As reported by the Daily Mail, Crystal Palace are considering making a move for Senegal international Papa Alioune Ndiaye who is currently playing for Turkish side Osmanlispor.
What’s the word?
Crystal Palace haven’t picked up a single Premier League point since September and the upcoming January transfer window presents a chance for boss Alan Pardew to add some fresh blood to the squad and turn things around before the situation gets drastic.
One of the players he’s looking at is Ndiaye, an attacking midfielder taking the Turkish Super Lig by storm this season.
The Mail reckon that the Senegal man could be available for £6.8m in January, which in Premier League terms is small change.
Football Soccer – Osmanlispor v Villarreal – UEFA Europa League Group Stage – Group L – Osmanli Stadium, Ankara, Turkey – 20/10/2016. Villarreal’s Jonathan Dos Santos in action with Osmanlispor’s Badou Ndiaye. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
Worth it?
Ndiaye has spent the majority of his career in Norwegian football, starring for FK Bodo/Glimt in their rise to the Tippaligaen.
That won him a move to Osmanlispor, where he’s continued his fine form, contributing eleven goals last season and 5five league goals in ten appearances already this season, also adding a goal in the UEFA Europa League.
That sort of goalscoring record from midfield is the sign of a quality player and he could provide the cutting edge Palace need to start winning games.
Should Palace be focusing on attacking options, though? It’s their defence that badly needs work having conceded 17 times in their last five Premier League games. Only Hull City have conceded more in the league across the season.
In contrast, they’ve been scoring plenty. Only four teams have scored more than they have this season, which doesn’t fit with their lowly position of 17th in the table.
Arsenal really needed that win. From being talked about as one of the real title favourites a matter of weeks ago, results haven’t gone the Gunners’ way of late and ahead of kick-off vs. Crystal Palace they had actually fallen out of the Premier League’s top four.A Goal of the Season contender from Olivier Giroud – it really is worth a watch if you haven’t seen it – and a header from Alex Iwobi were enough to get a 2-0 win that Arsene Wenger would have been thrilled with before the game started.Palace were by no means the easiest of opponents for Arsenal in a hectic festive fixture list, but the home side dominated the encounter from start to finish, leaving the Eagles with lots more questions than answers as they prepare for a must-win game in a couple of days’ time against fellow relegation battlers Swansea.We will see many games in 2017 that will be more closely contested than this one, but we still took quite a lot from the bout in north London. Here are FIVE lessons from the match…
Giroud could be Arsenal winter wonder
Giroud’s season has been a frustrating one on a personal note. While the Gunners have been playing well, the Frenchman has been spending the bulk of his time on the bench, but he has been given game time over the Christmas period, to which he’s responded well. Indeed, he netted a vital winning goal against West Brom on Boxing Day and his acrobatic effort vs. Palace on New Year’s Day was truly special.
Arsenal’s form has stuttered of late, which is perhaps a result of teams learning how to set up against Alexis Sanchez as the main forward, so a different approach might be needed through January, which is traditionally a tricky time to get results. Giroud offers a different threat due to his physicality and is clearly full of confidence right now.
Sanchez out wide could offer Gunners new dimension
Building on from the last point, Sanchez gives Arsenal something a little different from out wide. Although the Chilean offers potency and energy up front, having him cut in from wide is extremely useful against defences that are ready to sit deep and frustrate the Gunners – as Palace tried to do.
Sanchez created two chances – one of which was the assist for Giroud’s goal – while also firing seven shots and making six take-ons.
Work to do for Allardyce
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Allardyce hasn’t had the easiest of starts since taking over from Alan Pardew at Crystal Palace. Indeed, the ex-England gaffer has barely got his feet under the table at the club following his appointment in the run up to Christmas, but he’s already had to play two games against Watford and Arsenal – not a simple start with both matches away from Selhurst Park.
However, with just one point to show for their efforts, the honeymoon period is now over before it ever truly began. The Eagles are just two points above the relegation zone and some of their defending at Arsenal (the Gunners’ second goal was a prime example) left much to be desired. ‘Big Sam’ is a specialist at the bottom end of the Premier League, but he really needs a result against Swansea in a couple of days’ time.
Alex I-wow-bi
Attacking players often get a lot of praise – after all, their efforts normally win games – but Alex Iwobi can rightly feel a little aggrieved that he doesn’t get the acclaim his performances are, perhaps, due.
Still just 20, the Nigerian winger has shone since breaking into the Gunners’ first-team set-up last term, and his return this season is equal to that of Anthony Martial at Manchester United – a player universally talked up in the mainstream media.
Benteke needs to offer more
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If Christian Benteke fires, Palace will move clear of the relegation zone. The big Belgian has the sort of quality few players at the bottom end of the Premier League possess, but his showing against Arsenal was rather limp. He may have won a whopping 15 aerial duels before being substituted in the second-half, but his impact was not quite enough, while his missed header just after the break was a key point in the game as it would have hauled the Eagles level.
Former Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele has joined the Swansea City coaching staff, but plenty of supporters would rather he was still playing.
The Welsh club have announced that the 43-year-old will work alongside recently-appointed manager Paul Clement at the Liberty Stadium as his assistant coach until the end of the season.
The pair are no strangers to one another, with Clement having coached Makelele during the Frenchman’s spell at Chelsea and the duo were part of Carlo Ancelotti’s backroom team at Paris Saint-Germain.
Makelele is a huge favourite among Chelsea fans after helping the team with two league titles, two League Cups and the FA Cup during his five-year stay at Stamford Bridge.
Since retiring from playing in 2010, he has had coaching stints as a number two, but only one very brief spell (five months to be specific) as a manager.
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Makelele tried to go it alone at French club Bastia, but he was unsuccessful and swiftly sacked by the board.
The ex-midfielder join Swansea at a very testing time, with the club sitting second from bottom in the top flight after picking up just 15 points from 20 games.
Due to dismal campaign so far, a lot of fans have reacted to Makelele’s appointment by asking the Frenchman to play in defence.
As reported by The Daily Mail, Everton are interested in bringing Chelsea’s experienced defender Branislav Ivanovic to Goodison Park this month.
What’s the story?
Everton are having a very active transfer window with two arrivals, Ademola Lookman and Morgan Schneiderlin, already settling in to life on Merseyside.
The Mail report that another man joining them could be Serbian defender Ivanovic, who is said to be free to leave Chelsea this January.
The paper reckon his signature would be as a direct replacement for Phil Jagielka who is set to leave the club before the transfer window closes, after 10 years of service to the Toffees.
The right replacement?
Although Branislav Ivanovic is undoubtedly a talented defender and has had a fantastic career, we’d question the logic of replacing a 34-year old defender with a 32-year old one. Short term signings rarely benefit anyone and Ronald Koeman should be seeking a long-term replacement for Jagielka that can grow into becoming an important Everton player.
Further to that, Ivanovic is primarily a right sided defender and excels on that right flank, even though he can feature in the heart of a defence. All six of Ivanovic’s Premier League starts for the Blues this season have come at right-back.
A move for Ivanovic isn’t necessarily a bad thing, he is an experienced and decorated player after all, but as a replacement for Jagielka, we’re not so sure.
Patrick van Aanholt finally completed his move to Crystal Palace from Sunderland on Monday to reunite with former boss Sam Allardyce.
The left-back had made 88 appearances for the Black Cats before his move and will now go up against his former club in a massive relegation battle over the next few months.
Van Aanholt has been one of Sunderland’s top performers over the last few seasons and losing him is a big blow to David Moyes, who is now searching for emergency replacements on the left hand side of his defence.
As this stat from Squawka shows, it’s move that could make a massive difference in that relegation battle between the two clubs.
Van Aanholt isn’t just solid at the back, he’s also a key threat in the final third, scoring more goals than any other defender over the last 18 months in the Premier League.
It’s that kind of contribution that Sam Allardyce was so keen to reunite with and Eagles fans will be hoping he can replicate the kind of performances that made him popular at the Stadium of Light.
Spurs’ season is at a crucial point. The Lilywhites are one of a few sides on the periphery of the title chase, with the hope at White Hart Lane being that Chelsea will drop points soon and open up the chance for the chasing pack.
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Given their form over the winter period, Mauricio Pochettino’s men are among the favourites to challenge the Blues, but they also have the Europa League and the FA Cup, which they progressed to the last eight in on the weekend with a win at Fulham, to compete for.
‘Poch’ picked strong starting XIs in both of these competitions over the past few days, which has led some to suggest that his squad may be stretched too far for the upcoming Premier League clash with Stoke, but Kieran Trippier showed at Craven Cottage that he’s more than able to step in for Kyle Walker vs. the Potters…
The right-back was at his bombarding best against the Cottagers, whipping eight crosses into the Fulham box (Spurs’ joint-most), while his eight tackles were the most any player on the pitch put in across the 90 minutes. On top of that, Trippier was heavily involved in the play with 98 touches and played four key passes.
Arsenal return to Premier League action for the first time in three weeks on Saturday and it just happens to be one of their most important matches of the season. The Gunners travel to Anfield to face Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in a game that could go a long way to deciding who is and isn’t in the top four at the end of the season.
Arsene Wenger’s consistency in ensuring Arsenal finish in the UEFA Champions League qualifying positions has been a point of pride in his reign at the Emirates but the challenge to do that has never been greater.
Manchester United are breathing down their necks, as are Liverpool directly behind them, and a defeat could be a critical blow to their top four hopes.
As massive 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich is still causing reverberations throughout the Arsenal support and despite progressing in the FA Cup against Sutton United, the pressure remains on the team to put in a big performance at Anfield.
This is Arsenal’s how-to-guide to defeating Liverpool…
The key man: Alexis Sanchez
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Even in the pressure cooker of the Allianz Arena 1-0 down to Bayern Munich, Alexis Sanchez managed to step up and provide what was at the time a vital contribution to the Gunners cause. We all know what happened after that, but it underlines that Sanchez is the elite player in the Arsenal squad. They need him.
The Chilean striker has six goals and four assists in his last ten Arsenal appearances and that’s arguably him not at the peak of his powers.
Two goals last time out against Hull City provided victory and likewise on Saturday, if they’re to get a result Sanchez will likely be at the very heart of it.
The question for Wenger is whether to deploy him through the middle or bring in Danny Welbeck or Olivier Giroud to play through the middle and unleash Sanchez on the left hand side. There are arguments for both and while Sanchez is at his best in central areas, he can probably exploit Liverpool’s tendency to get full-backs forward if out wide.
What’s certain is that Arsenal need to build the game around the former Barcelona man. He’s the key to victory.
The big threat: Philippe Coutinho
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After an eleven game streak without a goal, Philippe Coutinho finally got back on the scoresheet against Leicester City on Monday night and while it was ultimately a consolation, it could be a sign that the explosive Brazilian is getting back to where Liverpool need him to be.
With the focus likely to be on Sadio Mane, it could leave space and time for Coutinho to exploit the Arsenal backline. Arsene Wenger can’t be complacent when it comes to this danger man despite the undoubted threat of Mane.
Don’t forget it was Coutinho who put in a man of the match performance against the Gunners on the opening day of the season, scoring twice as the Reds sunk Wenger’s men 4-3 at the Emirates.
The attacking midfielder was in absolutely lightning form before his injury and hasn’t quite hit those heights since. However, Saturday’s game at Anfield is the perfect time to re-announce himself as Liverpool’s top dog. It could be his day.
Liverpool’s weakness: That ropey, makeshift defence
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When all is said and done at the end of the season Liverpool fans will look back on the campaign and rue the performance of their defence. It’s an area that needs massive investment in the summer and a tactical rethink from Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool have scored as many goals as any other side in the Premier League, including Chelsea, but have conceded more goals than any other side in the top eight positions. Fixing their defensive problems could be the difference between also-rans and title challengers.
The fact remains though that those defensive problems most certainly aren’t fixed and are unlikely to be until the summer and that’s something Arsenal can exploit.
Against Leicester the defence had a natural midfielder at the centre of defence and a natural midfielder at left-back. That could well be the case on Saturday too. If Wenger can effectively get the likes of Theo Walcott running in between Lucas Leiva and James Milner it could be bad times for the home side.
Chelsea are facing a major battle to keep Diego Costa at the club this summer as Chinese clubs will return for his services this summer, The Sun reports.
What’s the word?
Free-spending Chinese clubs caused a lot of headlines during the past few months with their abundance of new signings but Chelsea managed to remain with Diego Costa in their ranks despite advances from Asian clubs.
However, the Blues face another battle to keep the Spaniard at Stamford Bridge in the summer as Chinese clubs will revive their interest, The Sun says, with a whopping £38m-a-year offered to the former Atletico Madrid forward.
Chelsea want to pin him down to a new contract but Costa’s head has been turned by the offers available to him in China and he may move on, following a clash with Antonio Conte in January that threatened to cut-short his stint in West London.
Should Chelsea sell?
Whilst Diego Costa remains a crucial player at Stamford Bridge, the money they would get for his services for China would be sensational- and that could in-turn be used to strengthen the squad further, leaving plenty to play with when searching for a replacement.
Celtic’s Moussa Dembele, Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata and Swansea City’s Fernando Llorente have all been reported as targets for the Blues in recent months and they could make a move happen this summer- particularly if they have money to spend following a sale of Costa.
With interested Chinese outfit Tianjin Quanjia revealing they have an unlimited budget for the summer transfer window, an offer may be too good to turn down.
According to reports on Clubcall, West Ham United are one of the clubs who are said to be keeping close tabs on Hamburg striker Bobby Wood, although reports from Bild (in German), via ESPNFC, claim that the German outfit’s sporting director has said there has been no offers for the player.
What’s the story, then?
Football Soccer – Hamburg SV v 1.FC Cologne – German Cup (DFB Pokal) – Volkspark Stadium, Germany – 7/2/17 – Hamburg SV’s Shou Bobby Wood svcores a goal against FC Cologne. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer DFB RULES PROHIBIT USE IN MMS SERVICES VIA HANDHELD DEVICES UNTIL TWO HOURS AFTER A MATCH AND ANY USAGE ON INTERNET OR ONLINE MEDIA SIMULATING VIDEO FOOTAGE DURING THE MATCH.
Well, with West Ham almost openly looking to sign a striker this summer, they seem to be mentioned whenever one is linked with a move away from a club, and it appears to be a similar story in this instance.
The Hamburg attacker is said to have been gaining admiring glances from Premier League clubs – which was further enhanced when he scored the winner in his side’s 2-1 win against Borussia Monchengladbach at the weekend in front of a number of scouts.
Needing more goals next season after a disappointing campaign, the link with the Irons has soon followed, but their sporting director Jens Todt told Bild, via ESPNFC, that there isn’t any interest from England, yet.
What did Todt say then?
He said: “There are currently no enquiries or offers for him.
“His move to Hamburg was good for us, but it was also the perfect step for Bobby.
“I can imagine that he appreciates how things are going for him right now.”
Would he solve West Ham’s striker issue?
Possibly, but it would be a risk.
The USA international has scored an impressive nine goals in 23 appearances in all competitions for the Bundesliga side this season, but it’s always hard to tell how a player will adapt to the Premier League – just look at Simone Zaza.
How much would he cost?
It’s hard to put a price tag on the striker’s shoulders, but aside from perhaps Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund, most players from the Bundesliga appear to be available at a reasonable price.
That could mean Wood is a more affordable option than some of West Ham’s other targets.
Alexis Sanchez wants to stay in London with a “winning” club and while many joined the dots to align the Arsenal attacker with Chelsea (who are reportedly keen on him) nobody stopped to consider Crystal Palace, did they?
Well, it seems someone has, with 24 Horas in Sanchez’s homeland naming the Eagles as a potential capital club for him. As part of a video on the saga, they went through a list of London-based teams (including SPURS) in relation to the talk of a move being on the agenda, with Selhurst Park mentioned as a destination.
We’re sure they weren’t being entirely serious, but some Palace fans have seized upon a tweet from Matias Grez (@matias_grez) drawing attention to this baffling bit of news.
Naturally, the responses flooded in and they were so hilarious we thought we’d share the very best ones with you.
Would Sanchez get in ahead of Wilfried Zaha? Who knows, but what we do know is the Eagles have been in a cup final more recently than both Arsenal and Chelsea…