Crystal Palace: Journalist impressed at transfer Hodgson wants

Lyon midfielder Romain Faivre has the potential to be a shrewd summer signing for Crystal Palace, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Who is Romain Faivre?

The 24-year-old spent last season on loan at FC Lorient, scoring five goals in Ligue 1, as well as chipping in with a further three assists in the competition. He is permanently registered at Lyon, however, where he has made 28 appearances to date, netting three times along the way.

It could be that Faivre looks for a new challenge during the summer transfer window, however, and a move to the Premier League certainly doesn't look to be out of the question. Palace are one of the clubs who have been linked with a move for the Frenchman, as they look to make positive progress in the transfer market before the start of the 2023/24 season.

Everton and Fulham are also believed to be in the mix, though, with it looking increasingly likely that the midfielder will depart Lyon, even though his current deal there doesn't expire until the summer of 2026.

Would Faivre be a good signing for Crystal Palace?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, transfer expert Jones talked up the idea of Palace completing the signing of Faivre in the summer transfer window:

"I think he’s a good level of player to be looking at. He's very confident on the ball. He’s very confident in his decision-making. He's got a bit of cheekiness about him too."

Faivre could be a really strong option for Palace this summer, coming in as someone who can provide various different attributes in the middle of the park. Last season, the £18,000-a-week midfielder averaged three dribbles per game, highlighting the attacking quality and risk-taking ability that he possesses, but he also made 0.8 tackles per match, which while far from earth-shattering, still shows that he can do a job defensively.

Midfield is certainly an area of the pitch that the Eagles could do with improving, as Roy Hodgson looks to bring in the right players after committing his future to the club for another season, with Faivre providing more of a creative spark than someone like Will Hughes, for example, who only chipped in with one goal and assist apiece in the Premier League last term.

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has said that "Romain Faivre has something few players have – he breaks lines", which is high praise from such a legendary footballing figure, and it is that ability to provide that extra spark in the middle of the park that could help take Palace up a level moving forward, also getting even more out of attacking stars such as Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise.

There is clearly strong competition for Faivre's signature, so it won't be easy for the Eagles to get their man, but the lure of moving to London could as a potential advantage, given the appeal of living in and around the city, and Palace could also be considered less of a relegation-threatened candidate than Everton and Fulham in 2023/24.

Chelsea Transfer Updates; Moises Caicedo Bid Expected

Chelsea are "expected" to make a move for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo this summer, according to an update from renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Where is Caicedo off to this summer?

The 21-year-old stood out as one of the Seagulls' star players in 2022/23, shining alongside Alexis Mac Allister in the middle of the park and featuring in 37 of his side's 38 Premier League matches.

Caicedo's performances haven't gone unnoticed, however, and Brighton are going to find it extremely difficult to keep hold of him beyond the end of the summer transfer window. Chelsea are one of many clubs who have been linked with a move for the Ecuadorian recently, with a move to one of the country's top teams looking on the cards sooner rather than later.

The Blues are in desperate need of strengthening in midfield, with N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic set to leave a void there, and it looks as though they are still pushing hard to snap up the in-demand Brighton man.

Moises Caicedo Chelsea

Are Chelsea in the mix to sign Caicedo?

Taking to Twitter, Romano provided an update on the current situation, saying that Caicedo remains a primary target for Chelsea this summer, as new manager Mauricio Pochettino looks to make inroads in the transfer market:

"No changes on Caicedo deal. Chelsea expected to bid after outgoing and still feel in control of the situation. There’s no official negotiation ongoing yet. Personal terms almost agreed."

In many ways, Caicedo could be the perfect midfield signing for Chelsea this summer, already possessing experience in the Premier League and coming in as a long-term acquisition with a high ceiling.

You'd expect he would be an immediate key man at Stamford Bridge, despite still being so young, and his combination of tackling tenacity and quality in possession could make him a great midfield partner for Enzo Fernandez moving forward.

Jamie Redknapp has described Caicedo as "magnificent" in the recent past and he averaged 2.7 tackles per game in the league last term, while he also ranks in the 94th percentile for pass completion, highlighting the bite and quality that he could bring to Chelsea's team.

It may not be easy for the Blues to get their man, such is the competition for his signature – a lack of European football is also a potential issue compared to some of their rivals – but they must do all they can to snap up one of the most exciting midfielders in the Premier League currently.

Man Utd "Remain Keen" On £43m "Hidden Gem"

Manchester United are reportedly plotting a move for Monaco star, Axel Disasi, with Erik ten Hag plotting alternatives to Napoli's Kim Min-jae.

What's the latest on Disasi to Man United?

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the Red Devils "remain keen" on signing the towering centre-back ahead of next season, with the Frenchman reportedly set to be available for a fee of around €50m (£43m) this summer if he is to leave the Ligue 1 outfit.

In a further update from Romano, the respected insider went on to add: "Axel Disasi remains concrete name in the list at Manchester United in case Kim Min-jae will end up joining Bayern as expected [next week will be crucial for Kim deal]."

As the Italian journalist noted, it would appear that Kim could be on his way to Bayern Munich over the coming weeks, despite recent reports that the South Korean brute had reached an agreement with United regarding a move to Old Trafford.

Should Man United sign Axel Disasi?

The signing of the 25-year-old could potentially allow Ten Hag and co to forget all about the aforementioned Kim, with the 6 foot 3 ace having been hailed as a "complete" and "dominant" asset by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Also previously described as a "hidden gem" by Kulig in the past, Disasi notably helped to keep nine clean sheets in 38 league games last season, while also making an impact in an attacking sense after chipping in with three goals in that time.

Napoli's Kim Min-jae

The former Reims titan's quality in the final third would add a real bonus to Ten Hag's side, with the four-cap international seemingly proving far more dangerous than Kim as he ranks in the top 7% among his European peers for touches in the attacking penalty area, while his Napoli counterpart ranks in just the bottom 41% in that regard.

Perhaps more importantly, however, is Disasi's superior knack for being able to play out from the back, with the one-time Paris FC man offering a real threat with his ability to spark attacks from deep as he ranks in the top 4% for both progressive passes and progressive carries – with Kim ranking in just the top 12% for both those two metrics.

The Monaco man could also prove rather dangerous for any opposition striker due to his ball-winning brilliance as he ranks in the top 14% for interceptions made, with that far greater than the Serie A-winning sensation, who ranks in just the top 27% for interceptions.

As such, while all the talk has been about Kim potentially making the move to the Theatre of Dreams this summer, Ten Hag would be wise to consider the 'hidden gem' that is Disasi instead.

Rodgers Eyeing Celtic Swoop To Sign £2.6m Dynamo

An update has emerged on Celtic and their plans to bolster their options in the middle of the park ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest on Kings Kangwa to Celtic?

The Guardian journalist Ed Aarons has revealed that the Hoops are one of a number of clubs eyeing up a swoop for Red Star Belgrade ace Kings Kangwa this summer as Brendan Rodgers looks to improve his team.

The reporter tweeted: "Nottingham Forest have held talks with Red Star Belgrade over signing Kings Kangwa. The centre midfielder scored in Zambia's win against Ivory Coast in Afcon qualifying last week and is likely to cost €3m. Celtic, Fiorentina, Lille and Montpellier also interested in 24-year-old."

However, it now remains to be seen whether or not the Scottish giants will formalise their interest with an official bid to land the £2.6m-rated talent given the stiff competition that they would seemingly face for his signature in the coming weeks.

What is Kings Kangwa's style of play?

The Red Star hotshot, who was described as a "great ball-carrier" by player analyst Chris Kearney, is an all-action midfielder who can make key contributions at both ends of the pitch.

Earlier this year, Football Insider claimed that current Hoops ace Matt O'Riley would be open to an exit this summer amid interest from English Premier League teams, and Kangwa could be the dream heir to the Denmark international at Parkhead.

The former MK Dons dynamo averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.30 across 38 Scottish Premiership outings in 22/23 and showcased his ability on and off the ball.

Celtic midfielder Matt O'Riley.

In possession, O'Riley chipped in with three goals and 2.2 chances created per match for his side, which resulted in an eye-catching 12 assists.

The Danish maestro also put the hard work in defensively to make 2.2 tackles and interceptions per match, although he struggled in physical battles, with a duel success rate of just 44%.

Kangwa, meanwhile, averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.24 across 32 Superliga matches for Red Star in 22/23 and made his presence felt in the final third with eight goals and 1.4 key passes per outing.

These statistics indicate that, provided he can replicate his form from the Czech top flight, the 24-year-old could provide a similar level of attacking threat in comparison to the Celtic star, albeit that it may come more in terms of scoring goals than creating them.

The Zambia international displayed strength in the middle of the park with a duel success rate of 55% and made 2.1 tackles and interceptions per match, which suggests that the talented ace could even be more efficient than O'Riley out of possession.

Therefore, Rodgers could land a dream heir to the ex-Fulham midfielder by beating off interest from the host of other clubs eyeing Kangwa to land his services this summer, as he is another box-to-box gem who could provide quality across the park.

Gareth Southgate Warns Jack Grealish Over Man City Partying

England manager Gareth Southgate has warned Jack Grealish over his antics during the Manchester City celebrations after winning the treble.

What did Gareth Southgate say about Jack Grealish?

The winger has made plenty of headlines over the past week or so as he's widely enjoyed letting off some steam after Pep Guardiola and his team secured the Premier League, the Champions League and the FA Cup over the course of the past season.

For instance, he was even spotted on camera drunkenly begging City teammate Bernardo Silva not to leave in the summer, while more footage has seen him ambling around Manchester, often with Champagne in hand.

Despite all this, Grealish's season isn't tenchially over as he's part of the England squad which will play Euro 2024 qualifiers over the next few days – first against Malta, and then North Macedonia.

With this in mind, manager Southgate has been talking to the press about the player's off-field antics, suggesting that he best not cross the line.

He told the press (via TalkSport): "There is a line but in our head we weren't thinking of including the City players for this game.

"I have spoken with the players. We have talked about where the focus needs to be, where we need them to be and acknowledged what they have experienced and that's for me to manage.

"A few of our players would be teetotal. What is different is that everyone posts everything [on social media]. I wouldn't have liked a few of my nights out to be posted publicly. My generation would have a lot more problems."

Will Grealish play for England against Malta?

It's nice to see that Southgate at least understanding Grealish's behaviour and not coming down too hard on him – admitting that his on genertation would have been worse. Although, he did also suggest that none of the City players will featute against Malta.

And for the most part, it seems most of the footballing community has been able to enjoy the Man City man living it up, even if he has looked a bit worse for wear at times.

Man City's Jack Grealish

Pundit Gabby Agbonlahor explained on TalkSport why the former Aston Villa captain has every right to let off a little steam.

He said: “You’ve done the work, played in multiple games this season, had the sleepless nights after games – people don’t see that part of it where you’re shattered, you’re dehydrated, you can’t eat after games, people don’t see the side of footballers where they’re putting the work in and how difficult it is to be a professional footballer.

“They’ve done and now it’s time to celebrate. The celebrations are on hold for England duty and they’ll continue after England duty because he’ll have more time off and it’s deserved.

“I just see a lad who is living the dream. He’s won the treble and he’s celebrating as he should do.”

Newcastle Could Sign £44m Premier League Talent

Newcastle United will be looking for new additions that can add quality to the squad ahead of their Champions League campaign next season and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Conor Gallagher?

According to The Daily Mail, Newcastle are interested in signing Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher this summer.

As per the report, the Magpies have identified a number of targets ahead of the summer transfer window and Gallagher is among several Premier League players that the club's hierarchy are considering.

Would Gallagher be a good signing for Newcastle?

Whilst securing the services of a defensive midfielder should be the highest priority for Newcastle this summer, there is no doubt that Gallagher can offer the club another young, hard-working and explosive player for Eddie Howe to deploy in the centre of the pitch.

The Newcastle boss has unlocked the full potential in his impressive squad this season with a League Cup final at Wembley and Champions League qualification making dreams become a reality for the St James' Park faithful, but now it will be important to keep building and adding quality to find success in the next steps of their journey.

Having strong depth in every position will be hugely advantageous when it comes to competing on the domestic and European stage next season, allowing Howe to rotate with confidence and without compromising on the quality of the performance.

conor-gallagher-chelsea-premier-league-newcastle-transfers

Indeed, Gallagher – dubbed "Kante with goals" by talkSPORT's Tony Cascerino – could be the perfect player to add competition to Joelinton's position with the Brazilian midfielder named as the second most comparable player to the Chelsea talent, as per FBref.

The positional peers have shared a number of similarities in their output this season including shots on target rate (39.3% v 37.3%), pass completion rate (81.1% v 81.6%), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.61 v 2.71) and successful take-ons (42.6% v 47.7%).

Due to the fact that Joelinton often drops into the left-wing role, Gallagher – who has a reported price tag of £44m – could even find himself playing alongside the Newcastle talisman and if they could form a good connection on the pitch together by doubling up on their similar attacking attributes, it could cause chaos for opponents.

With that being said, the signing of Gallagher would be a great way to bolster one of the most important positions in Howe's successful team and would give the manager a player he can trust to rotate into the team next season when competing in multiple competitions.

Villa Can Land Big Buendia Upgrade With £69m Swoop

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is set to enter his first summer transfer window in charge of the club and it provides him with a chance to make big changes to his squad.

The Spaniard helped the club to secure European football for next season by earning qualification for the Europa Conference League and the roster may need upgrading in order to deal with playing in multiple competitions.

Portuguese outlet A Bola recently reported that the Villans are interested in a deal to sign Sporting attacking midfielder Pedro Goncalves ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and he could improve Emery's team significantly.

The report claimed that the club have been tracking the ace since 2020 and have contacted the Liga Portugal side to enquire about his price, with his side demanding that potential suitors pay up his release clause of €80m (£69m).

How did Pedro Goncalves perform this season?

Emery could land a big upgrade on current Villa playmaker Emiliano Buendia by signing Goncalves as the 24-year-old star enjoyed an exceptional campaign with Sporting in his home country.

In the Portuguese top flight, the magician averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.51 across 33 matches and contributed with 15 goals and 11 assists.

The dynamo proved himself to be a reliable goalscorer from an attacking midfield or wide position, after scoring eight goals in 27 league outings last term, and could provide a greater goal threat than Buendia, who managed just five strikes in 38 matches in the Premier League in 22/23 and four in 35 games in 21/22 for the Villans.

Aston Villa midfielder Emiliano Buendia.

Goncalves, whose form was once hailed as "incredible" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also created 16 'big chances' and provided 2.6 key passes per match for Sporting in the league. This shows that the former Wolves maestro is consistently opening up the opposition's defence to create quality opportunities for his teammates, to go along with his own goalscoring ability.

Buendia, meanwhile, created eight 'big chances' and made 1.4 key passes per game for Villa in the league and these statistics indicate that the Argentine does not offer as much as the Portuguese talent when it comes to creating for others.

Therefore, Emery could improve his squad heading into the 2023/24 campaign by swooping for Goncalves in the coming months as the playmaker has the potential to provide far more quality in the final third than the ex-Norwich man.

There is no guarantee that he will be able to translate his form from Portugal over to England but his eye-catching form in front of goal suggests that it is a gamble worth taking this summer.

Erik Ten Hag Praised For Claim On £200k-p/w Man United Ace

YouTuber Mark Goldbridge has praised Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag for his recent comments on Marcus Rashford.

What did Ten Hag say about Rashford?

It's been a pretty impressive season for the Englishman and after he scored in the week against Chelsea, he became the first player in a decade – since Robin van Persie – to net 30 times in a single campaign for the Red Devils.

Unsurprisingly, Rahsford has earned plenty of plaudits over the past few months but it seems his manager, isn't satisfied just yet.

Indeed, Ten Hag recently told Viaplay (via Goal): "I am happy that finally a player of Manchester United is able to score 30 goals again. But next year the numbers have to be higher."

It might seem like a tough ask of Rashford but Goldbridge seemed to love the high standards being demanded at Old Trafford.

When speaking on The United Stand YouTube channel, he explained his thoughts, as he read out the quotes and then added: "I love that from Ten Hag! The obsession to make things better."

When does Rashford's contract expire?

As quoted in the ManchesterEveningNews, Ten Hag actually had even more to say on the topic. The Dutch coach explained: "There's a lot of room for improvement in his game. I'm convinced he can score even more.

"When you take, for instance, the last 10 games he didn't score many goals. I think only two or three, so yes he can improve. I am happy from what he did last season to now that he brings himself back.

manchester-united-marcus-rashford-aston-villa-de-gea-ten-hag

"We supported him where we could, with the way we play but also in his mental mindset. We are happy with that, but we must push him more. I think he's capable of to score 40 goals in a season. So for him that's the next step."

Of course, the big concern for most Man United fans right now is whether or not Rashford will sign a new deal. Indeed, his current £200k-p/w contract end in 2024.

Thankfully, though, his manager also believes that will all be sorted soon, telling the press: "I expect Marcus Rashford to renew. He wants it. Manchester United wants it. He is a child of this club, so I assume this will happen."

All in all, it sounds as though supporters can hope to see even better and bigger things from their star player over the coming years under Ten Hag.

Tottenham: Sky reporter hints Paratici could join £51m star race

Tottenham Hotspur, and by extension Fabio Paratici, could be ‘in the mix’ to sign a £51 million star for Antonio Conte this summer, hints Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge.

The Lowdown: Lilywhites officials spotted…

According to a report from 90min, Lilywhites officials were recently sent on a mission as they were tasked with running the rule over certain transfer targets.

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Spurs scouts were allegedly in attendance for both of Villarreal’s clashes with Liverpool in the Champions League semi-finals recently as the Premier League top four chasers eye both defender Pau Torres and winger Arnaut Danjuma.

The latter man has been in fine form under Unai Emery in Spain since joining from Bournemouth last summer as transfer chief Paratici is now linked with a potential swoop.

The Latest: Bridge drops Tottenham hint…

Speaking to GiveMeSport, reporter Bridge of Sky Sports now hints Spurs, and by extension Paratici, could be ‘in the mix’ for Danjuma if he becomes available – despite not hearing anything ‘concrete’ concerning them yet.

He explained:

“I do think he would be [an upgrade on Bergwijn]. He’s a real talent and another level to Bergwijn.

“But I don’t think there’s anything concrete on Tottenham, I’ve not heard anything, but would they be in the mix if he became available? Maybe.”

The Verdict: Hopefully…

Depending on developments, Spurs joining the race for Danjuma comes as an exciting proposition.

Villarreal have apparently slapped a €60 million (£51m) price tag on his head given the ex-Championship forward’s sensational form this season, a valuation which could arguably be worth it.

Branded ‘near enough unplayable’ earlier this season by pundit Owen Hargreaves, Danjuma has racked up the most goals and assists combined under Emery domestically whilst also attempting the most shots at goal per 90 (WhoScored).

His signing would be a major upgrade for Conte in the forward positions and supporters could be hoping their side do indeed enter the mix.

In other news: Conte green-lights Spurs move as he now gives ‘unbelievable signing’ absolute priority, find out more here.

Man City in talks over Haaland transfer

Manchester City have a lot going on at the moment in terms of what’s happening on the pitch over the next few weeks.

In addition to their Champions League semi-final second leg clash against Real Madrid, Pep Guardiola’s side can’t afford to drop points in the Premier League, with Liverpool breathing down their necks.

However, it seems as though things are quite busy behind the scenes too at the Etihad Stadium in terms of one potential transfer which could take place in the near future.

What’s the news?

According to a recent tweet from journalist Samuel Luckhurst, sharing a corresponding report for Manchester Evening News, City officials have been visiting Mino Raiola, the agent of Erling Haaland, in hospital to progress the negotiations which could see the striker move to the Etihad this summer.

Considering how Raiola was taken ill recently, the fact that the City officials have been in contact with the agent in hospital shows just how keen they are to seal a deal for the centre-forward.

Since Haaland joined his current club Borussia Dortmund in January 2020, the 21-year-old has been nothing short of a goalscoring revelation. With 86 appearances to his name for the German giants, the Norwegian has scored an impressive 82 goals and provided 23 assists along the way.

To further highlight how deadly a striker he is, only Robert Lewandowski (2.35) and Patrick Schick (1.82) have a higher average for shots on target per 90 minutes in the Bundesliga this season than Haaland (1.58).

Fans will be delighted

Even though City are currently top of the Premier League table prior to this weekend’s round of fixtures, there have been times this season where they have failed to find the net, notably in both clashes against Crystal Palace.

With that in mind, having a clinical figure up front such as Haaland could be just what the reigning champions need in order to continue being successful into the future, which would surely delight a lot of supporters.

If City are able to secure a deal for the Dortmund hitman in the coming weeks, this would surely be a massive coup for them and make them an even more fearsome opponent for the rest of the Premier League, and indeed for whoever they come up against in Europe.

In other news: Man City eyeing “swashbuckling” £12.5m starlet, could be Guardiola’s next Kyle Walker

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