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Plenty of Crystal Palace fans have been giving their thoughts to a transfer update regarding the Eagles and Slavia Prague attacker Abdallah Sima.

According to France Football, relayed by GFFN, Sima is in ‘advanced talks’ to make the move to Selhurst Park.

No finances are outlined in the story, but it seems as if the Eagles have a real chance of landing the Senegal international.

The 19-year-old, capable of playing on either wing or through the middle, has scored 15 goals and registered six assists for Prague this season.

Sima, valued at £9.9m, netted against Leicester City in the Europa League knockout stages, scoring four goals in the competition with Prague eventually being knocked out by Arsenal in the quarter-finals.

Palace fans react

@cpfc_xtra shared the news on Twitter on Monday evening, and, as to be expected, plenty of Palace fans were quick to interact with the post.

This is what some had to say, with one describing Sima as a ‘really good’ footballer.

“Would be insane”

Credit: @CPFCH10

“mad”

Credit: @MATTT046

“This summer might be cool”

Credit: @danofthesouth_

“This guy was insane against Leicester”

Credit: @CPjxke

“He is really good”

Credit: @dougCPFC

“Very promising”

Credit: @ReeceJMT

In other news: Roy Hodgson linked with new club, Palace fans react, find out more here. 

Many Wolves fans have been left to blast the display of Joao Moutinho in their 1-0 away loss at Everton in the Premier League on Wednesday evening.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s men ended up coming away with nothing at Goodison Park as they were beaten by a Richarlison header.

The Midlands club really lacked a cutting edge, and some of their players did not really rise up to the occasion of having fans back in the stadium.

One of them was Moutinho, who lost out on four of his duels, and also failed to record a single shot on target or clearance, while he lost possession of the ball on no fewer than on 21 separate occasions in the match, the third-most out of any player to have set foot on the pitch (Sofascore).

Wolves fans on Moutinho display

These members of the Molineux faithful blasted his performance on Twitter, with a couple of WWFC supporters even going as far as to claim that he is ‘finished’:

“I’m afraid Moutinho is finished, too old too slow and too negative. #wolves #wwfc”

Credit: @Jedimaster26044

“Sell Neves, Moutinho, Saiss and Dendoncker they offer absolutely nothing #wwfc”

Credit: @Adam11520205

“Moutinho out! #wwfc”

Credit: @glynntaylor

“Moutinho performance is tough to watch here. Awful. #wwfc”

Credit: @TomHiggsWWFC

“Moutinho off and in a retirement home asap #wwfc”

Credit: @wwfcltd

“I guess this what happens when Moutinho played so many games last season, he is finished #wwfc”

Credit: @ryharding_

In other news, find out whose display was slammed versus Everton here!

Leeds United star Patrick Bamford has suffered a major blow, with England manager Gareth Southgate omitting him from the provisional squad for Euro 2020.

What’s the story?

The striker has been an absolute sensation in the Premier League this season for the Whites, banging in 17 goals and providing another eight assists in the 38 games.

However, despite his form, Southgate has opted to leave him out from the expanded 33-man provisional squad that he named on Tuesday afternoon, instead choosing to go with the likes of Harry Kane, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Marcus Rashford, Ollie Watkins and Mason Greenwood as his strikers.

Leeds fans will be fuming

Given just how impressively Bamford has performed at the Premier League level this season, it’s no surprise that many Leeds fans are already up in arms over the striker’s omission from the England squad.

Only Kane has outscored the Whites forward in the Premier League in terms of the players Southgate has chosen, while only the England captain, Rashford and Jack Grealish have provided more assists than him.

When leaving Bamford out of the last squad, Southgate himself admitted: “(Bamford was) very close. There’s a number of positions in this squad that have been really close calls and we felt we wanted an extra striker.

“We like his (Watkins) pressing, the speed and the runs in behind. He’s got some improvement to make in linking the game, but in his first season in the Premier League at a big club, he’s done exceptionally well. That’s been a really close call because all the things I’ve said about Ollie I could have said for Patrick as well. So he’s very unfortunate.”

Meanwhile, there have been numerous of calls for Southgate to have taken Bamford as one of his forward options.

The Mirror’s Neil Moxley wrote: “I’d take Patrick Bamford instead of Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The Leeds man provides more assists and his star is on an upwards curve.”

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/leeds-united-marcelo-bielsa-transfer-gossip-rumours-news-elland-road-rodrigo-de-paul” title=”Read the latest Leeds transfer rumours and news!”]

Speaking recently to the Yorkshire Evening Post, former Leeds midfielder David Prutton said: “Get him in there. He’s got no tournament baggage and he’s a great team player who is a hard worker and selfless.

“He’s performed under pressure at a big club and always rises to the challenge of the questions against him. He’s an all round good egg.”

While Kalvin Phillips’ inclusion will surely please Leeds fans, the fact that Bamford isn’t in the squad despite outperforming almost every striker Southgate has chosen will understandably have the Elland Road faithful fuming.

Meanwhile, Leeds United are plotting a new move for this star…

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith eyeing a move for Arsenal starlet Emile Smith Rowe in the summer transfer window.

What’s the story?

According to The Telegraph, the England U21 international has emerged as a transfer target for Smith’s side, with the play-maker yet to sign a new deal at the Emirates.

His current contract with the north Londoners comes to an end in the summer of 2023, and it’s suggested that Villa are keeping tabs on the situation.

Dean Smith would love him

Despite making his debut for Arsenal a couple of seasons ago, it’s only since Christmas that Smith Rowe has really broken onto the scene at the Emirates, with Mikel Arteta bringing him into the fold to bring some much-needed creativity.

And since then, he has been fantastic for the Gunners, managing two goals and four assists in the 20 Premier League games that he played, leading to some rave reviews.

Speaking on The Pitch to Post Preview Podcast, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp said: “Emile Smith Rowe has come in and been a revelation. They needed someone to light the flame, give them that spark.

“He’s an academy boy and you can see he’s doing a great job, the fans love him. I hope with Odegaard coming into the club, that doesn’t stop him being instrumental in what they’re doing. But I’ve been so impressed with him, I love his work ethic, I love the way he runs with the ball, he’s been a breath of fresh air for this team, exactly when they needed it.”

And, his former boss on loan at Huddersfield last season, Danny Cowley, even made the kind of comment that should have Villa fans sit up and take notice.

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He said: “He has got that little bit of Jack Grealish about him. He’s got the ability to square defenders up and go past them like they’re not there. He’s so hard not to get excited about, he has potential to be world-class.”

Given his playing style and work ethic, the £26m-rated would surely be a superb signing for Villa.

Meanwhile, this man could be Aston Villa’s new Dion Dublin…

Frank McAvennie has shared some insight on Daniel Levy and what he may be thinking about a potential mega swap deal for Tottenham Hotspur.

The Lowdown: Manchester City propose swap

As per The Sun, Manchester City are prepared to offer both Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus plus cash in a bid to try and prize Harry Kane away from Spurs.

Sky Sports reported last month that the England international captain has asked to leave North London in the summer transfer window, with City as well as Manchester United and Chelsea registering their interest.

The Latest: Levy insight shared

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie, who is now a pundit after playing as a striker for the likes of Celtic and West Ham United, says any deal will be on Levy’s terms:

“Why would Sterling want to go there?

“They aren’t winning anything. If Levy is going to let Kane go, it’s going to be money. 

“From what I hear about him from my sources, he won’t be dictated to. So any deal will be on Daniel Levy’s terms. 

“Sterling is at a club where you’re guaranteed a trophy every season. Tottenham don’t win things. 

“The reason Sterling won’t go is the reason Kane wants to leave. If City want him, they will have to stump up the cash.”

The Verdict: Tottenham must get deal right

THFC must get any deal spot on if they are going to sell Kane in the summer, especially to a rival in the Premier League.

It seems as if the 27-year-old has set his sights on leaving, and it is better to sell an unhappy player rather than keep him at the club.

There are not many if any other strikers currently on the market who are capable of replacing him, so it may be a wise idea to try and cherry pick one or two players from the buying team in order to try and make up for some of the loss.

If Tottenham did end up selling to City, then Sterling should be a player of interest, given that he would likely slot straight into the side, and at 26 years of age, can still get even better.

The Englishman has become a superstar in Manchester, scoring a total of 151 senior goals for club and country over the course of his footballing career so far (Transfermarkt), racking up three league titles and six domestic cups.

Jesus would be another one given that Spurs would need to bring in another striker, and while selling Kane to a direct rival is not ideal at all, it would mean that they could still weaken MCFC in this aspect.

In other news, find out what big Antonio Conte update has been dropped here!

Manchester United have been linked with a move for Atalanta defender Christian Romero as the summer transfer window approaches.

What’s the story?

According to Italian outlet Eco Di Bergamo (via Sport Witness), the Old Trafford outfit have already made a “super offer” worth €45 million (£38.5m) for the 23-year-old.

The aforementioned fee would make Romero Atalanta’s record sale, and the local paper claim it would be impossible for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side to turn down the offer.

Imagine him and Maguire

Centre-back has been a problem position for the Red Devils for a number of years now, with several expensive flops failing to have the desired effect upon the United backline.

While club captain Harry Maguire has slowly won over the majority of the club’s supporters, putting in consistently impressive displays for many months now, the England internationals string of partners have left a lot to be desired.

Victor Lindelof has shown glimpses of star quality, but those performances have been undermined by lapses in concentration, and his limited physical attributes are a constant source of problems for the 20-time English champions.

The likes of Eric Bailly, Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones have also done little to convince Solskjaer, or the fans, that they’re capable of being Maguire’s long-term partner at the heart of defence – either through a lack of form, injury issues, or both – and therefore a new centre-back is believed to be high up on United’s wish list this summer.

Romero could be the answer to the club’s defensive woes after impressing throughout the 2020/21 campaign. The Argentine beast made 31 league appearances, achieving a 7.14 WhoScored rating as Atalanta finished third in Serie A.

He combines the traditional, tough-tackling duties of a centre-back with the role’s modern responsibilities to perfection, often launching into tackles before picking himself up and playing a composed pass.

Although this style leads to frequent bookings – he picked up 15 in all competitions last season – it’s something which can be worked on, and the positives to Romero’s game certainly outweigh the negatives.

The South American’s pace, ability with the ball at his feet and love for a challenge would make him the perfect partner for Maguire and should see him adapt to the demands of the Premier League with ease.

It’s a move that Ed Woodward must sanction over the coming months if United want to challenge for major honours again and could prove to be the final piece in the jigsaw for Solskjaer’s side.

In other news…Man Utd must swoop for £18m-rated beast this summer, he has “outstanding quality” 

Crystal Palace must avoid former Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe this summer as they continue to search for Roy Hodgson’s successor.

What’s the story?

Former Hull City striker Dean Windass recently claimed the 43-year-old tactician would be an ideal fit for the Eagles as they embark on a new chapter in their history, but the capital club should think twice before doing so.

Howe left the Cherries at the end of the 2019/20 campaign following their relegation to the Championship and was expected to take charge of Scottish giants Celtic before talks broke down, leaving him available for the Palace vacancy.

Palace must avoid

Hodgson’s decision to step down from his position in charge of the south London outfit has left them in a precarious position.

Although the former England boss brought stability to Selhurst Park throughout his four-year stay, he’s left the first-team playing squad in a far from healthy position.

Over a dozen stars are set to become free agents at the end of the month, and injuries to promising youngsters Eberechi Eze and Nathan Ferguson have made the task facing Hodgson’s replacement an extremely daunting one.

Therefore, opting for an experienced manager on this occasion is the logical route to go down, meaning chairman Steve Parish must avoid Howe on this occassion.

While Howe impressed for large spells of his tenure on the south coast, he ultimately oversaw a relegation despite spending relatively large sums of money during Bournemouth’s time in the Premier League.

Big-money signings such as Jordan Ibe, Dominic Solanke and Jefferson Lerma failed to produce the results required to maintain their top-flight status and raised some questions over Howe’s managerial ability.

Palace need someone who can oversee a major squad overhaul on a shoestring budget, unfortunately for the Englishman, he has failed to show he can do that so far in his career.

At one point it looked as though ex-Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s arrival at Selhurst Park was imminent until some last-minute demands saw that proposed move collapse.

And shifting their focus from Nuno to Howe would represent quite the compromise from the Palace hierarchy.

In his nine years in the dugout, the Portuguese boss has recorded a highly respectable 47.83% win rate, whereas Howe has managed a modest 42.51%.

Although these figures don’t automatically make Nuno a better manager than Howe, they are indicative of the varying levels of success the two men have had throughout their careers and maybe enough for Parish to opt for an older head.

And, in other news…Parish masterstroke: Palace must swoop for £9m-rated prodigy, he’s an “absolute tank” 

Paul Stewart believes playing three at the back next season would suit Sergio Reguilon down to the ground.

Tottenham-linked manager Paulo Fonseca often deploys a 3-4-3 formation, and should the Spaniard be his preferred left-sided option, could benefit from being able to push forward in a wing-back role.

It’s a position that the former Real Madrid defender occupied on seven occasions under Jose Mourinho last season, starting with his Spurs debut when he claimed an assist in the Carabao Cup victory over Chelsea in September.

That was part of an impressive start to his Tottenham career, but an injury and loss of form meant for a tricky second half of the campaign, with his freak own goal in the penultimate game against Aston Villa leading to a sour end to his season.

But deploying a three-man defence could allow Reguilon to get into those dangerous attacking areas and add to the six assists he provided in his 36 appearances in his debut season.

And Stewart exclusively told The Transfer Tavern that Reguilon could benefit from playing higher up the pitch:

“I believe, if you’re playing a three, Reguilon will suit that position down to the ground, therefore that leaves Sessegnon playing left-sided of the three midfielders.”

According to a report by allnigeriasoccer.com, West Ham United and Brighton are in a race to sign KRC Genk striker Paul Onuachu this summer.

The Lowdown: Hammers in striker hunt…

One of West Ham’s main priorities is to sign a goalscoring forward who can provide strength in depth alongside Michail Antonio.

The 30-year-old suffered from various injury issues last season and the Hammers arguably need an alternative option.

Claret & Hugh believe that the signing of a striker certainly takes priority for the Irons this summer alongside both a permanent deal for Jesse Lingard and the acquisition of a new centre-back.

The Latest: West Ham in race for Onuachu…

As per allnigeriasoccer.com, bringing an update on the Hammers’ search for a forward, West Ham and Brighton are reportedly in a race to sign Onuachu.

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The Nigeria international is being tracked by Irons manager David Moyes but it is thought that the Seagulls are in a better position to seal a deal. Indeed, the south coast club have already contacted the player’s agent through intermediaries with talks now commencing.

However, their acquisition is said to be ‘under threat’ by West Ham, who are still contenders for Onuachu’s signature.

The Verdict: Head-turning option…

Standing at a monstrous 6 foot 7 in height, Onuachu has also bagged 45 goals at club level over the last two seasons (Transfermarkt), marking him out as a real force to be reckoned with going forward.

Valued at £18m by Transfermarkt, he could prove a very fruitful alternative to the likes of Tammy Abraham, who is also linked with West Ham. It is said that Chelsea would demand around £40m for the Englishman, with Moyes openly admitting that the Hammers cannot afford to shell out such a fee on a permanent deal.

In a very difficult financial market due to the global pandemic, the Irons may have to think outside the box and expand their net across Europe when it comes to signing prolific forwards.

In other net: ‘Have started negotiations’…Journalist makes exciting West Ham transfer claim, find out more here.

Stoke City have been dealt a huge blow in their bid to keep Nathan Collins at the bet365 Stadium this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Football League World, who claim that Burnley are close to agreeing a £12m fee with the Potters for the transfer of the 20-year-old centre-back.

The report goes on to state that the defender is already scheduled to have a medical with the Premier League side in the coming days, with Stoke now resigned to losing the £1.8m-rated man in the summer transfer window.

Fams will be devastated

While it would be hard to argue that £12m is a decent transfer fee to receive for a player who has made just 47 senior appearances for the club, the fact that Stoke look set to lose one of their brightest stars ahead of next season is sure to leave fans of the club devastated.

Indeed, over his 22 Championship appearances for the Potters last season, the £5.9k-per-week centre-back helped his team keep nine clean sheets, in addition to making an average of 1.2 interceptions, 1.1 tackles and winning five duels per game.

The youngster also chipped in going forwards, scoring two goals and providing one assist, while also making an average of 0.5 key passes per fixture, with these metrics seeing Collins earn an average SofaScore match rating of 6.90 – ranking him as Michael O’Neill’s ninth-best performer in the second tier of English football.

As such, considering his returns while still being just 20 years of age, it would very much appear as if the player whom Jim Crawford dubbed a “fantastic” defender has an extremely bright future in the game, and, with three further years on his contract at the bet365 Stadium, perhaps Stoke could have demanded slightly more than the £12m the Irishman looks to be costing Burnley this summer.

In other news: Forget Clucas: O’Neill must sanction Stoke summer swoop for “fantastic” £14k-p/w beast