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Crystal Palace are looking to hijack Fulham’s deal for Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Brazilian publication FogaoNET, who claim that Palace have made contact with United over a potential deal.

Fulham had agreed a deal of £9m with the Red Devils, but this late attempt from Patrick Vieira has given the player a decision to make.

Pereira will decide his future within the next few days, and also has Lyon as a potential suitor.

Vieira would love him

The Brazilian’s career at Old Trafford has certainly been tumultuous, however, he picked a good year to leave on loan as United slumped to their worst ever Premier League season.

Having initially been touted as an attacking midfielder upon first bursting onto the scene, this season has seen him develop into more of a deep-lying playmaker. He could be the perfect player that Vieira needs to balance his fresh midfield.

With Cheick Doucoure all but announced, and a number of other midfielders linked, Pereira could be the glue to tie them all together.

This season for Flamengo, the £6.75m-rated maestro averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.93 in the league; a solid return for a holding midfielder.

Also offering three goal contributions in just 13 appearances, his time as an attacking midfielder means he has a touch of class that differentiates him from other defensive midfielders.

It is this class that has led his manager for the season, Renato Gaucho, to be full of praise for him: “He is versatile, he is a player I talked to even before joining Flamengo.

“He is a player who knows how to defend, knows how to attack too, he has the quality for that. That’s what I said, he is a player who is above average. Without a doubt, it was a great signing for Flamengo.”

Pereira had struggled to make his mark at Old Trafford, but perhaps being a slightly larger fish in a smaller pond, and this slight positional tweak, could unlock a remarkable player.

Already labelled a great signing for Flamengo, perhaps he could be the same for Vieira and link together his new acquisitions.

AND, in other news: “I see…”: Fabrizio Romano drops big Man Utd transfer claim, supporters will buzzing.

West Ham United are reportedly eyeing another lower-league diamond amid interest in Fleetwood Town winger Paddy Lane.

What’s the word?

According to The Mirror (June 27, pg. 51, via West Ham Zone), the Hammers are said to have ‘sent scouts’ to watch the 21-year-old play for the League One club last season, albeit with both Hearts and Cardiff City also said to be interested.

The report suggests that the youngster – who is already a full Northern Ireland international – is valued at around £1m, having enjoyed a breakthrough campaign for his current side last term.

The Halifax-born gem scored five goals and provided eight assists in 39 league games for Fleetwood in the 2021/22 campaign, having only made his senior debut for the club last September.

The next Bowen?

Having risen through the ranks at non-league Hyde United before being plucked by Fleetwood last summer, the emerging prospect could well follow a similar career trajectory to current Irons star Jarrod Bowen.

The 25-year-old also started his career lower down the footballing pyramid at Hereford United before flourishing in the second tier at Hull City, eventually netting 54 goals and providing 14 assists in 131 games for the Tigers in all competitions.

That form sparked the attention of David Moyes and co, who forked out a relatively sizeable £20m to prise him from the Championship in January 2020. That deal has since proven to be a masterstroke, as the fleet-footed forward has gone on to become an integral figure at the London Stadium.

Now reportedly worth somewhere in the region of £75m, amid interest from fellow Premier League side Liverpool, the £80k-per-week forward has netted 26 goals and registered 21 assists in 102 games across all fronts for West Ham so far, notably chipping in with 12 goals and ten assists in the top flight alone last term.

That form has not only attracted interest from the Premier League’s elite; it has also seen him earn a long-overdue international call-up for England’s recent UEFA Nations League games, with the £37.8m-rated star having an outside bet of earning a place in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad in the winter.

As Bowen continues to rise, the fears of losing him will no doubt increase. However, the Irons could well find his heir apparent in Lane, with the fellow left-footer – who has been dubbed “terrific” by David Dunn – seemingly possessing the talent to follow in the 25-year-old’s footsteps.

Who knows, should GSB manage to secure what would be a bargain deal this summer, they could have another £75m-valued talent on their hands in a few years’ time.

AND in other news, Moyes plotting move for “special” £45m “baller”, he’d be a “superstar” for West Ham

Wolves are yet to make a signing so far this summer and supporters will not be pleased with the latest news regarding reported target Enzo Fernandez.

What’s the word?

Wolves had been heavily linked with a move for the River Plate midfielder, with the youngster touted as a potential replacement for either Joao Moutinho or Ruben Neves, both of whom could still leave Molineux this summer.

However, the Argentine would eventually sign for Benfica in a deal worth just £8.6m, with a potential £6.9m in add-ons, so he could have been a very cheap option for the Old Gold this summer.

In a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT, talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook discussed Wolves’ interest in Fernandez, saying:

“I did a story last week about this sort of wasted chase for Enzo Fernández.

“They [Wolves] sent their chief scout Matthew Hobbs on a 14,000-mile round trip to try and get him to sign, having got an agreement.

“They then pulled the plug and decided not to trigger his £17m release clause, which suggests to me that coffers are running dry.”

Supporters will be fuming

Considering the lack of action at Wolves so far this summer, supporters will surely not be impressed to hear that they had an agreement for such an exciting young player, only to pull out at the last minute.

Fernandez enjoyed a superb 2022, contributing ten goals and seven assists in all competitions for River Plate, despite predominantly featuring as a defensive midfielder.

The 21-year-old was described as “one of the most talented players in Argentina” by Fabrizio Romano and he could have represented a bargain option for Bruno Lage this summer, so it is baffling why Wolves decided not to pay his release clause.

Moutinho’s contract has now officially expired, while Neves could still be on the move, and if Wolves don’t act quickly then they could be incredibly short of midfield options.

Thus, not signing Fernandez could prove to be a big mistake by the Old Gold.

And, in other news… Lage could unearth the next £75m talent as Wolves plot bid for “special” £20m target

Manchester United are interested in a move for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Leandro Paredes.

The Lowdown: Paredes profiled

The 28-year-old is primarily a defensive midfielder but can play in central or attacking roles and has been with PSG since 2019.

The 44-cap Argentina international has made 113 appearances for the French champions, winning an impressive eight trophies at the Parc des Princes.

Described as a player with ‘perfect’ tempo by former PSG midfielder Fabrice Pancrate, Paredes is valued at £15.3m by Transfermarkt, and it looks as if he is on United’s radar as they seek midfield reinforcements.

The Latest: United interested in Paredes

According to Sky Sports journalist Angelo Mangiante, United are ‘interested’ in a move for Paredes, with talks ongoing between the parties involved.

Recent reports elsewhere have claimed that the Red Devils have made an enquiry for the midfielder, although a £30m asking price has made a move complicated.

The Verdict: Good option?

If United can lower that reported £30m asking price, a move for Paredes could be a shrewd one.

He has plenty of experience at the highest level in four different countries and has played Champions League football over the past four seasons alongside some of the best players in the world.

Erik ten Hag has limited defensive and central midfield options ahead of the new season at this moment in time, so Paredes would bolster both areas and could be a smart squad depth signing if the price is right alongside a potential marquee addition in Frenkie de Jong.

According to Football.London, there is ‘no truth’ in Tottenham Hotspur pursuing a move for Sevilla defender Jules Kounde despite recent links.

The Lowdown: Contrasting claims

Premier League side Chelsea, alongside Paris Saint-Germain are believed to be considering a deal for the 23-year-old, with the Lilywhites supposedly having joined them in the race for his signature.

The Mirror then claimed on Wednesday that Antonio Conte’s side were in pole position to secure the centre-back’s services having ‘jumped towards the front of the queue’ over their competitors, but contrary to those reports, that doesn’t appear to have been the case at all.

The Latest: Latest transfer news

Football.London are now claiming that there is ‘no truth’ in the rumours linking Kounde with a switch to Tottenham, suggesting that any potential deal would have ‘raised the question’ of where he would fit in.

The source states that whilst the Frenchman would be a ‘good option’ for the Italian boss, it’s ‘likely’ that he only would have found himself as ‘second choice’, given the recent form of Cristian Romero.

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The Verdict: Not worth the fee

Whilst Kounde is a highly-rated player, it’s believed that he has a £76m release clause in his contract at Sevilla, and for someone who potentially wouldn’t be a regular starter every week, it’s definitely not worth splashing the cash.

Conte still has the likes Davinson Sanchez and Japhet Tanganga as backups in that right-sided centre-back position, despite the latter being linked with a summer exit, so has plenty of squad depth to fall back on if anything were to happen to Romero.

Even if the boss does want to bolster his ranks further, there are bound to be some other suitable transfer targets out there who would be cheaper, and it could prove wise to go down the route of the loan or free agent market, just as he did with Clement Lenglet and Ivan Perisic.

Leeds United are set to appoint former Borussia Dortmund assistant Rene Maric as Jesse Marsch’s new number two, according to reliable journalist Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Marsch settling in well

Marsch replaced Marcelo Bielsa as Whites manager during last season, eventually steering his team away from the Premier League relegation zone in the final weeks of the campaign.

The American is now enjoying his first full pre-season as Leeds manager, working with his players on the training ground and also making several new signings.

It now looks as though an important backroom addition is also close to materialising.

The Latest: Maric appointment ‘close’

Taking to Twitter on Friday, Hay confirmed that Maric is on the verge of moving to Elland Road and becoming Marsch’s new assistant, having been dismissed by Dortmund back in May.

The Athletic journalist tweeted:

“Leeds United close to appointing former Borussia Dortmund assistant Rene Maric as Jesse Marsch’s new number two. Talks were held with Chris Armas but Maric is in line to join the coaching staff.”

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The Verdict: Exciting appointment

This feels like an exciting and fresh appointment by Leeds, with Maric just 29 years of age and only just getting started in his coaching career.

He already has plenty of experience, though, working as assistant manager at Red Bull Salzburg before Marsch arrived and also enjoying a spell at Borussia Monchengladbach, with more than 200 matches in the dugout to his name despite not turning 30 until September.

It is vital that the right individuals come in to complete Marsch’s backroom setup and the boss will likely be delighted if Leeds get Maric, having seemingly handpicked him over Chris Armas in the end.

West Ham United transfer target Georginio Wijnaldum has been deemed surplus to requirements by Paris Saint-Germain and will look to leave the Ligue 1 club. 

What’s the word?

That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, who wrote on Twitter: “Paris Saint-Germain and Gini Wijnaldum have decided to part ways this summer, confirmed. Work in progress to find new club as soon as possible, PSG are prepared to loan him out in the next days or weeks.

“AS Roma, really interested – but no official bid yet.”

Both Everton and West Ham had registered an interest in the Netherlands international towards the end of June.

Supporters will be buzzing

David Moyes has been a busy man in the transfer market already this summer, although this could be his biggest addition yet if it comes off.

Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek have formed one of the better Premier League midfield pairings in the last couple of years, but adding this slightly different dynamic could be the difference between another Europa Conference League finish or a push for the top four.

Wijnaldum is already considered a cult hero for his Champions League heroics with Liverpool, so he already has the necessary pedigree for that level.

He has struggled to truly establish a place in a stacked PSG line-up, although he still managed a respectable 38 appearances under Mauricio Pochettino, although it was his stint with Liverpool which should excite West Ham fans the most.

Jurgen Klopp was emotional when talking about the 31-year-old’s exit from Anfield last year, stating: “I will miss the player he is like crazy, highest-quality ability, one of the smartest players I have ever had the privilege to coach. His contribution was off the scale, a manager’s dream.”

He featured in all 38 of the Reds’ league matches in 2020/21 and made 37 appearances in the campaign prior as he helped his team to win their first league title since 1990.

Although his goals and assists count are seldom exceptional, what he offers to a team is incredible work rate and intelligence, combined with the ability to push forward and finish neatly from close range.

Last season he ranked in the 96th percentile for non-penalty expected goals among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, suggesting that he is getting into areas of promise. His 90.4% pass completion rate also outlines him as something of a metronome when he features, and he could become integral to Moyes’ side if he moves to east London.

West Ham supporters should be buzzing at the prospect of attaining this exceptional footballer with such experience at the highest level, who would push the fine midfielders already at the club to strive to be even better.

AND in other news – Bid submitted: Gold in West Ham talks for “extraordinary” signing, Moyes will love him

Liverpool reportedly have no intention of selling legendary forward Roberto Firmino this summer due to Jurgen Klopp’s affection for the player.

The Lowdown: Firmino linked with Juve move

In the last few days, the Brazilian has been linked with a summer exit from Anfield, with Serie A giants Juventus emerging as potential suitors.

Firmino’s current Liverpool deal expires at the end of this season, at which point he will be able to move elsewhere on a free transfer, should no new contract have been agreed.

Thankfully, it doesn’t look as though the 30-year-old will be departing in the coming weeks, with the Brazilian press leaking news from the dressing room.

The Latest: Brazilian not going anywhere

According to the reliable Goal Brasil [via Sport Witness], Juve are still ‘monitoring’ Firmino this summer but he has Klopp’s ‘approval in the dressing room’ and won’t be going anywhere.

It is stated that a ‘giant offer’ could turn Liverpool’s head, but that seems unlikely.

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The Verdict: Keep him for years

This is a positive update from a Reds perspective, with Firmino an undoubted Anfield legend, having registered 172 goal involvements (98 goals and 74 assists) in 327 appearances for the club, not to mention winning countless trophies along the way.

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He has looked fresh in pre-season and may begin the new campaign in Klopp’s starting XI as Darwin Nunez adjusts to life at his new club, and he has years left in him at a high level.

For that reason, Firmino will hopefully extend his stay at Liverpool in the near future, continuing to cement his legendary status, even if he is more of a squad player moving forward. He has been hailed as ‘incredibly smart’ by Klopp, which speaks volumes about his brilliance and importance to the system.

Celtic got their latest SPFL campaign off to a strong start as the Bhoys took the first step towards regaining the title by securing a 2-0 win over Aberdeen.

Their next league outing sees Ange Postecoglou’s side travel to Dingwall to take on Ross County for their first away class of the season.

On the chalkboard

In terms of what the starting XI could look like for Saturday’s clash, one figure in the squad that didn’t start on the opening day of the season that we feel should be unleashed on this occasion is David Turnbull.

With 66 minutes on the clock last weekend, the midfielder came on for his first appearance of the season by replacing Reo Hatate.

After just nine minutes of action, Turnbull provided the assist for Jota’s stunning goal that doubled the home side’s lead and secured the three points for Celtic.

In addition to that, the 23-year-old totalled three key passes in total and ultimately earned himself an overall match rating of 7/10 from SofaScore, making him the highest-rated player that made an appearance off the substitutes bench.

The Scottish Daily Express picked up on his impressive cameo performance by saying that the midfielder delivered “a few sublime passes and could have added to the scoreline.”

Having been praised for his “phenomenal” performances for the Hoops in the past by former Scotland defender Alan Hutton, Turnbull has proved how significant he can be in front of goal from the middle of the pitch as he has racked up 19 goals and 17 assists in 78 appearances for the Parkhead club.

This sort of attacking prowess would surely be enough to put a lot of fear into County and their defenders, especially since they faced more shots at their goal (621) than any other side in the division last season.

In terms of who could come out of the starting XI to make way for Turnbull on Saturday, the fact that Hatate picked up some hefty knocks during the game against Aberdeen that ultimately led to him getting subbed off could make it a fairly straightforward decision for Postecoglou to make providing he is unfit to take part.

Should the Hoops boss decide to give the Scotsman his first league start of the season, this would surely give the away side a great chance of securing a win and adding more goals to their tally for the campaign.

West Bromwich Albion are plotting a move to sign Brighton defender Matt Clarke this summer, according to StokeOnTrentLive.

The Lowdown: Familiar territory

The 25-year-old has now entered the final 12 months of his contract at the Amex, and after failing to make a breakthrough into Graham Potter’s first team since his arrival, has now been linked with a Seagulls exit.

The centre-back has spent the last three seasons out on loan in the Championship with both Derby County and the Baggies, and it sounds as if Steve Bruce is keen to try and bring him back to the Hawthorns in the weeks ahead.

The Latest: West Brom eyeing Clarke

StokeOnTrentLive are reporting that two second-tier clubs have been put ‘on alert about the availability’ of Clarke, with West Brom, alongside Stoke City, both name-checked.

The source states that Bruce has ‘refused to rule out’ a move for the 6 foot 1 ace despite already being ‘well-stocked’ with central defenders, though there are ‘other interested parties’.

It’s expected that the Brighton man will be ‘available’ for a ‘loan or permanent’ switch this window after falling out of favour on the south coast.

The Verdict: No brainer

The Baggies do have plenty of centre-backs in the building with the likes of Semi Ajayi and Dara O’Shea, but after Clarke’s displays on loan, Bruce surely couldn’t turn down the chance to re-sign him if the opportunity is there.

During his spell in the Midlands, the Seagulls star, dubbed an ‘exceptional’ player by Sky Sports pundit Keith Andrews, averaged 3.1 clearances each league game and won 3.9 aerial duels per match, via WhoScored.

Whether the position is a priority or not, this is exactly the profile of player that the 61-year-old needs in his backline and so should aim to fend off his competitor and get this deal wrapped up as quickly as possible.