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Leeds should look to move for Fulham midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa this summer amid Carlton Palmer’s transfer verdict.

What’s the story?

The Athletic’s Phil Hay recently suggested that the Cottagers ace should be the man Marcelo Bielsa goes for when the transfer window opens come the summer.

Speaking on The Phil Hay Show, the journalist said: “He’s a player I would go for, yeah, absolutely. I think they’ll try and find somebody potentially younger or somebody who is more willing to be a backstop to Phillips. But Anguissa, to me, looks extremely talented and a player I would have.”

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Palmer responded: “I think he could play the Leeds style because Bielsa has a very distinctive style that he plays, and the one thing you’ve got to do is be mobile. You’ve got to be able to get around the football pitch and he can do that.

“It’ll be interesting to see because I don’t think, obviously unless the player wants to leave, financially, I don’t think Fulham will need to let any of the players go should they get relegated.”

Perfect for Leeds

Like Palmer says, Anguissa seems like he would be a perfect fit for Leeds given his ability to be a presence in both boxes – he ranks top for tackles per game, third for interceptions and top for dribbles for Fulham in the Premier League this season.

Having a dynamic presence in the middle of the park who can do everything from breaking up opposition attacks to kick-starting the counter with a surging run forward will be a dream for Bielsa.

Joachim Andersen, Anguissa’s teammate at Craven Cottage, has also raved about about the £22.5m-rated midfielder, saying: “He’s a top player. He’s a machine in the midfield. He’s winning so many balls and driving forward with it.”

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Given his Premier League experience, and the comments from both Hay and Palmer about his style of play, it’s surely a no-brainer for Leeds’ transfer chief Victor Orta to be eyeing a summer move for Anguissa.

Meanwhile, Leeds could sign an ideal partner for Kalvin Phillips in this star…

Rangers could be set to receive a huge blow this summer as Leeds United have reportedly shortlisted Steven Gerrard as a potential replacement for Marcelo Bielsa should the Argentinian depart Elland Road in the coming months.

Speaking on Ask Ornstein, The Athletic’s Phil Hay name-checked Gerrard when discussing the Yorkshire club’s potential successors for Bielsa this summer, as despite an impressive campaign back in the Premier League, the legendary manager’s contract is currently set to expire at the end of the season.

The Whites are currently on track for a top 10 finish in the Premier League, having emphatically won the Championship title last season, so many Leeds fans would undoubtedly be disappointed if Bielsa were to leave.

However, given Gerrard’s impressive record at Rangers, he could prove to be an excellent replacement for the 65-year-old at Elland Road, and a return to the Premier League might just tempt the former Liverpool captain away from Ibrox.

Since being appointed in May 2018, Gerrard has helped transform the Gers, sealing their 55th league title earlier in the season after a superb campaign which has seen them remain unbeaten in the top flight with just four league games remaining.

The Light Blues also impressed in the Europa League, reaching the round of 16 before falling to a 2-0 defeat at home to Slavia Prague, and his European experience would likely make him an attractive candidate for a lot of clubs in the future.

Whilst you would hope that the prospect of managing Rangers in the Champions League next season would be enough to convince Gerrard to stay, the more success he enjoys at Ibrox, the more foreign clubs are going to take notice.

Earlier in the season, former Premier League manager Harry Redknapp was full of praise for Gerrard, saying: “A lot of people down here have been paying attention to the job Stevie has done because he’s done amazing.”

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Therefore, it would be a huge blow for Rangers chairman Douglas Park if Leeds were able to tempt Gerrard with an offer this summer, as it is difficult to see a new manager coming in and replicating the 40-year-old’s successes at Ibrox.

In other news… Fewer passes than McLaughlin: £3m Rangers dud let Gerrard down vs St Johnstone

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, ex-Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie believes his former club should consider signing Fulham attacker Bobby Decordova-Reid in the summer transfer window.

Fulham are currently in danger of being relegated back down to the Championship, meaning there could be some high-profile departures at Craven Cottage before the start of next season.

Decordova-Reid, 28, has been one of the Whites’ star performers this term, delivering five top-flight goals for the club including against relegation rivals West Brom and Liverpool, so some interest in the summer could be possible. And Hendrie is hoping his old side will be at the front of the queue if Scott Parker’s men do end up going down.

On who Dean Smith should be targeting in the transfer market, the former Villa player told FFC:

“If Fulham do go down, I just feel that there’s possibly a couple of players I would certainly look at in that team that would certainly stand out for me. [Harrison] Reed in the midfield, [Ademola] Lookman and Bobby Decordova-Reid, he’s one again that I’d certainly have, and he would play week in, week out.”

While Villa are certainly having a good season, firmly in contention for European qualification, they could do with some attacking reinforcements going into the next campaign.

The Villans have looked blunt in attack at times this term, especially when Jack Grealish has been unavailable. In recent games against Newcastle United, Wolves and Sheffield United, which the Villa captain missed, Smith’s men failed to pick up a win, scoring just one goal.

After securing an impressive 1-0 victory away from home against Leeds United at the weekend, Aston Villa will now face the Premier League’s bottom club, Sheffield United, on Wednesday night.

Dean Smith’s side took home all three points against Leeds thanks to a first-half strike from Anwar El Ghazi, and while the Villa boss will be reluctant to make too many changes from his starting line-up, one decision that he must consider making is starting Trezeguet.

The £9m-rated Egypt international has failed to take back his spot in the first eleven since coming back from injury back in late January, with summer signing Bertrand Traore firmly established as Smith’s man on the right-hand side.

But, with Sheffield United operating with that wing-back system, tonight’s game may be the perfect time for Trezeguet to make his return to the starting line-up.

The winger has always been someone who gives it his absolute all, working tirelessly to ensure his full-back is well protected and doing the defensive side of things diligently.

It’s something The Athletic’s Gregg Evans has picked up on, saying: “The amount of energy that Trezeguet puts in, it’s natural that he’s going to be tiring when it gets to like 65, 70, 75 minutes. (It’s) an incredible turnaround from that player as well, somebody who, admittedly I thought wasn’t cut out to be a Villa player, wasn’t cut out for the Premier League.

“He was probably the scapegoat in the winter months of last season where things weren’t going well. I mean, fair play to him for knuckling down and working so hard and actually realising that sometimes hard work beats talent.”

With the Blades using wing-backs to create their width, and of course having their patented overlapping centre-backs, Trezeguet’s extra responsibility at tracking back and following runners could be massive for Smith. As per Sofascore, he makes double the amount of tackles and interceptions that Bertrand Traore makes per game in the Premier League, while he also wins back possession more often too.

While Traore might offer a more unpredictable and exciting element going forward, Trezeguet’s application defensively may be exactly what the Villa boss needs to counter Sheffield United’s attacks out from wide.

Dubbed as “perfect” by Smith, Trezeguet must simply start against Sheffield United on Wednesday night.

With Celtic’s season more or less done and dusted besides a few fixtures to fulfil, they can start thinking about next summer.

For starters, they will have to find a new manager, while they are also set to welcome a new director of football. Whoever takes up that role will have the honourable job of trying to rebuild the Hoops with new recruits.

What’s the word?

Celtic have already been busy preparing for next term. They’ve reportedly agreed a pre-contract deal with Sheffield Wednesday’s Liam Shaw while they’re also closing in on Wigan youngster Kyle Joseph.

However, in terms of boosting their starting XI, they’ve now been urged to sign one of the most prolific strikers in Europe.

Speaking on the latest edition of A Celtic State of Mind podcast, Colin Watt commented: “One that I think people should go and take a look at [is] Paul Onuachu. He’s a Nigerian striker that plays for Genk; he was formerly of FC Midtjylland, and he’s scored almost 100 goals in five seasons, 6ft 7in tall. Roughly, the going price for him is about £7-10m.”

“That’s us actually taking a look out into the European market and trying to replace [Odsonne] Edouard with an experienced striker.”

Edouard has been linked with a move to both Arsenal and Leicester over the last few days in what feels like an inevitable departure. Recruiting another striker, therefore, will be a necessity.

Imagine him & Turnbull

Signing a player like Onuachu would be superb business by the Hoops. When it comes to someone who can find the back of the net, there are few better for the price touted.

The Nigerian has netted 35 goals in just 57 appearances for Belgian side Genk, 25 of which have all come during the 2020/21 campaign.

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Standing at 6 foot 7, the striker is a giant in the air and has already earned comparisons to Peter Crouch. That being said, he is far more assured on the ball and a lot more prolific in front of goal.

Speaking about the 26-year-old, his former teammate at FC Midtjylland Alexander Scholz said: “Years ago, when he was with us, he was already the best striker in our championship. It’s impossible to beat him because he’s so tall. He is a worker, he has always worked a lot. He had to wait for his chance but I’m happy for him.”

Just imagine what a player like this could do for David Turnbull. The attacking midfielder has been a breath of fresh air to the Celtic side this term, injecting enormous amounts of swagger and creativity into the team.

The 21-year-old has scored six times and provided five assists in the SPFL for the Hoops this term, racking up 2.6 key passes per match. For context, no other player in the Celtic team has more in 2020/21.

Thus, just imagine what a player of his qualities could achieve with Onuachu leading the line. Turnbull has already developed a fine partnership with Edouard but this would be yet another mouth-watering combination for the Hoops.

Celtic must consider a move for the £10m-rated forward if the opportunity arises.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Edouard: Celtic must swoop for £7.2m-rated beast with 8 G/A this term…

David Moyes has confirmed that West Ham United will be without midfielder Pablo Fornals against Arsenal on Sunday due to injury, which should prove beneficial for Jarrod Bowen.

Fornals was forced to sit out the Irons’ 1-0 defeat to Manchester United last week after sustaining a groin issue and is not expected to overcome the blow in time for the London derby.

The Spaniard had regained a regular role in Moyes’ plans before the Hammers’ trip to Old Trafford, with the 25-year-old starting three straight Premier League fixtures.

Fornals had only enjoyed a single six-minute cameo in West Ham’s previous three top-flight games before opening the action against Tottenham Hotspur last month, and remained in the side for subsequent meetings with Manchester City and Leeds United.

Moyes will once again be unable to field the £16.2m-rated playmaker when West Ham host Mikel Arteta’s Gunners this weekend, as one of several players due to be sidelined.

“We’ve got just about everybody the same [as last week],” Moyes said on Friday. “Pablo Fornals is improving, and, on the injury front, Angelo Ogbonna is closing in and getting much closer to fitness but he’s a wee bit away.

“Arthur Masuaku and Andriy Yarmolenko are both getting much closer, as well, so hopefully, it won’t be too long until we’re back to a full squad.”

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The international break which follows Sunday’s London derby should prove vastly beneficial for West Ham with Ogbonna (ankle), Fornals, Masuaku and Yarmolenko (knee) all seemingly moving closer to making their returns from injuries.

However, as Arsenal’s visit to the London Stadium will likely prove too early for some if not all, those who featured yet struggled against Manchester United will likely be given a reprieve and the chance to prove their worth this weekend.

Bowen will almost certainly fall into that category after his efforts alongside Michail Antonio in a two-man strike partnership left Moyes vastly underwhelmed at Old Trafford.

“We thought tonight that the way we would play with two up, Jarrod and Michail as two forwards to start with, we thought that might give them a problem to start with, so I saw that as being positive in a different way,” Moyes said, via quotes by football.london.

“But ultimately, we got better as the game went on when we brought on Manu [Lanzini] and Said [Benrahma] I would say that. I would also say Man United might have been better than they were and that the team that was out did not concede any goals, only one from a set-piece at that time and it was only after that that you can judge it.”

Bowen should expect to be kept in the starting line-up against Arsenal as Moyes will be able to return the former Hull City forward to his natural wide position with Fornals unavailable.

Moyes had moved the winger centrally to accommodate for Jesse Lingard being ineligible to face his parent club, but the Manchester United loanee is in line to make his return on Sunday.

A switch back to a 4-2-3-1 with Bowen on the right should help to see the £27m-rated maestro – who Darren Bent has described as an “example” for Said Benrahma to follow – find the form which eluded him last week and impressed Jamie Carragher earlier in the campaign.

“Bowen, he has been a brilliant signing for him [Moyes],” Carragher said on Sky Sports, via quotes shared by Hammers News, after scoring the winner against Aston Villa on November 30.

“He’s just one of those players, he always nicks a goal every three or four games, you just see him on the scoresheet. And again, he’s got a vital goal for them. He does really well on that right-side coming inside and he’s been a great signing for them.”

AND in other news, a West Ham winter target is set to be available for £17m this summer…

Many Crystal Palace fans are very worried following the latest update suggesting that loved goalkeeper Vicente Guaita will leave the club to move back to Spain.

According to Mundo Deportivo, and tweeted out by @cpfc_xtra, Guaita has chosen Real Sociedad as his next destination.

He is ‘ready to sign’ for the La Liga and there’s an agreement in advance between the two parties for a contract until 2023. With the goalkeeper’s current deal expiring in the summer, Sociedad’s are hoping that they can pay Crystal Palace an amount that is not too high.

Since signing on a free, the goalkeeper has played 75 times in the Premier League, standing in between the sticks for 30 losses, 27 wins and 18 draws (Premier League). He has kept 20 clean sheets and made 234 saves.

He has become is a key Palace player as he is the number one goalkeeper at the club and he is adored by the fans, so if he were to depart it would be a big blow.

Here is what Palace fans said after hearing the news:

“Don’t do this to me”

Credit:@Palace_CPFC

“Hope not”

Credit: @Collinsonmre

“I’m begging don’t leave us your our only hope”

Credit: @cpfcpaddy0

“Surely Vicente wouldn’t do this to us”

Credit: @CpfcJairo

“Cheers crying”

Credit: @BMCPFC

“This club brings me never ending suffering”

Credit: @JacobMozz

In other Palace news, have a read of a bizarre statistic about the club which fans aren’t happy with here!

Liverpool return to Premier League action on Sunday and could go back top of the Premier League with a win against Fulham, depending on Tottenham Hotspur’s result against Crystal Palace earlier in the day.

A much-changed Reds side scraped a 1-1 draw against FC Midtjylland in midweek, so it seems likely that Jurgen Klopp will make plenty of changes for the trip to Craven Cottage on Sunday.

The Merseyside club have lost just once in the Premier League so far this season, so will be confident of picking up three points against a Fulham side battling relegation.

Here’s how Football FanCast expects Klopp to line his side up against Fulham, with eight changes from the side that started in Denmark…

Despite Alisson returning to training this week, the Reds might be better served keeping faith in Caoimhin Kelleher in goal, in the hope that the Brazilian is definitely fit to face Tottenham Hotspur in the top-of-the-table clash next Wednesday.

After captaining the side in midweek, Trent Alexander-Arnold drops to the bench in place of Neco Williams, as he has only just returned from injury so should be rested ahead of the game against Spurs.

The right-back was described as “out of this world” by Gary Neville earlier this year but he can still make an impact from the bench if required, rather than being risked from the start.

Joel Matip returns alongside Fabinho, as Liverpool’s youngsters struggled in the second half on Wednesday after the Brazilian was replaced, so hopefully, they will look more solid on Sunday, whilst Andy Robertson returns at left-back in place of Konstantinos Tsimikas.

In midfield, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain makes his first start of the season after recovering from injury, alongside mainstays Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijanldum.

Finally, there are two changes in attack as Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino come back in, as Klopp has suggested in his pre-match conference that Diogo Jota picked up a knock in midweek, so he’s another that should be rested if possible.

This is a must-win game for the Reds if they want to keep the pressure at the top of the table but considering the importance of next week’s game at Anfield against Tottenham, Klopp must rest players where he can against Fulham, in the hope that his players can still deliver three points.

And, in other news… LFC should cash in on “unplayable winger” in January who’s robbed Michael Edwards dry

With the transfer window now in full swing, there probably hasn’t been a better excuse for Leeds to go out and sign someone.

Having lost 3-0 to League Two Crawley Town on Sunday, it’s clear that a number of their fringe and academy stars simply aren’t good enough.

What’s the word?

One player who Leeds are targeting this month is Fredrik André Bjørkan, a left-back currently plying his trade for Bodo/Glimt.

The 22-year-old is a rising star of Norwegian football and has been capped 12 times by their U21 side.

According to La Repubblica (via Sport Witness), the Whites are set to battle Italian side Sampdoria for his signature. There is also further interest from England with Newcastle and Norwich seemingly eyeing a move for the young defender.

Via Transfermarkt, Bjorkan is only rated at a measly £1.08m so wouldn’t cost much if Leeds wanted to invest.

Bye-bye Alioski

Bjorkan’s reputation is rather small at the moment but his stature within the game is growing all the time. He’s a player that’s been on Leeds’ radar for a while and considering they only have two viable left-backs to choose from – Gjanni Alioski and Leif Davis – Victor Orta needs to find someone else.

In the 22-year-old, they’d have an ideal remedy, one who has already played Europa League football and stood out against AC Milan.

Glimt won the 2020 Norwegian top-flight and a big part of that was down to Bjorkan, someone who was ever-present on his way to assisting four goals in 30 outings. That shows that he’s adept going forward but what’s most impressive are the 1.7 tackles a game he won for his side.

To put that into context, Alioski has won the same number for Leeds this term. That’s in a team who are having to do far more defending too.

Though, the most encouraging detail yet comes courtesy of Frank Amundsen, an expert on all things Leeds and Glimt: “Truly believe Bjørkan will fit Bielsa’s style of play pretty well,” he stated towards the end of last year.

This wouldn’t be a marquee deal but given the potential Bjorkan has at the age of just 22, it would be great business.

He’d also surely be an upgrade on the inconsistent Alioski.

AND in other news, £3m per goal: Bielsa will be raging with woeful Leeds ace who offered “nothing” on Sun…

David Moyes risks laying bare West Ham United’s desperation by pursuing a deal to sign a free-agent to solve his lack of depth at striker after Sebastien Haller’s exit.

What’s the word?

According to Irons insider ExWHUemployee, while speaking on The West Ham Way podcast, Moyes could look to explore the free-agent market after refusing to sign a centre-forward during the mid-season window.

The Hammers boss was adamant that he would not bring a player in “just for the sake of it”, and instead opted to keep the £20m raised from Haller joining Ajax to put toward his budget for the summer.

But things have only gotten worse at the London Stadium since that decision, with doubt now lingering over Michail Antonio’s fitness after showing signs of serious fatigue at Fulham and being rested for the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.

West Ham have also lost Andriy Yarmolenko for the foreseeable, after the Ukraine winger sustained knee ligament damage at Old Trafford while leading the line in the absence of Antonio.

Teen prospect Mipo Odubeko came on to replace Yarmolenko but struggled to get going and was eventually replaced in extra-time, yet he and Jarrod Bowen may be Moyes’ only options for when the Irons host Sheffield United on Monday night.

Hammers insider ExWHUemployee believes the situation could force the club to look into signing a free-agent to help add depth until the end of the season, but West Ham currently have no active plans in place.

Laying West Ham’s desperation bare

Moyes potentially now looking at adding a free-agent to support Antonio would prove his decision not to sign a striker in January was a huge blunder, and one that will lay bare his desperation to atone for the mistake.

West Ham will not be blessed with that many great options should they hit the scrapheap, either, with ex-Chelsea forward Diego Costa the only free-agent striker with a TransferMarkt valuation above £3.5m after he agreed to have his £265,000-per-week Atletico Madrid contract terminated early.

Costa departed the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in December as Atleti sought to reduce their wage bill, and agreed to tear up the final six months of his deal after spending periods out since September with coronavirus, a hamstring injury and deep-vein thrombosis.

The Spaniard returned earlier than expected to score the last of his 83 career goals for Los Colchoneros in a 3-1 La Liga win over Elche in December, and was linked with a move to the London Stadium in January.

Former Premier League striker Dean Windass urged West Ham to make a move for Costa while speaking exclusively to Football FanCast last month, but reports by football.london on Deadline Day claimed there was no truth in the rumours of a move to the Hammers.

If Costa is still not a target, other free-agents to consider include Daniel Sturridge – who has been without a club since March – Alexandre Pato – without a club since August – and Wilfried Bony – who has played 10 games since April 2019.

Clearly, then, the options are not great, so it remains to be seen if even desperation will force Moyes into accepting he was wrong and now signing someone no one else wants.

AND in other news, West Ham will have to pay in excess of £26.5m to land a prolific 18 goal striker in the summer…