Swansea City attacker Jordan Ayew has found himself at the centre of transfer tussle with a report in The Sun suggesting both Crystal Palace and Southampton are eager to sign him up, but the former should move quickly to tie him down despite his disappointing goalscoring record.
What’s the word, then?
Ayew spent the season on loan at Crystal Palace, and although he wasn’t a permanent fixture in the first team, he proved himself an able back-up and may have convinced Roy Hodgson that he could be a worthwhile option off the bench.
However, there could be fierce competition for his signature with Swansea keen to offload him from their wage bill. That would mean Palace would have to act early to have the best chance of making his loan permanent.
So far, the two clubs are yet to reach an agreement, giving encouragement to others that the Ghanaian forward may still be available. The Sun suggests that Palace may instead bide their time and wait until later in the transfer window to secure a better deal, for a player who could cost less than £5m.
What it means for Palace
News of this potential transfer may ring alarm bells for Palace fans, but it would actually be a smart move for that price.
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The 27-year-old has proven that he can do a job at this level, can play in a number of different positions and works hard for the club – knowing his teammates well already is obviously another big bonus.
With Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke both linked with moves away from Selhurst Park in recent weeks, the Eagles could do with having a player in those attacking positions in early, and Ayew woud fit the bill.
Signing him for £5m or less would also allow them to spend big on other areas of the squad, such as on the wing or for another new centre-forward.
Have Manchester United hit rock bottom? They’ve finished 6th, played some of the worst football the club as ever produced and look a team in genuine disarray. They’ve hired a manager no one is convinced about, they’ve got players on £350k-a-week who don’t play and they’re expecting a clear-out like no other in the coming months.
The club pay notoriously high wages and haven’t got the best out of the players earning these premium payments. The squad have had their integrity, commitment and quality questioned over the year, made only worse by the fact that they had such a strong three months with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the beginning of his temporary tenure, showing the footballing world that they are capable of delivering much more than they do.
After such a sad and sorry campaign, who this season has really earned their wages over the year…?
[snack_break title=”Goalkeepers”]
David De Gea (£10,400,000 p/y)
He’s had his shakiest season since his first in England, with errors leading to goals in vital games against Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. It’s been a torrid end to the season, but he’s delivered many stellar displays that have saved United as well.
Has he earned his wage?: Just about
Sergio Romero (£3,640,000 p/y)
Arguably the best back-up goalkeeper in England, and maybe deserved a chance to start in the league considering De Gea’s form. He did well when called upon.
Has he earned his wage?: Definitely has
Lee Grant (£1,560,000 p/y)
Made no appearances in the league, but earns a modest wage and ultimately someone has to be third choice!
Has he earned his wage?: Just about
[snack_break title=”Defenders”]
Victor Lindelof (£6,240,000 p/y)
Has been the standout defender, despite Luke Shaw winning United’s player of the year. He’s looked composed, dominating in the air and sure of himself despite playing in a shambolic defence.
Has he earned his wage?: Definitely has
Eric Bailly (£4,160,000 p/y)
After a promising first season at the club, Bailly’s development has halted and that trend has continued this year. He’s fallen down the pecking order and was used unsuccessfully at right-back in the famous win in Paris, his performance being the only negative from the night.
Has he earned his wage?: Definitely not
Phil Jones (£3,900,000 p/y)
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Jones has been unfortunate throughout his Old Trafford career, enduring injury after injury and rarely enjoying a prolonged run in the first team. Perhaps this can excuse his poor form, but nevertheless he has delivered displays way below par and is often subject of huge criticism from the fans.
Has he earned his wage?: Definitely not
Chris Smalling (£4,160,000 p/y)
Similar to Jones in that he’s endured injuries, and at times this season we have seen moments of class. He was very good in Paris and did a good job containing most of the Barcelona threat at Old Trafford, but these odd decent performances are undermined by really poor turnouts as well.
Has he earned his wage?: Definitely not
Marcos Rojo (£4,160,000 p/y)
Another defender who’s not stepped up. Limited opportunities have maybe caused that form, but has he ever been consistently brilliant for the side?
Has he earned his wage?: Definitely not
Ashley Young (£6,240,000 p/y)
In all fairness, he’s passionate, works hard, plays whatever positions he’s asked to fill into and gives his all. This is what Man United fans are wanting from all their players, only Young has lacked the quality to accompany all these great traits.
Has he earned his wage?: Just about
Diogo Dalot (£1,300,000 p/y)
A very encouraging young player who’s shown a lot of maturity and certainly looks one for the future.
Has he earned his wage?: Definitely has
Luke Shaw (£7,800,000 p/y)
He’s supposedly been United’s best player this season, but that’s not saying much. He’s done ok, but as the season’s withered away so have his good performances.
Has he earned his wage?: Just about
Antonio Valencia (£4,420,000 p/y)
Has hardly figured due to injury, but probably wouldn’t have been the answer to United’s defensive problems anyway. He leaves with love from fans for his brilliant service over ten years.
Has he earned his wage?: Definitely not
Matteo Darmian (£2,340,000 p/y)
Same as Valencia in that he wasn’t able to even challenge for a right-back spot, a position that three others couldn’t hold down successfully themselves. This shows how rated he is at the club, though some believe he maybe deserved more of a chance to prove himself this season.
Has he earned his wage?: Definitely not
[snack_break title=”Midfielders”]
Paul Pogba (£15,080,000 p/y)
In some ways his goal tally would suggest he’s contributed plenty this season, and he’s definitely shown glimpses of his class. However, over a whole season have his performances been up to scratch for £290k-a-week? Few would argue he’s matched expectation.
Has he earned his wage?: Definitely not
Juan Mata (£8,320,000 p/y)
He does no wrong when he plays, but he hasn’t been the difference for them either. He tries hard and give his all, popping up with the odd important goal.
Has he earned his wage?: Just about
Jesse Lingard (£3,900,000 p/y)
He works hard, is passionate about the side and has the ability to score a great goal or make a decisive pass in key moments, however we don’t see it enough. You feel Lingard has to be playing his best football to impact a game, and that if he’s not quite at it he can go missing.
Has he earned his wage?: Just about
Andreas Pereira (£1,560,000 p/y)
Young, exciting prospect who’s already shown he can win points for United when it’s not quite happening for them.
Has he earned his wage?: Definitely has
Fred (£6,240,000 p/y)
Another signing who’s not really hit the ground running. We’ve seen encouraging displays from him though, and he’s not done too much wrong – he’s suffered from the lack of quality around him.
Has he earned his wage?: Just about
Ander Herrera (£5,980,000 p/y)
He’s captain material and it’s such a shame that he’s leaving, but he exits as one of many upcoming departures who can truly keep his head held high. Tenacious, committed and intelligent, and should have been tied to a long-term contract.
Has he earned his wage?: Definitely has
Nemanja Matic (£6,240,000 p/y)
Not been up to scratch, looks slower and more immobile as the games go by. Under Solskjaer he enjoyed a temporary return to form, but injuries haven’t helped the process.
Has he earned his wage?: Definitely not
Scott McTominay (£520,000 p/y)
He’s the lowest earner in the team and he’s been the best player in the last few weeks and months. Strong footballer who’s shown his ability to perform to a good level against the best.
Has he earned his wage?: Definitely has
[snack_break title=”Forwards”]
Alexis Sanchez (£18,200,000 p/y)
I’m struggling to remember a signing on a bigger wage who’s been as disappointing as the Chilean. One Premier League goal all season is farcical and the money he’s on may as well be poured down the drain.
Has he earned his wage?: Definitely not
Romelu Lukaku (£9,360,000 p/y)
He still manages to score the odd goal, but his overall performances haven’t been up to scratch and you feel he lacks the mobility and hunger to lead the United XI up the pitch. A poor second season for Lukaku, though he has certainly improved under Ole.
Has he earned his wage?: Definitely not
Marcus Rashford (£2,340,000 p/y)
He was the shining light in Man Utd’s season for a long time, and showed his nerve and maturity stepping up to score his club’s third goal. However, his form has dipped massively, potentially due to an injury. For the small wage he’s on (compared to other big six players), and considering his age, he’s easily done his part.
Has he earned his wage?: Definitely has
Anthony Martial (£5,720,000 p/y)
Sometimes he looks like a world beater, and arguably in terms of potential and ability, he’s United’s most dangerous player. We don’t see it enough though and fans seem to be growing impatient with the Frenchman. He’s shown his quality on occasion this season though, and being a forward he’s probably let down by the supply behind him.
Charlton and Sunderland played out one a dramatic League One play-off final on Sunday – an early Naby Sarr own-goal was followed by a silky Addicks equaliser, before the game got a bit scrappier and Patrick Bauer scored an injury-time winner.
The introductions of Jason Pearce for Sarr, who was skating on thin ice, and Jonny Williams saw Lee Bowyer’s side assume control of the game and put real pressure on their opponents in the final 20 minutes or so.
Former Palace man Williams dazzled with his close control and linkup play despite the Black Cats’ best attempts to unlawfully disrupt his game, before winning his second play-off medal courtesy of captain Bauer.
Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…
The 25-year-old has struggled for fitness throughout his career but certainly looks Championship quality when he’s firing on all cylinders – he could be an important player for the Addicks next season if they decide to extend his stay at The Valley, as some of these Charlton fans suggest…
If only Sunderland had cashed in when they had the chance, Lamine Kone would never have been a problem. The Black Cats thought they had a real gem on their hands when they turned down an £18 million bid for the defender back in 2016, but only now do they realise how costly that move was three years ago.
Kone, who is now 30-years-old, has been a massive pain for Sunderland since they suffered the first of their back-to-back relegations in 2017. The French-born Ivorian international spent this season on-loan in Ligue 1 with Strasbourg and the good news is that, according to The Chronicle, that loan move has become a permanent one, but how the Mackems would have wanted him out of their hair before that.
There have been some pretty rotten players rock up on Wearside in recent years. Without even thinking about it, the likes of Jack Rodwell, Didier Ndong and Papy Djilobodji spring to mind, and now the club have got that particular trio off their books and Kone has also secured a permanent switch away things look a lot brighter at the Stadium Light.
From day one, Jack Ross made it very clear that Lamine Kone was not in his plans and that he had to find a future elsewhere, which the 30-year-old has now gone and done. It’s been a long time coming, but at least the Black Cats can prepare for yet another season in League One without having to worry about getting rid of Kone on yet another loan move for yet another season.
Are you pleased to be rid of Kone, Sunderland fans? Let us know!
Clyde 1 Superscoreboard host Ewan Cameron has claimed Celtic manager Neil Lennon could be sacked by Christmas, speaking on Monday’s edition of the high profile radio show.
What’s he said?
There’s plenty of curiosity about the upcoming Scottish season already after the departure of Brendan Rodgers and appointment of Lennon at Celtic.
For many, it could be the kind of change that wedges the door open a little for Rangers to mount a true challenge for trophies next term.
Outspoken pundit, Chelsea flop, Celtic legend. C’mon the Hoops’ Keith throws back to Chris Sutton in the video below…
One pundit who clearly feels that way is radio host Ewan Cameron, who had plenty to say on Monday’s edition of Superscoreboard on Clyde 1.
He reckons there could be a Celtic implosion, explaining to listeners:
Celtic won’t win a treble again. That’s it, it’s gone. The treble Treble is done. It’s not going to happen. They might win a cup but they won’t win the league.
Rangers will stop them winning nine-in-a-row. I’m making that bold prediction tonight here on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard.
Celtic will not win the league under Neil Lennon and I’ll tell you another thing, he might not last till Christmas.
Are Celtic at risk of collapse?
The Hoops of course can never take success for granted and to win a league you don’t just need the best players in the country but also a determination and mentality that separates you from the chasing pack.
Will next season be one of the most competitive in Scotland for years? Possibly.
Are Celtic set for a disastrous season that results in Lennon’s sacking before the new year? That’s incredibly unlikely.
Lennon’s winning record is exceptional at Celtic, in both of his spells at the club. He only lost one match when filling in for Brendan Rodgers, winning two trophies in the process. Before leaving for pastures new in 2014 he also delivered a further five trophies, including three league titles in a row.
The suggestion he is an appointment that will lead to Celtic ruin doesn’t hold much weight in the face of his record so far.
It has been a rough couple of months for Manchester United supporters and, for some, things could be about to get much worse.
Largely seen as the Red Devils best player over the last few years, David de Gea could be on the move, with ESPN reporting that the 28-year-old’s future is in doubt.
The same outlet also reports that Manchester United would be interested in bringing Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak to Old Trafford should the above happen.
A former player of one of Manchester United’s rivals, though, believes the Premier League outfit could be about to make a silly mistake.
“If you’ve got de Gea in your goal, why are you going out and spending a reported €120m to buy this guy?,” ex-Liverpool defender Steve Nicol rhetorically asked on ESPN FC. “Why are you spending €120m on bringing somebody in to a different country, to a new team, a team that is going to be demolished pretty much and is going to have to add a lot of pieces?
“Why are you getting rid of one of the most important pieces in de Gea?”
With de Gea’s contract running down, though, Manchester United’s hand could be forced here. And all things considered, you could possibly even argue that Oblak would be an upgrade on the Spaniard.
Since last year’s World Cup, de Gea has had quite the decline. In the Premier League season that has just gone by, the Spain international made some calamitous and costly errors, resulting in some heavy criticism being thrown his way.
Meanwhile, in La Liga, Oblak has only gone from strength to strength, with his manager Diego Simeone now viewing the 26-year-old as “the best goalkeeper in the world”.
Given what he has achieved at Old Trafford and his overall ability as a shot-stopper, Manchester United will want to keep hold of de Gea. But if they lose the former Atletico Madrid man and replace him with Oblak, it would hardly be the end of the world.
Wow, now this could really be one of the transfer stories of the summer.
Despite Tottenham long being credited with an interest in Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon, according to Love Sport Radio, Crystal Palace have made the first real move as they look to land the 19-year-old.
A lot (literally a lot) needs to happen before a deal starts to materialise. But if they can pull it off — and that is a big if — Sessegnon would be a tremendous signing for them.
After a very impressive 2017/18 season in the Championship at such a young age, perhaps he did not quite live up to expectations once making his Premier League bow.
However, Sessegnon is still a talented individual and would represent quite the upgrade on Jeffrey Schlupp.
Like the 26-year-old, Sessegnon is a very versatile individual, with both players able to play on multiple positions on the left flank, according to Transfermarkt. Considering that, it would not be a surprise if we learned that Roy Hodgson has identified the Fulham teenager as a potential replacement.
But looking at his stats, offensively, Sessegnon would be more than that. Simply put, everything points to him being an upgrade.
For example, last season, he was able to provide six assists, average 0.9 key passes per game, make 0.9 dribbles and put in 0.4 crosses. And at just 19 years of age, you would expect those numbers to get even better.
Schlupp, in contrast, created just the sole goal, averaged 0.5 key passes per game, made 0.7 dribbles and put in 0.1 crosses.
When it comes to winning the ball back, Sessegnon has some work to do before he is on Schlupp’s level. His 0.6 tackles per game fall short of Schlupp’s 1.4 (all stats via WhoScored Player Comparison).
But if Hodgson is looking for more of an attacking threat down that left-hand side, then Sessegnon could be his man.
Crystal Palace fans, do you think Sessegnon would be an upgrade on Schlupp? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!
Writing in his Daily Record column, Barry Ferguson believes Rangers transfer target Joe Aribo can be a “good addition” to the squad at Ibrox after being impressed by his form for Charlton Athletic last season.
What’s he said?
Rangers have been heavily linked with a move for Aribo over the last week, with outlets such as The Scottish Sun reporting that the player is “almost certainly” on his way to Ibrox.
Aribo was one of Charlton’s stand-out players last season as they gained promotion to the English Championship, scoring ten goals and assisting five more.
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Having watched the player in action, Ferguson is hoping the deal can be concluded, writing in The Record:
“There is maybe a bit more work to be done to ensure Joe Aribo joins the squad in the Algarve but that’s another one that will hopefully be sorted out.
I watched quite a bit of Charlton last season as the manager Lee Bowyer is an ex team-mate of mine from Birmingham City.
Aribo always stood out and Bowyer, although I haven’t spoken to him, is understandably desperate to keep him. But the reports are he’s fighting a losing battle.
There was pressure on Charlton to win promotion so Aribo has dealt with that and if they can get that one over the line he looks a good addition to the squad.”
What’s the latest on the Aribo move?
We will likely know much more about Aribo’s future later today or next week, with the player due to hold talks with manager Lee Bowyer about his Addicks future.
Bowyer revealed to London News Online that he is still hopeful that the player could stay on for another season, believing that a year in the English Championship would help him develop more.
Whether the manager gets his wish or not remains to be seen, but Ferguson is clearly keen to see the young midfield maestro at Ibrox.
Celtic’s move for Motherwell midfielder David Turnbull again appears to be in doubt after an issue was discovered during the player’s recent medical with the club.
As reported by STV, the Hoops had a £3m offer for the player accepted by Motherwell and the 19-year-old subsequently chose to join the Scottish champions over Premier League new boys Norwich City.
How can Celtic improve next season? A Hoops fan tells us how in the video below…
The outlet say now though that Celtic are again in discussions with the Fir Park outfit after discovering an issue that could sink the deal entirely.
It’s just the latest dramatic twist in a transfer saga that has dominated Celtic’s pre-season preparations.
The club are currently in Austria getting ready for UEFA Champions League qualifiers but have not yet made a summer signing, despite a number of first-team squad members leaving at the end of last season.
Celtic fans are eager to see players arrive and couldn’t quite believe the latest twist to the Turnbull deal, taking to Twitter over the last 24 hours to share their thoughts…
This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…
According to the Daily Mail, Crystal Palace must pay £25m if they want to sign Nice attacker Allan Saint-Maximin this summer, and the stats suggest that his arrival would more than soften the blow should Wilfried Zaha leave Selhurst Park.
The Daily Mail says that the Frenchman is seen as someone who could provide competition for the Ivory Coast international, and potentially be his long-term replacement should he move on.
The BBC reported on Wednesday that the 26-year-old is keen on a move to Arsenal, but that the south London outfit’s £80m valuation, as well as the fact that they have sold Aaron Wan-Bissaka to Manchester United, means they are reluctant to let him go through the exit door in the next six weeks.
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While losing Zaha – whether it be now, in January or next summer – would clearly be a huge loss given he is the club’s talisman and scored 10 goals and provided a further five assists in 34 Premier League appearances last season, there could be some light at the end of the tunnel.
Interestingly enough, Saint Maximin played exactly the same number of games in Ligue 1 in 2018/19, scoring six goals and picking up three assists, so let’s have a look at how they match up in some key attacking areas.
The Palace man is known as being one of the best dribblers in the English top flight, and only Eden Hazard attempted more dribbles (3.7) per appearance than Zaha’s 3.4 – he was successful with 114 out of 225, as per WhoScored.
The Nice star blows that out of the water somewhat having tried an average of 4.2 per game for the team from southern France, completing 143 from 252 attempts.
As you can see from the graphic, he also betters the Ivorian when it comes to key passes and shots per game as well, indicating that he has the potential to be even more of a threat in the final third.
Given he averaged more shots and scored less goals than Zaha, there is a clear area for improvement should the 5 ft 8 ace end up arriving him in SE25, but his recent stats are more than promising.
If Palace sell Wan Bissaka and Zaha, will they be in another relegation battle? One fan gives his opinion in the video below…
It would be no surprise if some Palace fans felt that the 26-year-old is irreplaceable, but the Ligue 1 star would clearly be a worthwhile investment – especially for £25m.
Losing Zaha would be a bitter pill to swallow if and when the time comes, but the arrival of Saint-Maximin would go some way to cushioning the blow if he brings his form in France to the Premier League.