubbed the chance to make the move, which will be disappointing to Evatt as it suggests he did not do enough to convince the 27-year-old that it was the right decision.

As Cowley explained, there was interest in Harrison and he did speak to clubs about a transfer. If Bolton were one of those, that means they ultimately failed in their attempts to bring him to the northwest, rather than it being a case of Portsmouth refusing to sell him.

This is doubly frustrating for Evatt, as it becomes an issue with Bolton rather than Portsmouth. The 39-year-old may need to do more to ensure that players want to join the club and are desperate to make the move so that the Trotters do not encounter similar problems in the future. Whether that means improving the training facilities or putting together a better pitch to give to targets remains to be seen, though.

The £4.3k-per-week Portsmouth forward has played one minute of League One football this season and only started 11 matches last term. This highlights the backup role he plays within Cowley’s team and why his decision to remain there is particularly frustrating for Evatt, as he has decided to continue being a bit-part player at Fratton Park instead of joining Bolton.

AND in other news, 82% duels won: Bolton gem with 85 touches was unsung hero for Evatt against Port Vale…