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Plenty of Crystal Palace fans have hit out at the club’s reported interest in West Brom loanee Mbaye Diagne.

According to a report from Football Insider, who have been informed by a recruitment source, both Palace and rivals Brighton are monitoring the 29-year-old ahead of the summer window.

They have shortlisted the Senegal international as a potential attacking addition, with Diagne of course set to return to Turkish giants Galatasaray this summer following his temporary stay at The Hawthorns.

Sam Allardyce brought the forward to the Premier League in January, with Diagne scoring three times in 14 appearances since then.

The report claims a permanent move to the Baggies looks to be out of the window due to their likely relegation, with the striker still under contract with Galatasaray until 2023.

Palace fans react

@CPFCtransfersHQ shared the update on Diagne on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon, and it’s safe to say it didn’t go down well with a number of Eagles supporters.

Here’s what some had to say…

“I can’t do this anymore”Credit: @localpla9tic”Why would we want him, when we have 2 similar players that we don’t use?!”Credit: @benjiesta”Has been awful every time I’ve seen him play and in my heart of hearts I knew it was a matter of time until the rumours started.”Credit: @DPMoore88″Haha”Credit: @Kevbartleyy”There is Gallagher, AMN, Pereira, Diangana but no we want him”Credit: @bradhcpfc”Just a poor mans Benteke and we don’t need another striker”Credit: @CPFCMax03

In other news: Many CPFC fans react to James McCarthy transfer update, find out more here. 

Celtic aren’t expected to make a move for Gremio midfielder Fernando Henrique, according to Football Scotland.

The Lowdown: Henrique links

Reports last month suggested that the Hoops were set to bring Henrique to Scotland in the New Year.

The Daily Record relayed reports from Brazil who labelled a Parkhead switch as ‘likely’, even though the 20-year-old hasn’t featured in Gremio’s last 22 league games.

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Henrique even follows Celtic on Instagram, of course leading to more speculation, but it seems as if a move to Scotland isn’t on the cards after all.

The Latest: Not interested…

Football Scotland shared an update regarding Henrique on Wednesday morning.

They claimed that links over a move to Celtic are ‘wide of the mark’, stating that Ange Postecoglou’s side are no longer interested in the central midfielder.

The Verdict: Focus on Japanese trio…

Celtic have a lot on their plate at this moment in time ahead of the January transfer window opening, with the Hoops reportedly looking to bring in three Japanese stars.

Midfielders Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi are two of those, and should Celtic land the pair, then a move for Henrique may no longer be needed.

Forward Daizen Maeda is also on Celtic’s radar, with the club also looking to make Jota’s loan permanent. So, this update on Henrique, who hasn’t kicked a ball in recent months, shouldn’t come as a shock, and shouldn’t cause much heartache for Hoops fans either with so many other targets lined up.

In other news: Celtic set to lose millions on colossus who wants out of Parkhead in January. 

Former Everton star Michael Ball has lauded Demarai Gray after his fine start to the season at the Toffees.

The club brought the winger in during the summer transfer window, securing his signature from Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.

The deal cost around £1.7m and Gray is already providing to be one of the biggest bargains of the summer transfer window.

He has made a total of six appearances in the Premier League and has already scored three goals, while also registering one assist.

The winger is already one of the first names on the team sheet under manager Rafael Benitez and the Toffees are currently fifth in the Premier League table.

Ball has been mightily impressed with Gray’s first few appearances for the Toffees and believes that the winger operates in such a way that he is constantly trying to make things happen.

He said: “£1.7m, it seems an absolute bargain right now. There were question marks over the signing when we were first interested but he’s proved straight away why.

“It was the type of player we were missing, he’s got energy, he gets the ball, he goes forward, he tries to break the lines, he’s trying to create and scoring goals, he’s making three man runs. He’s doing everything. He looks like a guy who wants to be at the football club and wants to impress every time he’s on that pitch.”

Gray may have something of a chip on his shoulder, having previously played for Leicester City in the Premier League, making 169 appearances for the club.

A major update has emerged on Rangers defender Calvin Bassey’s availability for the Ibrox giants over the next two months…

What’s the latest?

The Gers beast could have missed a number of games after the winter break due to the African Cup of Nations, but the Glasgow Times reports that he has been left out of the Nigeria squad for the competition.

Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun are both set to jet off to play for their country and will miss, among other games, an Old Firm clash with Celtic at the start of February. Bassey, meanwhile, will now be able to feature in that derby matchup.

Fans will love it

Fans will surely love this news as it could be a major boost to the Gers heading into the Premiership schedule after the break ends. Depending on how far Nigeria go in the competition, Aribo and Balogun look set to miss a few games, but Bassey will now be available for selection barring suspension or injury.

This will delight the supporters as he has been in fine form in recent weeks since moving to centre-back from his more natural left-back role. He has played nine games times Gio van Bronckhorst took over at the club and the Gers have kept seven clean sheets in those matches.

Bassey has recorded one SofaScore rating lower than 6.9 in the last nine outings, which came against Lyon in a 1-1 draw in the Europa League. This shows that he has been consistently delivering excellent performances, as eight of his nine appearances have ended with him putting in an impressive showing.

The Dutch head coach praised the defender towards the start of his reign, saying:

“I’ve been really impressed. Calvin’s a really talented defender. Normally he plays in the left-back position but doesn’t have much experience in the centre back area. So I’m really happy with his performances so far. I think he has the physical ability to play there.

“We will help him a lot in that position, when he has to pass, when he has to dribble, the positioning he has to take when the other defender has got the ball.

“He’s a player who is very open to learning, and he gives a lot of energy to the team.”

These quotes from the retired left-back and Bassey’s statistics in recent weeks show why his availability will be a big boost for the club.

Fans will love to see him in action again after the break as he has been showing that he can be a top player for the side at centre-back and, hopefully, he can continue his form throughout the rest of the season and in the future.

AND in other news, “I’m sure”: Reporter drops exciting Rangers transfer claim that’ll leave fans buzzing…

Leeds could sign another Raphinha in Juventus winger Douglas Costa.

What’s the story?

With Marcelo Bielsa’s side enjoying an impressive return back to the Premier League, it’s no surprise that the club are getting linked with some real high-profile names.

And, according to Italian publication CalcioMercato, the Whites could well step up their interest in Costa, who is currently spending the season on loan at Bayern Munich.

The report claims that Bayern are unlikely to keep him beyond the end of this campaign, and that Bielsa is a big fan of the 30-year-old. It’s added that Juventus could ask for a fee of around £9.5m.

Orta could sign another Raphinha

Just like one of the stars of Leeds’ season right now, Raphinha, the £195k-a-week-earning Costa is also a tricky winger with bags of tricks in his locker.

The veteran winger has an impressive career average of 2.5 dribbles per game, including a high of 3.4 per match in the league with Juventus back in the 2017/2018 campaign – to put that into context, Raphinha is currently averaging 1.7 per match in the Premier League this season, while his highest over a single league campaign is 2.2 with Stade Rennes last year.

And Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has previously spoken highly about the Brazilian, having worked with him at Bayern Munich. He said: “(Douglas Costa) is very strong in one against one or one against two or even in one against three situations.”

That ability to take players on one-on-one, or even beat multiple players like Guardiola suggests, could add another dimension to Leeds’ attack and make opponents think twice about trying to double up on Raphinha.

The duo’s skill and directness would make both wide areas as potent as the other, and leave teams struggling to come up with a genuine game-plan.

They could put on an incredible show at Elland Road if given the chance to play together, and that promises to be a mouth-watering combination if a deal can be done.

Meanwhile, Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa must unleash this ace…

Some Sunderland fans were left to blast the display of Callum McFadzean despite their 2-0 away win at Portsmouth in the EFL League One on Tuesday night.

Lee Johnson’s men raced into an early lead through Charlie Wyke before doubling their lead a few minutes into the second half as Jordan Jones ensured that all three points were going to the Stadium of Light faithful.

However, while there were some very good performances by the Black Cats, McFadzean’s flattered to deceive some SAFC supporters.

The former Sheffield United man lost out on seven of his duels in the game, and also failed to record a single successful dribble, interception, key pass or cross from the left-back position (Sofascore).

He also lost possession of the ball no fewer than 24 times in the match, the most out of any of his teammates to have set foot on the pitch (Sofascore).

Sunderland fan reaction to McFadzean display

These Sunderland fans blasted his performance on Twitter, with one fan even going as far to claim that the 27-year-old is ‘useless’:

“I’d love to know what LJ thinks of Vokins, because McFadzean is literally scared of the ball… (and useless) #safc”

Credit: @lambo_82

“God help us if McFadzean is in the 11 at Wembley… #SAFC”

Credit: @RokerPark150705

“Someone teach McFadzean to complete a 5 yard pass please #safc”

Credit: @brettd1981

“McFadzean is definitely up with the worst players I have ever seen can’t pass can’t head the ball #safc”

Credit: @Safcftm2016

“10 minutes in and can already see McFadzean is an accident waiting to happen #PORSUN”

Credit: @j_rennoldson23

“They seen McFadzean is the weak link and targeting him. You’ll get something from that.”

Credit: @widger123

In other news, find out who else was slammed for his display against Pompey here!

Andrew Dickson was left slamming Glen Kamara after his part in a goal conceded by Glasgow Rangers in their Scottish Premiership clash at lunchtime.

The Lowdown: Early setback

After going 1-0 up early on at Motherwell, the Ibrox faithful were dealt a setback when Leon Balogun was given a straight red card just before the half-hour mark.

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The hosts then equalised through Ross Tierney, before Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team eventually got a grip on the game in the second half.

The Latest: Kamara slammed

Taking to Twitter, Scottish football journalist Dickson slammed Kamara after Tierney’s goal, claiming that it was an ‘all-round shambles’ from him as he put unnecessary pressure on his side:

“That was an all-round shambles from Glen Kamara. Rangers have gone from being very comfortable to on the ropes in five minutes.”

The Verdict: Not his best

That moment from Kamara was certainly not his best in a Light Blues shirt, as he was guilty of dwelling on the ball when he should have really just cleared his lines.

That was one of eight occasions that he gave the ball away cheaply, while he also lost three of his duels, made no clearances and failed to block any shots on his goal (SofaScore).

Lucky for the Finland international, the Teddy Bears won the match anyway, but van Bronckhorst will surely be concerned about his midfield maestro going into their first leg against RB Leipzig in the UEFA Europa League.

In other news, find out what ‘huge blow’ has now emerged for the Gers here!

Ross Wilson must sanction a loan move for Glasgow Rangers winger Glenn Middleton in January amid reports Steven Gerrard is willing to let him go abroad.

What’s the word?

Middleton took to life at Ibrox like a duck to water as he burst onto the scene as a fresh-faced teenager after Gerrard replaced Graeme Murty as Rangers manager on a four-year deal in 2018.

The 20-year-old became an integral part of Gerrard’s side during his first few months at a club before he was shipped out on loan to Hibernian and Bradford City last season.

Gerrard lauded Middleton for his “excellent” performance against St. Johnstone after he provided an assist for Alfredo Morelos as Rangers staged a dramatic comeback in the second half at McDiarmid Park back in 2018.

Injuries, however, have hampered his development but he played his first competitive game for the Govan-based Glaswegian giants against Falkirk as Rangers romped to a comprehensive 4-0 victory in the Betfred Cup, albeit at left-back.

It’s claimed the Ibrox boss was impressed by his latest showing but has no qualms about letting him leave on loan to further his development as a player. According to The Daily Record, Middleton has attracted attention from Eredivisie outfits Breda and Den Haag.

Do the right thing, Wilson

With Gerrard giving the greenlight for the youngster to leave on loan for the rest of the season, it’s now up to Wilson to work his magic.

It’s fair to say that Middleton often has his detractors but he is held in high regard by the board with Gerrard dropping a hint about his long-term future at the club.

The ever-reliable Ryan Kent is one of the first names on the team sheet and Ianis Hagi’s recent heroics on the right wing have seen him struggle to move further up the pecking order. With Jordan Jones re-entering the fold, it’s hard to see him getting many minutes under his belt anytime soon.

With this in mind, it’s high time Wilson does the decent thing and sorts out a loan move for the Scotland U21 international, as he has seen just 35 minutes of action across all competitions for the first team so far this season, which is frankly appalling for a player who was once praised by Peter Lovenkrands.

After all, he’s hardly short of suitors at the moment and a bidding war will no doubt ensue if Wilson and co. put his services on the market, as the versatile player clearly has plenty to offer.

Middleton has provided five goals and five assists in 29 appearances for the 54-time Scottish champions, via Transfermarkt.

Maybe a spell in the Netherlands could be just what the doctor ordered for him to work his way back into Gerrard’s favour, as he is evidently an investment for the future.

AND in other news, Rangers chief Ross Wilson must prioritise a move for Sheffield United midfielder John Lundstram…

Manchester City will submit a huge bid for Aston Villa star Jack Grealish, should they win the Champions League later this month, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Grealish keen on City move

Pep Guardiola appears to be extremely keen on landing Grealish this summer, despite the 25-year-old penning a new five-year contract at Villa Park back in September.

He’s been missing through injury in Villa’s last 11 Premier League games but has still managed to rack up an impressive tally of 18-goal involvements in the top flight this season.

Reports back in March claimed the attacking midfielder was relishing the prospect of joining Guardiola’s star-studded squad, and a recent story has revealed Grealish has told his close friends he would be keen on a move to the Etihad.

The Latest: Source shares City’s stance

A recent report from Football Insider has suggested that City, who have already laid the foundations for a Grealish move, will launch an official bid if they beat Chelsea in Istanbul.

That’s because a win over the Blues would provide a big financial boost to the club, with a City source admitting they are aware of financial fair play regulations.

So, it seems as if the all-English European final may well be key to Grealish’s Villa Park future.

The Verdict: Purslow needs to put this date in his diary

In our view, Villa chief executive Christian Purslow may need to add May 29 to his diary. Should City win, the club may well need to be braced for a big-money bid, with Villa valuing their club-captain at £100m last summer.

That figure may well have increased over the last 12 months due to his performances and new contract, however, he does have a buyout clause in his new deal.

It could end up being a busy summer at Villa Park, and the events in Turkey later this month may pay a big part in Grealish and the club’s future.

In other news: Villa midfielder wants to quit due to broken promises, find out more here.  

Rangers winger Ianis Hagi has been linked with a switch to VFL Bochum recently and it would be a huge blow to Steven Gerrard if he were to leave Ibrox this summer.

The Romania international only joined Rangers on a permanent deal from Genk last summer but has been heavily linked with a move away from Ibrox, despite being a regular in Gerrard’s side throughout the season.

VFL Bochum, who are on the brink of promotion to the Bundesliga, are the latest side to be linked with the 22-year-old, with Sport claiming that the German side are plotting an ambitious move for the winger, who is also attracting interest from Sevilla and Lazio.

It would be something of a surprise to see Hagi switch Rangers and the Champions League for Bochum, who will likely be battling relegation in the Bundesliga next season should they earn promotion, however, it seems as if they are determined to strengthen their side ahead of a return to Germany’s top-flight with the signing of the Romanian.

It would be a huge shame to lose the forward after just one full season at Ibrox, as he has played a significant part in Rangers’ title win and impressive run in the Europa League this season.

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In 28 Premiership appearances, the youngster has contributed six goals and nine assists, earning a sold 6.93 average rating from WhoScored for his performances in the Scottish top-flight.

He is contracted at Ibrox until 2024, which suggests that those at Rangers have a lot of belief in his ability and potential to become a key player in Gerrard’s side in the future but he could well be tempted to depart this summer, given the serious interest being shown in him.

Gerrard was full of praise for Hagi after his winning goal against Hibernian last season, saying:

“Ianis is a top talent. I thought his performance grew as the game wore on…””He’s a brave player. He’ll receive the ball in any situation, in any area of the pitch. Even if he makes a mistake, he won’t shy away”It would be a significant blow to lose a player with Hagi’s obvious potential but as his exit rumours continue to intensify, there looks to be a chance that he won’t be at Ibrox next season. Rangers should be doing all they can to keep him.And, in other news… Gerrard could be set for huge Rangers boost after major development on “very dangerous” beast