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Crystal Palace will be feeling hopeful that they can enjoy a strong second half of the season. 

Whilst they’ve reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and made inroads to moving on up the Premier League table, Roy Hodgson can be happy with how his team have been performing in recent weeks.

The Eagles have far more attacking threat about them now with the loan signing of Michy Batshuayi, whilst their defence continues to prove stubborn and resistant on many occasions.

Crystal Palace, have the capabilities to achieve much more and that can be done by bringing in some new players during the summer transfer window.

Someone who could add even more strength and depth to the Eagles back-line is Huddersfield star Terence Kongolo.

Kongolo, (who is valued at £13.5 million on Transfermarkt) has proven to be a good player, especially when initially joining Huddersfield on-loan last season.

He proved to be a massive helping-hand in defence and was a large reason as to why they were able to again compete in the Premier League this season.

Having signed a permanent deal with the Terriers in the summer, Kongolo would have been hoping for more than two wins so far this season, something that leaves Huddersfield bottom of the league.

And whilst Crystal Palace have no guarantees of staying up this season, a move to Selhurst Park could potentially be a lot more prosperous for the former Dutch international, allowing him to show his best ability.

With the likes of Martin Kelly, Scott Dann and Joel Ward all able to be improved upon, Crystal Palace would do well to bolster their options with the capture of Terence Kongolo.

Do you agree… Let us know!

Benfica are reportedly eyeing up a shock move for Wolves manager Bruno Lage, in what would be a potentially big blow for the Wanderers.

The Lowdown: Lage impresses in first season

The Portuguese tactician replaced Nuno Espirito Santo at Molineux last summer and he has shone in his first season, making Wolves an extremely difficult team to beat.

The Wanderers sit eighth in the Premier League table with six matches remaining, just two points behind West Ham and Manchester United in sixth and seventh, respectively.

The hope would surely be that Lage is in charge for some time yet given the progress he has made in a short amount of time, but a fresh update suggests that may not be the case.

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The Latest: Benfica keen on appointment

According to an outlet in Lisbon, Correio da Manha [via Sport Witness], Benfica are considering re-signing Lage after he spent a year there before heading to Molineux.

The job he has done at Wolves is seen as ‘proof’ that he could excel at the Champions League quarter-finalists once again, although the report also states that he could stay at Wolves in order to eventually join a ‘more competitive’ club, perhaps eyeing bigger and better things.

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The Verdict: European qualification key?

It would be a big blow to lose Lage this early in his tenure, with the positives comfortably outweighing the negatives for Wolves this season, having been hailed as ‘incredible’ by Robbie Keane.

Defensively, he has made Wanderers one of the league’s most stubborn outfits – they have conceded 28 goals, which is bettered only by Manchester City (20), Liverpool (22) and Chelsea (23) – and they have impressed with a three-at-the-back system.

The hope is that Lage shows loyalty and remains at Wolves beyond this summer – qualifying for Europe could be key in that respect, perhaps giving him more of an incentive to stay put.

In other news, two big clubs are keen on signing one Wolves player. Find out who it is here.

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed striker Giorgos Giakoumakis suffered an injury during the 7-0 hammering of St Johnstone.

The lowdown: Celtic go nine clear

The Hoops moved nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership (ahead of St Mirren vs Rangers) with a resounding victory at Celtic Park thanks to a brace from Matt O’Riley and single strikes from Giakoumakis, Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate, Liel Abada and Josip Juranovic.

The Greek frontman netted a 13th goal of the season across all competitions before being forced off after 27 minutes with a suspected hamstring issue.

With a huge fixture schedule coming up, Postecoglou is hopeful that the 27-year-old will make a swift recovery but is ‘concerned’.

The latest: Ange provides an update

Speaking after the match (via Scottish Daily Express) the boss said it is unfortunate: “I’m not too sure at the moment. He didn’t think it was too bad but he could feel something.

“It’s always a concern when players do that. He’s had an enormous load the last few weeks.

“It’s unfortunate for him but I’m hopeful he’ll still be available for us in the run-in.”

The Bhoys manager also has fitness worries regarding Tom Rogic after the Australian was replaced at half-time.

The verdict: Can’t afford a setback

Aside from the injury suffered by Giakoumakis – who was recently hailed as ‘lethal’ by Kris Commons – this was nigh on a perfect afternoon for the Hoops.

Whilst Postecoglou is clearly optimistic the issue won’t keep the frontman sidelined for a significant period, with a hectic fixture schedule starting against Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park coming up, there aren’t many opportunities remaining to ease a player back to fitness.

Therefore, with any hamstring injury likely to be troublesome, versatile Japanese forward Maeda may well be asked to lead the line in the absence of the £1.8million valued man (Transfermarkt).

In other news, Ange Postecoglou praises Celtic chief. Find out who it is here.

Leeds United reporter Adam Pope has revealed that star man Raphinha is ‘fit and available’ to face Aston Villa this evening.

The Lowdown: International scare

Raphinha, who Jermaine Beckford labelled as ‘phenomenal’, starred for Brazil during the international break in a 4-0 win over Paraguay.

The 25-year-old scored the opener, had a goal disallowed and hit the post before being replaced late on.

The forward was on the end of a heavy challenge with eight minutes remaining and limped off, with Leeds physios assessing Raphinha on his return to Yorkshire.

The Latest: Pope’s reply

Pope shared a video on Twitter on Monday evening in which he spoke with Raphinha regarding his future.

He was then asked by a Whites fan about the fitness status ahead of the trip to Villa Park, with Pope simply saying: “He’s fit and available.”

The Verdict: Phew

Raphinha has been the club’s shining light in what has been a difficult season at Elland Road, so knowing he has avoided serious injury is a relief.

The versatile wide man has been Leeds’ best Premier League performer by some distance and has contributed to ten Premier League goals, with Jack Harrison next on the list with five, as per WhoScored.

It seems as if he’ll have to continue to carry the goalscoring burden on his shoulders with Patrick Bamford still sidelined, but his availability in the Midlands this evening is a huge positive.

In other news: Leeds gifted another injury boost pre-Villa as Phil Hay relays news involving ‘important’ player. 

Rangers, and by extension their sporting director Ross Wilson, are preparing to make a six-figure bid for Aberdeen starlet Lancelot Pollard, according to The Scottish Daily Express.

The lowdown

Pollard, a 15-year-old attacker, has worked his way up through the youth ranks with the Dons, even featuring for their under-18 side.

Having won the club’s Young Talent of Month award in October, he’s regarded as one of the leading talents in their academy.

Rangers are planning for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s first summer transfer window at the helm after he took over from Steven Gerrard in the autumn.

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The latest

Reliable reporter Scott Burns, a long-serving journalist for The Scottish Express, says that Rangers are ready to submit a six-figure offer for Pollard to win the race for his signature.

They know that there’s ‘big interest’ in the player and therefore feel pressure to get the deal over the line.

Liverpool are actively pursuing Pollard, while Manchester United have been monitoring him too.

The verdict

The fact that six-figure fees are on the table for a player so young speaks to his potential, as does the interest of three heavyweights.

Pollard is seemingly levels above the other players in his age bracket, hence Aberdeen’s decision to fast-track him.

If Liverpool were to match Rangers’ offer, then it could come down to which club can offer the player the clearest long-term path to first-team football.

While he’s unlikely to be in the senior picture for a good while yet, it’s definitely a name worth remembering.

In other news, Frank McAvennie reacts to transfer developments involving Rangers and a PL club.

Liverpool have agreed a deal to bring Fabio Carvalho to Anfield on transfer deadline day.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Fabrizio Romano, who revealed in a post on Twitter that Liverpool and Fulham have finally concluded terms after a lengthy meeting this evening.

He said: “Fabio Carvalho to Liverpool, agreement in place for total fee around €10m after 2 hours meeting tonight. Five-year deal ready for Carvalho. #LFC Time to prepare paperworks and sign before midnight then… here we go. He’ll stay at Fulham on loan.”

Klopp will be buzzing

Considering the sheer amount of potential Carvalho quite clearly possesses, the news that the Reds are have tied up a deal for the attacking midfielder with only a matter of hours remaining before the transfer window slams shut is sure to have left Jurgen Klopp buzzing.

Indeed, the £3.15m-rated sensation would appear to make a fantastic addition to the German’s current attacking options at Anfield, as, over his 18 Championship appearances this season, the 19-year-old has been in remarkable form for Marco Silva’s side.

The England youth international has already scored seven goals, provided four assists and created six big chances for his teammates in the league, as well as taking an average of 2.1 shots, making 1.8 key passes and completing 1.3 dribbles per game.

These returns have seen the £650-per-week forward average a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.07, ranking him as Fulham’s eighth-best player in the second tier of English football.

As such, while it is undeniable that Carvalho would not be a starter upon a potential switch to Merseyside, it is clear for all to see that the youngster is a player with a brilliant future in the game – something that leads us to believe the Liverpool transfer team were right to do all they can to get a deal over the line for the 19-year-old prior to tonight’s transfer deadline.

Liverpool will be among the clubs interested in signing West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice when the summer transfer window opens, according to transfer insider Dean Jones. 

The lowdown: Contract rebel

A recent report from The Guardian has claimed that the 23-year-old has rejected a third offer a new deal at the London Stadium and is ‘open’ to a move away at the end of the season.

With Rice under contract until 2024 (Transfermarkt), Hammers boss David Moyes has previously placed a £150m price tag on the England international, who previously came through the Chelsea academy.

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Amidst growing interest from Manchester City and Manchester United, the Reds have now been tipped to show their own admiration for Rice…

The latest: Jones makes Rice transfer claim…

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones claimed that Liverpool will be weighing up a possible swoop for the 29-cap England ace.

The journalist stated: “Of course, they’re going to be interested in Declan Rice because if Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea have had that player on their radar, then you kind of at least have got to consider whether you’re going to need him.”

The verdict: An unnecessary expenditure

Currently, Jurgen Klopp has Fabinho as the only recognised senior defensive midfielder within the Anfield squad, although Jordan Henderson, James Milner and youngster Tyler Morton have all deputised in the role at times this season.

Nonetheless, the powerful Brazilian midfield general has enjoyed a stellar campaign, with five goals and four assists in 44 appearances across all competitions; and despite the lack of natural options in that position, spending anything like the mooted £150m on Rice simply isn’t a realistic prospect for the Reds.

Instead, as the two Manchester clubs potentially do battle for the 23-year-old’s signature, Klopp and incoming Anfield sporting director Julian Ward are more likely to set about pursuing an affordable alternative.

Using the FBRef comparison tool, statistically this term, 21-year-old Nice starlet Khephren Thuram-Ulien is the closest match to Rice, whilst Liverpool’s own Fabinho also appears in the top 10.

In other news, Liverpool have been linked with a shock move for one player. Find out who it is here.

Wolves midfielder Leander Dendoncker is not expected to leave the club at the end of the season, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Dendoncker continues to shine for Wolves

Dendoncker has been a strong performer at Molineux over a sustained period. The Belgian has made 148 appearances for Wolves, starting 15 Premier League games this season and being hailed as ‘brilliant’ by team-mate Max Kilman.

However, the 26-year-old’s current contract expires at the end of next season, so this summer could be the last opportunity for Wanderers to receive a fee for him unless he signs a new deal.

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The Latest: Journalist discusses Dendoncker’s future

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke has backed the midfielder to stay put at Molineux, admitting that it would be a surprise if Wolves were to entertain letting him leave, despite some reports to the contrary.

The journalist stated: “I’d be surprised if Wolves listen to offers for Dendoncker.”

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The Verdict: Important squad figure

Dendoncker may not be one of the leading cast members in this Wolves side – he is ranked outside their top 10 performers as per WhoScored and has only started half of his team’s league matches so far this term – but he is still an influential figure who is well worth retaining.

He is often a strong foil for more creative midfielders such as Neves and Joao Moutinho, with his 95.8% pass completion rate in the Carabao Cup this season highlighting his ball retention skills.

At 26, Dendoncker is also in and around his peak years, so it would make sense to extend his stay at Wolves eventually before they potential risk losing him on a free transfer in 2023.

In other news, a journalist has hinted at one Wolves player leaving this summer. Find out who it is here.

Aston Villa were involved in one of the biggest transfer deals the Premier League has ever seen last summer when they sold Jack Grealish to Manchester City for a fee of £100m.

Now that the next summer window is on the horizon, it seems as though the Villans and Steven Gerrard could be set to cash in on another player that has been a part of the club for a fairly significant period of time.

What’s the news?

According to Football Insider’s sources, Norwich City are eyeing up a summer transfer move for striker Keinan Davis.

The report also claims that Gerrard is expected to give the green light to allow the striker to leave Villa Park this summer, with a reported transfer fee of £4m being touted for Davis’ signature.

Great news for Gerrard

Having joined Villa’s U18 side back in 2015, the centre-forward has gone on to make 122 appearances for their U23 and senior teams combined.

In those appearances, the striker found the back of the net 16 times and delivered 16 assists along the way.

Back in the previous January transfer window, the Englishman joined Championship club, Nottingham Forest, on loan until the end of the season.

Since joining the Reds, the 24-year-old has scored five goals and provided three assists in 19 appearances across the Championship and FA Cup.

To highlight how impressive the Villa man has been on loan, he is currently listed as Forest’s highest-rated player by WhoScored with a rating of 7.27.

He is also listed in the top five out of Forest’s players for the average of shots, key passes and dribbles per game he’s made in the second division.

Unfortunately, the attacker will have to spend the rest of the season on the sidelines after picking up a campaign-ending injury.

Having been described as being “a very difficult player to play against” by Lee Bowyer, Davis has shown that he has what it takes to play in the Championship and be an effective striker.

However, with only one goal in 34 Premier League appearances to his name for Villa, it’s safe to say that he hasn’t been able to cut it at that level.

With Norwich now looking likely to get relegated, it’s easy to see why they would want a player like the Villa loanee, who Dean Smith knows about, in their ranks for next season.

If Villa pick up a suitable transfer fee for the striker that they can then put towards adding some top-quality players to their squad, this would surely be great news for Gerrard.

In other news: Lange must seal £10m AVFC deal for “unplayable” £45k-p/w talent, Gerrard will love him

Keith Downie has now dropped some exciting Newcastle United transfer news involving Dan Burn.

The Lowdown: Bid made

As per Sky Sports journalist Downie, a bid of £8m from the St. James’ Park faithful has already been rejected by Brighton and Hove Albion to sign Burn, and it is expected that they will go in with another offer before the January transfer window shuts.

While they have signed Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood, and Bruno Guimaraes looks set to join them on Tyneside, they have still not signed a central defender or a left-back, and so these are positions that still need filling as the clock ticks.

The Latest: Burn interested

According to Downie, Burn would be interested in a move to the Magpies before the deadline, as he is a Toon fan:

“Newcastle are expected to go back in for Brighton defender Dan Burn. 

“The St James’ Park club have had an initial offer in the region of £8m rejected for the 29-year-old. 

“Burn is a Newcastle fan and we’re told he’d be interested in a potential move back north.”

The Verdict: Exciting

The fact that Burn is a NUFC supporter and would be interested in a move back north is very exciting ahead of Transfer Deadline Day, as it means that should a fee with the Seagulls be agreed, personal terms and add-ons should not be a problem when negotiating his transfer.

Crucially, Burn is equally as comfortable at left-back as he is at centre-back, and so can add depth in both positions for Eddie Howe with no difficulties.

Nonetheless, he would be an upgrade on the Magpies boss’ current options, as he averages more tackles, interceptions and passes at a higher accuracy than Ciaran Clark, Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles in the Premier League so far this term (WhoScored).

Even with an opening £8m bid rejected, this is a deal that should not cost too much given he is out of contract next year, and thus could potentially end up being a bargain.

In other news, find out which ‘amazing’ attacker alongside Eddie Nketiah Newcastle could sign here!