Crystal Palace’s record of developing first team talent – particularly wide players – has been admirable, with Wilfried Zaha, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Nathaniel Clyne all making names for themselves after graduating from the Eagles’ academy.
Most recently, left-back Tyrick Mitchell has become a first team regular, while Jeserun Rak-Sakyi has become one of the most promising young players in England after his sensational performances this season at under-23 level.
However, one player who could have an excellent career but was let go too soon by Palace is Watford winger Kwadwo Baah, who has become a three-time Germany under-19 international, scoring twice.
After leaving the Eagles aged just 14, the winger moved to Rochdale, where he quickly established himself as a member of the first team despite his young age, playing in seven games during the 2019/20 season, before making five goal contributions in 30 league games in the following campaign.
After Baah first broke into the Rochdale first team, his then-manager Brian Barry-Murphy said: “His talent is exceptional and he’s someone we’re very excited about for the future.
“He’s made a huge impact on the squad already and now he’s working hard behind the scenes with the Youth Team and the Integration Squad to get fully in sync with how we do things at the Club.
“He’s a very special talent and someone who has been asked to play an extraordinary number of minutes because of the situation of our squad over Christmas and New Year.”
However, Baah has struggled this season with an ankle injury after signing for Watford from the League Two club on a free transfer last summer.
The 19-year-old is not yet nearing a return to action, having suffered another ankle injury last week in training, but the latest setback may not keep him out of action for too long.
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Valued at £720k, Palace chairman Steve Parish will be frustrated that a talented young player with youth caps at international level for Germany, as well as England, was released for nothing, while the Selhurst Park faithful will have been gutted to see him go.
Baah will always remain a cult hero among Palace fans regardless of what team he represents, as he once stopped then-West Ham keeper Adrian from time-wasting in a match against the Eagles by running onto the pitch as ball boy and putting the ball on the goal-kick line himself.
In other news: Vieira facing his first Crystal Palace disaster with £16.2m-rated “Rolls Royce”
Manchester United fans were treated with a bit of an unexpected starting XI ahead of their side’s Champions League clash with PSV tonight.
Louis van Gaal has been criticised for not making the most of his attacking assets recently, and many fans were calling for mega-money deadline day signing Anthony Martial to get more game time in Holland this evening.
PSV v MAN UNITED – LIVE BLOG
And they’ve got their wish, and some, with van Gaal handing the 19-year-old his first start for the Red Devils alongside Memphis Depay and Ashley Young, with Juan Mata slotting in to his favourite No.10 role. It’s a very pacy, attacking and fearsome attacking line up for United, and fans are now expecting their team to turn on the style to mark their return to Europe’s elite competition with three points.
Just moments after the teams were announced tonight United fans took to Twitter to express their delight and excitement for the evening ahead, and tipping their hat to what really is an impressive starting XI – and they almost broke the internet!
Here’s some of the best tweets…
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Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard will be livid with the circumstances of Arsenal’s goal in Saturday’s Premier League encounter, BT Sport pundit Joe Cole has said.
The lowdown
Villa lost 1-0 to Mikel Arteta’s side in the lunchtime clash, with Bukayo Saka’s first half goal proving the difference. It stemmed from a wide free-kick, with Villa failing to clear the danger and the 20-year-old firing in from the edge of the penalty area.
It was the 11th time Villa have conceded from a set-piece situation this season, the joint-fifth worst record in the Premier League (via WhoScored).
The latest
Cole said that Gerrard will be ‘furious’ that Arsenal were able to outnumber Villa on the right-hand side as they took the free kick short and worked the ball into the penalty area.
He feels it was inevitable that they would be punished, saying at half-time on BT Sport’s live coverage: “From Steven Gerrard’s perspective, he’ll be furious with that. If you get a three on two [situation] in that kind of area, you’re going to get hurt.”
The verdict
Perhaps Villa should have been more alert to the danger, but surely the bigger source of frustration will be his team’s lack of attacking threat for the first hour of the game.
Alarmingly, they weren’t able to muster a single shot in that period. John McGinn finally broke their duck with an effort from outside the box around the 60-minute mark. They had a 47% share of the possession too, but they struggled to do anything meaningful with it.
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From Gerrard’s point of view, it proved to be too comfortable an afternoon for the visitors, and as Cole said, he will surely be raging over the nature of the decisive goal from Saka.
In other news, Gregg Evans issues a Villa Park contract prediction
It was difficult not to be heartened by the courage and resilience shown by Ruben Amorim’s makeshift Manchester United side on Friday evening, with the hosts clinging on to secure a vital 1-0 win over Newcastle United.
Wave after wave of Magpies attacks were repelled even amid a carousel of changes in the Red Devils’ backline, with 19-year-old Ayden Heaven scooping the man of the match gong following his standout display as the only ever-present in that defensive unit.
The teenager’s task was no doubt made all the more difficult considering the woes of those ahead of him, with United’s string of attack-minded absences leaving them with little in the way of an out ball in that battling second-half.
How Amorim’s side could have done with the pace and power of a figure like Antoine Semenyo to drag them back up the pitch, with the Ghanaian’s blistering ball-carrying speed having been so evident in the 4-4 thriller with Bournemouth not too long ago.
Unfortunately, it looks increasingly likely that the 25-year-old will be heading elsewhere next month, with INEOS and United perhaps turning their attention to a suitable alternative instead.
Man Utd hold talks over Semenyo alternative
A summer that saw both Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo snapped up from Premier League rivals might also have seen Semenyo follow suit, albeit with United believed to have been put off by the ex-Bristol City man’s £70m plus price tag.
Heading into the looming January window, those at Old Trafford seemingly revived that interest following suggestions that calls were being made last week, with the in-form forward available for a fee of £65m, owing to his upcoming release clause.
Frustratingly for United and other top-flight rivals, it looks to be Manchester City who will ultimately win the race for his signature, with Semenyo reportedly choosing the Etihad as his preferred destination for 2026, as per David Ornstein.
With that in mind, Amorim and co might well be shifting their focus, with TEAMtalk reporting that the club have ‘joined the chase’ for RB Leipzig sensation, Yan Diomande.
As per the report, United are the final member of the traditional ‘big six’ to have registered their interest in the 19-year-old, with INEOS having already held talks with the teenager’s camp in recent weeks.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The piece does note that any potential move would likely have to be a summer one, however, with prior speculation suggesting he could be available for a fee of around £87m.
Why Diomande is so "similar" to Semenyo
It was evident again on Friday evening that a handful of absentees can leave United looking so desperately short at the top end of the pitch, with the hosts ending the game with Patrick Dorgu on one flank and Diogo Dalot on the other as the two most advanced wide options.
With no Amad and Mbeumo to call upon, and having allowed the likes of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho to depart, Amorim appears in real need of an extra spark – something to ignite his side in the final third.
Semenyo, with nine goals to his name already this season in the Premier League, would surely have done just that, although young Diomande might just be the next best thing, even if the Red Devils have to wait until next summer.
Indeed, in the view of The Athletic’s Seb Stafford-Bloor, the pair are “physically similar”, with Diomande possessing “all the same skill and touch” as his senior counterpart.
That likeness can no doubt be seen in their recent goalscoring hot streaks in 2025/26 to date, with the Leipzig starlet – who is currently on AFCON duty – scoring six goals in the Bundesliga thus far, alongside providing two assists.
Like Semenyo too, there is a real two-footed quality to the £87m youngster, with Diomande having scored four of those with his right and two with his left, as per Sofascore.
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The most notable attribute that the Ivorian possesses is his fleet-footed dribbling prowess, ranking in the top 1% of wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, as well as in the top 3% for progressive carries per 90.
Diomande – 25/26 Bundesliga stats
Stat (per 90)
Diomande
Non-penalty goals
0.61
Assists
0.20
Shot-creating actions
4.66
Pass completion
81.3%
Progressive passes
4.05
Progressive carries
6.28
Successful take-ons
4.26
Prog passes received
7.91
Tackles
1.32
Interceptions
0.71
Stats via FBref
Not only an outlet in attack, Diomande also chips in defensively from his wide berth, ranking in the top 3% for interceptions and the top 11% for tackles per 90, with it no surprise that journalist Bence Bocsak hailed him as a “generational talent”.
Semenyo, for comparison, has his own strengths in a defensive sense too, ranking in the top 3% for both blocks and aerial duels won per 90, across the last 365 days.
Of course, it is the latter man who is hot property in the Premier League right now, yet if United are keen to seek out a more long-term, high-potential alternative, then Diomande could well be the man.
Worse than Sesko: £105k-per-week dud should never play for Man Utd again
Manchester United’s flaws were exposed even amid Boxing Day’s battling win over Newcastle United.
Celtic have been dealt a late injury concern ahead of their upcoming Scottish Premiership clash.
What’s the latest?
According to a recent report by the Glasgow Evening Times, Ange Postecoglou revealed in his pre-match press conference that Giorgos Giakoumakis, who missed the 0-0 draw with Hibernian last weekend due to illness, is once again a doubt for the visit of St. Mirren this evening – with the 56-year-old suggesting that the centre-forward has a 50/50 chance of making the squad.
In their report, the Glasgow Evening Times write: “Speaking to the media, Postecoglou revealed he will have a 50/50 chance of making the squad.”
Postecoglou will be fuming
Considering just how lacklustre Celtic were in the final third against Hibs on Sunday, the news that Giakoumakis could once again be unavailable for selection for tonight’s clash with St. Mirren is sure to have left Postecoglou fuming.
Indeed, the £1.8m-rated Greece international almost singlehandedly secured all three points in the Hoops’ close-fought encounter with Dundee FC towards the end of February, scoring a hat-trick in an extremely unconvincing 3-2 victory over the bottom of the table Dark Blues.
He has been in red hot form beyond that clash too, scoring five in his last nine outings taking his tally to six in all competitions.
And, with both Kyogo Furuhashi and Albian Ajeti remaining sidelined due to injury, and Daizen Maeda having drawn a blank in his last three outings for Celtic, the continued absence of the £8.2k-per-week Giakoumakis would undoubtedly come as a huge blow to the Bhoys’ chances of picking up three points this evening.
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Anything but a win potentially brings with it disastrous consequences to the Hoops’ hopes of going on to reclaim their Premiership crown this season.
In other news: Ange can unearth Celtic’s new Rogic in “talented” 17 y/o who “knows where the goal is”
It’s not all been smooth sailing, but since taking the job six years ago, Mikel Arteta has got a lot right at Arsenal.
One area he has helped improve, alongside the Sporting Directors, has been the club’s transfer business, at least when it comes to signing players.
For example, the likes of David Raya, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Magalhães, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori have all joined under his tenure.
However, when it comes to the Spaniard’s best signing, it’s hard to look past Declan Rice, so fans should be excited about reports linking Arsenal with someone who could be their next version of the Englishman.
Arsenal target their next Rice
Arsenal spent far more than they usually do in the summer transfer window, and so some might argue that they don’t need to go big again in January or at the end of the season.
Transfer Focus
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However, while that might be true in some areas of the pitch, the midfield is a different story.
As things stand, only Martin Zubimendi and Rice are really at the level required to regularly contribute in the middle of the park, with the boss clearly not fancying Christian Norgaard and Mikel Merino thriving up top.
Therefore, the Gunners really do need to sign another top-quality midfielder to provide the two regular starters with competition and chances to rest, and it looks like they’ve found one.
At least that is according to a recent report from Caught Offside, which claims Arsenal are interested in Ayyoub Bouaddi.
In fact, the report has revealed that the Frenchman is now at the top of their list of midfield targets.
However, they are not the only ones interested, as the report has also revealed that Chelsea are keen on the youngster.
Therefore, it could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Bouaddi’s immense potential, it’s one Arsenal should be fighting for, especially as he could be their next Rice.
Why Bouaddi could be Arsenal's next Rice
The first thing to say is that while Ayyoub Bouaddi is very highly rated and looks to have a huge future ahead of him, Arsenal should expect him to come in and be on Rice’s level right away.
The Frenchman is still just 18 years old, and therefore, that would be an unfair expectation.
However, there is no reason he couldn’t eventually reach that level, especially as there are already quite a few similarities between the pair.
First and foremost, like the Gunners’ monster 41, the LOSC Lille gem is primarily a central midfielder, but has shown an impressive level of flexibility.
For example, he has also played in defensive midfield, attacking midfield, and even centre-back – sound familiar?
The second similarity is that, thanks to this ability to play in so many areas, the “world class talent,” as scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him, is someone who can help in build up as well as in defensive areas.
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For example, FBref ranks him in the top 1% of midfielders in Ligue 1 for blocks, the top 2% for long pass completion, the top 8% for successful take-ons, the top 16% for touches in the opposition’s penalty area, and more, all per 90.
Bouaddi’s Scout Report
Statistics
Per 90
Percentile
Blocks
1.99
Top 1%
Pass Completion % (Long)
88.0%
Top 2%
Passes Blocked
1.56
Top 2%
Successful Take-Ons
1.39
Top 8%
Tackles (Att 3rd)
0.61
Top 10%
Successful Take-On %
69.6%
Top 10%
Touches (Att Pen)
2.60
Top 16%
Shots Blocked
0.43
Top 19%
All Stats via FBref
Moreover, respected analyst-turned-scout Ben Mattinson has described his press resistance as “elite level” and his tackling as “exceptional.”
Ultimately, he is still young and has a lot of developing to do, but Bouaddi already looks like a top-level talent and someone who could easily develop into a future Rice.
Notably heralded as one of “the best young talents in world football” by the Guardian’s Ed Aarons, Arsenal should do all they can to sign him next year, before another team get there first.
Arsenal can revive Gyokeres by signing "the best winger in the country"
The international game-changer could be just the player Arsenal needs to get Gyokeres firing.
Tottenham manager Antonio Conte could be on his way out of north London at the end of the season.
What’s the talk?
That’s according to a report by Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), who claimed that, despite having only been appointed at Spurs last November, the 52-year-old could be in line for a move to Paris Saint-Germain this summer, with the Ligue 1 leaders seemingly set to part ways with current manager Mauricio Pochettino at the end of the campaign.
The report added that, even if the former Inter Milan manager doesn’t go on to join PSG, he could still move on to pastures new prior to the end of his current deal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with a return to his homeland said to always be on the cards for the Italian.
Partici must avoid Conte disaster
While it is true that life at Tottenham has not exactly got off to the best of starts for Conte, the argument that losing the 52-year-old at the end of the season would be a disaster for Fabio Paratici and Spurs is nevertheless an easy one to make.
Indeed, having won 15, drawn three and lost nine of the 27 games he has managed at Tottenham, the club’s form under the Italian can certainly be improved. It seems to have done in recent weeks, with Spurs having picked up 12 from a possible 15 points in their last five Premier League outings.
The longer that Conte remains in north London, the more accustomed the Tottenham players will become to the tactical instruction of the former Italy manager, which considering his impressive trophy haul can only be good for the club.
Furthermore, Paratici brought in Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski in the January transfer window, both of whom are quite clearly Conte-style signings. Therefore, should the 52-year-old ultimately leave Spurs after just seven months, the club’s next manager would more than likely have his own targets, potentially making Tottenham’s considerable outlay on the former Juventus duo redundant.
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As such, it is clear to see that losing the £15m-per-year (£288k-per-week) coach who Pep Guardiola dubbed a “master” would be a devastating blow to everyone involved with Tottenham – and something Paratici must do all he can to avoid.
AND in other news: Conte can unearth his next 243-goal talent in THFC prodigy who “runs over every blade”
Everton have the option of terminating Frank Lampard’s contract with the club at the end of the season, claims insider Dean Jones.
The Lowdown: Lampard’s struggle
Since arriving at Goodison Park, the new Toffees boss has seriously struggled in turning the Blues’ season around.
In his first seven league games in charge, 17th place.
Most recently, Lampard’s side were destroyed 4-0 by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the FA Cup, denying them a place in the semi-finals.
This has of course raised questions over the former Chelsea man’s future with the Merseyside club, with plenty of media outlets left debating his merit in the aftermath.
The Latest: Jones’ reveal
Jones has revealed that Everton have the option of parting ways with Lampard at the end of the season, without having to go through the compensation process.
Speaking with GiveMeSport, he claimed:
“From what I’m told, Everton do have the option to part ways with Lampard at the end of the season.
“I think it’s only a one-way thing, so it doesn’t count for Lampard too, as far as I understand it.”
The Verdict: Survive or go
The Toffees sit three points ahead of 18th place Watford, having played two less games than the Hornets. However, 19th place Burnley have also played the same number of matches as the Blues, and sitting just four points behind, Everton’s Premier League status is anything but guaranteed.
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One would have to think that Lampard will be sacked if he cannot guide the side clear of the bottom three come the end of the campaign, and fans should be relieved they won’t have to shell out a big compensation fee given the financial struggles at the club, allowing them to rebuild once and for all from the ground up with a clean slate.
Even if the former England international keeps his side up, the board at Everton could decide to part ways in the summer, given the convenience of this clause in his contract.
In other news: Everton: Frank Lampard shares Andros Townsend injury update
Arsenal’s pursuit of Luis Suarez this summer depends on one man. It’s not Chief Executive Ivan Gazidis, it’s not Arsene Wenger, it’s not their Liverpool counterparts or even Suarez himself, unfortunately for the Gunners it’s a star of a different summer transfer saga on the opposite side of North London – that’s right, it’s the Welsh Wonder Gareth Bale. But whether the Tottenham talisman stays put this transfer window or makes his long-awaited move to Real Madrid, it’s hard to see a positive outcome for Arsenal.
It’s looking more and more likely that GB will become a Los Blancos player by the end of the summer. The 24-year-old is one of a number of Premier League stars who have coincidentally been reported injured and subsequently absent from pre-season fixtures at the same time as serious doubts linger over their futures, along with Suarez as well as Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney.
It suggests Bale’s not in the right frame of mind to put on a Spurs jersey, even for non-competitive affairs, but most damning is Chris Coleman’s inclusion of the winger in his Wales squad for next week’s international friendly clash with the Republic of Ireland, implying that Bale’s perhaps not so injury-stricken after all. At the same time, Tottenham director Sir Keith Mills admitted to the Evening Standard earlier this week: “If a player is desperate to leave, it’s very difficult to force him to stay. We’ve seen it in other clubs. Even if he has a contract, you can’t force somebody to play for you,” whilst Spurs chairman and transfer chief Daniel Levy holidayed in Miami.
So it seems that Bale is inching towards leaving for Spain by the day, with his bags already packed and his passport in a safe but accessible location on his bedside cabinet. In terms of next season, it should bode well for the Gunners, who are desperate to not spend the 2013/2014 campaign looking nervously over their shoulders at their local rivals as they did last term. The Lilywhites have invested well this summer in Nacer Chadli, Paulinho and Roberto Soldado, but could easily find themselves unstuck without Bale’s knack of scoring match-winning goals.
That being said, Arsene Wenger, despite his declaration that the Arsenal roster can compete with or without new signings next season, still needs to sign Suarez if he’s to stand any chance of affecting the Premier League title race, but Bale’s departure could bring an abrupt end to his pursuit of the Liverpool forward.
[cat_link cat=”Arsenal” type=”tower”]
The Reds are determined to hold all the cards round the negotiating table, with owner John W Henry playing hardball by declaring this morning that Suarez is unavailable to any club at any price. Brendan Rodgers has been more realistic in his discussions on the Uruguayan’s future, but still expects a huge return on the Anfield outfit’s original £20million investment to spend on new recruits, and compensate for the fact losing Suarez will end all hopes of the Reds claiming fourth spot next season.
Rodgers has never uttered an official valuation for his star striker, but alluded to his price-bracket by suggesting that Edinson Cavani’s £55million move to PSG from Napoli midway through July had now become the benchmark price for strikers this summer, along with Monaco’s £53million acquisition of Radamel Falcao. But the audit of Suarez’s worth is likely to increase as we get closer to deadline day, especially if Gareth Bale makes the switch to La Liga.
Daniel Levy has already turned down a record-breaking £86million offer for the Welsh winger, and if Los Blancos don’t want to wait until January or even next summer to get their man, they’ll have to make an improved bid within the next month. Quite rightly, the Liverpool management don’t want to miss out on unprecedented transfer revenues whilst one of their closest divisional rivals cashes in, especially considering Suarez was equally as influential as Gareth Bale in the Premier League last season.
And Rodgers has already remarked that the Welshman’s fee will affect his forward’s price tag: “Every player has a valuation but you have to look at the market. With Gareth Bale they are talking about £100m and Gareth Bale and Luis Suarez were arguably the two best players in the Premier League last season.You can’t say that Gareth Bale is valued at over 100 per cent more,” the Liverpool gaffer recently told reporters from Sky Sports News.
Granted, the Tottenham man has specifically unique qualities and a certain aestheticism about him that makes him so electrifying to watch and capable of pulling in the punters world wide. He is very much seen as the future of the beautiful game, in terms of his pristine athleticism at least, and at the age of just 24, has the world at his feet.
But Suarez too, can claim a unique style and equal pedigree. The Liverpool man out-scored and out-assisted Bale’s efforts last term, but his ability spans well beyond consistent end product. The Uruguay international is not only one of the best finishers in the English top flight, he’s also one of the best creators, generating 90 opportunites to score for his team mates last term according to OPTA, one of the best dribblers, averaging 2.9 successful dribbles per game, and by far the hardest working centre-forward off the ball.
There are few strikers in Europe who can claim to synergise the roles and abilities of a natural poacher and an attacking midfielder so well, and like Bale, Suarez is very much a world-class player – the only difference is the latter was putting in his individual and talismanic displays at a club that couldn’t even escape the Premier League’s bottom half until the turn of the year.
So it wouldn’t be that surprising if Liverpool demanded £60million, £65million or even £75million for Suarez, considering firstly the campaign he had last season, and secondly the impact his departure will have on the Merseyside club’s immediate future. And with Arsene Wenger yet to improve on his rather limp £40million plus a quid bid made earlier in the summer, it remains unlikely the Gunners gaffer will match Liverpool’s current valuation of £55million, let alone what it could rise to if Bale moves to Real Madrid and the Lilywhites cash-in big time. By the end of the summer, even Arsenal’s club record-breaking £40million and a pound bid could look horrendously out-dated.
But saying an unlikely situation occurs, where Gareth Bale decides he’s not ready for La Liga and Daniel Levy somehow manages to keep the Bernabeu wolves at bay, it doesn’t bode well for the Gunners. Spurs have been knocking at the Champions League door for the last four years in the Premier League, and now with Bale in full swing, as well as three additions to the starting XI this summer, it seems unlikely Arsenal will be able to stave off the Lilywhites’ threat for another season, especially without new recruits.
And plans to sign Suarez will have to be thrown completely out of the window. New Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is desperate to flex the Spanish giants’ financial muscle this summer, and if he can’t land Bale, he’ll almost certainly turn his attentions to Suarez – the only world class striker excluding Wayne Rooney readily available at this point in the summer, and Los Blancos are yet to source a replacement for former Arsenal target Gonzalo Higuain, who is now with Napoli.
The club make a point of sourcing the top performers of any given footballing year every summer, as part of the Galacticos programme that has seen Zinedine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka join the Bernebeu for monumental fees in recent years. Having already missed out on Neymar this summer to Barcelona, and with Bale staying put in North London, the Madrid outfit will be desperate to splash the cash on Suarez, to make a statement of their financial strength and institutional power rather than any particular footballing reason.
And as if the lure of playing at such a prestigious club wasn’t enough to end Arsenal’s chances of attracting Suarez to the Emirates, any offer Perez is willing to make for the Liverpool striker’s services will blow Arsene Wenger’s £40million to £50million valuations for 26 year old completely out of the water.
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So what is Wenger to do – w ith his hopes of signing Suarez depending almost entirely on another player at another club, but neither outcome looking particularly favourable from the Gunners’ point of view?
Well, there’s not a lot you can do in a lose-lose situation; perhaps he should have been more bold in his pursuit of Gonzalo Higuain, or more realistic about the prospect of signing a striker from a divisional rival for comparatively cheap whilst every other European forward is jumping ship for ground-breaking fees. He could wrap up the Suarez deal before Bale’s fate and more importantly his fee is decided, but that will take meeting Liverpool’s current valuation for Suarez, which at this point seems incredibly unlikely.
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Celtic midfielder Scott Robertson has returned to Parkhead following a season-ending injury on loan at Crewe Alexandra.
The Lowdown: Robertson’s loan spell
Robertson, who made the bench under Ange Postecoglou in Champions League and Europa League qualifiers over the summer, was sent to Crewe for the 2021/22 campaign.
The 20-year-old turned out in a variety of midfield roles for the League One side, making 23 appearances in all competitions.
He scored twice and provided one assist for the club but hasn’t been seen since February due to injury.
The Latest: Successful operation
Crewe shared an official update on Robertson on Thursday, revealing that the midfielder has returned to Glasgow to undergo rehabilitation.
They added that the youngster, labelled as ‘terrific’ by Crewe boss David Artell, has undergone successful surgery.
The Verdict: Injury problems just won’t end
The Hoops’ injury problems just haven’t stopped this season, and they have now spread to a loanee, whose season is now over.
Postecoglou already has concerns over Daizen Maeda and Tom Rogic during the current international break, whereas young forward Johnny Kenny was also stretchered off in recent days playing for Ireland’s U19 side.
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Kenny may now be joined by Robertson on the Lennoxtown treatment table, and hopefully, this will be the final injury problem for Postecoglou in his first season in charge.
In other news: ‘Worrying…’ – Sky Sports man claims ‘brilliant’ Celtic ace may now have suffered ‘bone damage’.