Crystal Palace have been in contact to sign a “fantastic” Premier League striker, with his club now willing to cash-in for the right fee this month.

Palace stepping up pursuit of new striker amid interest in Mateta

Jean-Philippe Mateta didn’t exactly put himself in the shop window with his performance against Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon, receiving a SofaScore match rating of 5.8, after winning just two of the nine duels he contested in the disappointing 2-0 defeat.

However, as the Frenchman’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and fresh terms are yet to be agreed, interest from some rival Premier League clubs is now starting to grow.

With that in mind, Palace have now set out to bring in a potential replacement, and it was recently revealed that Strasbourg star Joaquin Panichelli has been identified as their top target.

However, another option has also entered the frame, according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states the Eagles have been in contact over a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers star Jorgen Strand Larsen, but they are not alone in their pursuit.

Indeed, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham are also in the race for the striker, with his current employers willing to cash-in for £40m this month, given that they are almost certain to be relegated from the Premier League.

With Wolves keen to protect the Norwegian’s value, they are now open to a sale, but the Eagles should have some reservations about pursuing a move for the former Celta Vigo man…

Strand Larsen would be risky signing for Palace

Crystal Palace have already broken their transfer record once this month, shelling out £35m to sign Brennan Johnson from Tottenham Hotspur, and they may need to do so again if they are to win the race for the Wolves centre-forward.

Related Same agent as Johnson: Crystal Palace join race to sign "outstanding" colossus

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However, the Halden-born striker’s performances this season leave a lot to be desired, having been relegated to the bench for the past three Premier League matches, as a result of scoring just one goal this term.

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There are some indications the Norway international could be a success at Selhurst Park, given that he scored 14 top-flight goals last season, during which time the Wolves ace was lauded as “fantastic” by former manager Vitor Pereira.

The Eagles’ main priority, however, should be to keep hold of Mateta, as despite struggling against Newcastle last time out, the 28-year-old has been reliable in front of goal this season, netting eight goals in 20 Premier League outings.

Arsenal delivered a devastating statement of intent in the Premier League title race with a commanding 4-1 demolition of third-placed Aston Villa to stretch their advantage at the top to five points heading into 2026.

Manager Mikel Arteta described the emphatic victory as a “beautiful evening” after his side exacted revenge for their stoppage-time defeat at Villa Park 24 days earlier.

Goals from Gabriel Magalhaes, Martin Zubimendi, Leandro Trossard and a first from Gabriel Jesus since New Year’s Day had the Gunners four goals to the good at one point of the rout before Ollie Watkins bagged a consolation on his birthday.

Arsenal have now scored 22 set-piece goals, excluding penalties, in consecutive years, becoming only the second team to achieve this feat after AFC Wimbledon between 1993 and 1996.

Gabriel’s 19th Premier League goal also represents the most scored by any defender since his September 2020 debut in the competition.

Villa now sit six points adrift of the leaders with their title challenge potentially extinguished by the scale of this defeat.

Manager Unai Emery had played down championship talk in his pre-match comments, insisting such discussions did “not make sense” for his team, and this chastening experience vindicated his caution.

Second-placed Man City can reduce the gap to two points when they visit Sunderland on New Year’s Day, though Pep Guardiola’s side find themselves under mounting pressure following Arsenal’s most convincing performance in several weeks.

Related Jamie Carragher urges Mikel Arteta to drop Arsenal star after Aston Villa rout

The Sky pundit has made his feelings clear.

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The Gunners now travel to Bournemouth on Saturday seeking to maintain momentum in what promises to be a grueling title race over the campaign’s second half.

Off the field, sporting director Andrea Berta is working on ways to strengthen Arteta’s squad in any way possible, whether that be in January or next summer.

Arteta has confirmed that Arsenal could be active next month, and a report from CaughtOffside has claimed that Real Madrid sensation Arda Güler is on their radar.

Arsenal view Arda Güler as "Odegaard-style" signing on loan-to-buy

The Turkey international, according to their information, is viewed by Arsenal as a potential “Odegaard-style” project signing via a loan-to-buy deal, even if Xabi Alonso is very reluctant to let him leave.

Right now, Berta and Arsenal are admirers of Guler as they continue montioring his development at the Bernabeu.

The talented playmaker has transformed into a regular starter under Alonso following the Spaniard’s appointment as Real boss last summer.

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Guler has established himself as a genuine mainstay in Los Blancos’ midfield after limited action last term, contributing three goals and seven assists across 25 appearances in all competitions.

The transformation represents vindication for Real’s decision to snub reported loan approaches from multiple clubs, including Bayer Leverkusen, Real Sociedad and AC Milan, over recent windows.

Alonso’s determination to retain Guler could prove decisive in any potential negotiations.

The manager has deployed him primarily as a left-sided attacking midfielder, mirroring the role Florian Wirtz occupied during Alonso’s successful spell at Leverkusen, and Real’s boss has even compared him to the Liverpool star.

Related Arsenal could sign £71m Semenyo alternative who's "like a younger Saka"

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West Ham United host Wolverhampton Wanderers this afternoon with both sides in the hunt for European football come the end of the season.

The Hammers are in sixth but can be leapfrogged by Wolves who are just two points behind in eighth.

It’s a game of major importance for both sides, with the hosts particularly shaky of late. But who will David Moyes entrust from the off?

Here is how Football FanCast thinks West Ham will line up.

In goal there are no changes as number one stopper Fabianski keeps his place but there is a change at the back.

At right-back in comes 22-year-old Ben Johnson for his first Premier League start since New Year’s Day.

The Englishman played the second half in last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Newcastle United after Ryan Fredericks had picked up a yellow card and had a genuine possibility of being sent off. However, the youngster’s appearance against the Magpies was his first in the league since the trip to Crystal Palace on 1 January.

With first-choice right-back Vladimir Coufal set to be on the sidelines after groin surgery, Johnson, who was labelled as “fabulous” by his manager in October, will be keen to return to the side on a regular basis, having started eight consecutive league games between October and December.

The defensive midfield duo of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek is a given whilst Pablo Fornals and the red-hot Jarrod Bowen start on the flanks, either side of Manuel Lanzini, who replaces Said Benrahma.

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This week, Moyes confirmed that Lanzini was back in training this week and is in contention to start, having missed the Newcastle match.

Up front is, of course, Michail Antonio, who is the Hammers’ only senior striker. The Jamaica international will be looking to break his recent duck, having not scored since the trip to Palace almost two months ago.

In other news: £1m per appearance: £42k-per-week West Ham dud has been rinsing Moyes for 110 weeks

Reliable journalist Mike McGrath has claimed that Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch is in line for two major injury boosts, with news on the ‘horizon’.  

The Lowdown: Bamford and Phillips’ absence

Patrick Bamford and Kalvin Phillips were two of Leeds’ best performers in the club’s first season back in the Premier League, with the former scoring 17 times and the latter making himself an England regular.

However, this season, the pair haven’t been able to impress, with Bamford making just five starts and Phillips missing since December along with captain Liam Cooper.

As a result, Leeds have struggled in 2021/22 and find themselves just two points clear of the relegation zone with 12 games remaining.

The Latest: McGrath’s comments

McGrath shared a Leeds column on The Telegraph on Monday morning and touched on the club’s injury situation.

He stated that Marsch could ‘have players returning from injury on the horizon’, name-checking both Bamford and Phillips.

The Verdict: Big news

Whatever ‘on the horizon’ means specifically, you’d expect that this weekend may come too soon for both Phillips and Bamford, but Phil Hay has recently revealed they aren’t far off.

So, with back-to-back home games against Aston Villa and Norwich City following the trip to Leicester City, it would be big for Marsch to have the pair back in any capacity when those matches roll around.

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Those Elland Road fixtures could go a long way in regards to Leeds ensuring their Premier League safety, so having two influential players possibly back is brilliant news.

In other news: ‘The 49ers want…’ – Report drops huge claim as Leeds exodus now set to continue after Bielsa. 

Everton are expected to make wholesale changes to their starting line-up tonight, as they take on National League side Boreham Wood in the fifth round of the FA Cup, giving boss Frank Lampard the opportunity to take a closer look at some of his new signings and fringe players.

Lampard said in his pre-match press conference: “I don’t want to sound as if I’m approaching this game like it’s a friendly of any sorts or an opportunity to give them minutes, because it’s not. We have to approach it well and to try and win.”

He also confirmed that youngsters Isaac Price and Reece Welch are in the matchday squad, as well as exciting striker Lewis Dobbin – though there was no indication whether or not they would be playing from the start, or take part at all.

With that said, here is our predicted line-up for the match tonight…

In goal, we expect 34-year-old Asmir Begovic to step in and allow Jordan Pickford a day-off, while in defence, Lampard has already confirmed Ukrainian Vitaliy Mykolenko will start, explaining:

“It is a football decision, regardless of the situation outside. We will have to see about the gesture of offering him the captaincy.”

Nathan Patterson is expected to make his debut for the club at right-back following his £16m move from Rangers in January, with youngster Jarrad Branthwaite and 25-year-old Mason Holgate completing the defence, with Jonjoe Kenny, Michael Keane and Seamus Coleman dropping out.

In midfield, Andre Gomes will likely replace Allan, while Dele Alli could make his first start in place of Donny van de Beek, with Abdoulaye Doucoure retaining his place in the starting XI from Saturday.

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Up front, we think Dobbin will get the nod ahead of Salomon Rondon in what will a debut start with Richarlison dropping out, while Alex Iwobi and Anthony Gordon will be replaced by Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend.

In other news: Sold for £2m, now worth 305% more: Everton had a howler on £16k-p/w “hell of a player”

Being heavily linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur back in the summer of 2018, Daniel Levy ultimately failed to pull his finger out for then-Aston Villa playmaker Jack Grealish.

Indeed, despite it being reported that the 26-year-old had identified Spurs as his preferred destination, as well as Villa demanding a fee in the region of just £40m in order to part with the England international, the Tottenham chairman did not manage to get a deal over the line for the versatile forward – with Grealish remaining a Villa player.

However, just three years later, Levy’s indecision concerning the Birmingham-born sensation was made to look extremely foolish, with Manchester City coughing up £100m in order to prise the attacking midfielder away from Aston Villa – breaking the British transfer record in doing so.

And, considering the form the £72m-rated forward had been in for the Midlands club in the season prior to his move, it is not difficult to understand why Pep Guardiola believed the 26-year-old would be worth his hefty price tag.

Indeed, over his 26 Premier League appearances in 2020/21, the £250k-per-week star scored six goals, provided ten assists and created 14 big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.9 shots and making a quite remarkable 3.2 key passes – the joint-most in the division, alongside Kevin De Bruyne – per game.

These returns saw the player who Aston Villa podcaster Steve Froggat dubbed a “world-class superstar” earn a breathtaking seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.54, not only ranking him as Villa’s best performer in the league but also as the fourth-best player in the top flight as a whole.

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As such, while hindsight is a wonderful thing, considering the world-beater Grealish has turned into since Tottenham’s failed attempts to sign the forward back in 2018, Levy’s inability to get a deal over the line for the playmaker has undoubtedly proven to be something of a nightmare for Spurs – as not only have the north London side missed out one of the most exciting players in world football but also a colossal payday.

AND in other news: David Ornstein drops huge behind the scenes Spurs claim, Conte will be buzzing

Pundit Alex McLeish has been reacting to an update on Celtic loanee Cameron Carter-Vickers, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Ange’s comments; Maguire’s reveal

The Hoops have an option to make the defender’s move permanent in the summer, with Ange Postecoglou admitting he is hopeful that qualifying for the Champions League would help Carter-Vickers and Jota pen long-term deals in Glasgow.

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Financial expert Kieran Maguire, who contributes for Sky Sports, revealed that Champions League qualification would pocket the club £20m at the worst, whereas progressing to the knock-out stages could double those figures.

Carter-Vickers has been a regular for the Hoops this season and is now attracting interest from multiple Premier League clubs ahead of the summer window.

The Latest: McLeish’s comments

McLeish was talking to Football Insider about Champions League football but admitted even group stage qualification might not be enough to persuade the centre-back to stay.

“It’s straight into the Champions League for the (Premiership) winner this year. It is absolutely like winning the lottery for countries that don’t have great revenue streams.

“Celtic are a massive club and they can generate money in other ways.

“You would think that Carter-Vickers would attract attention due to the vast improvement that he has made in the team.

“At first it was very difficult. It looked like as if he was just a trialist in the first few games.

“But he has become a very solid performer for them.

“I don’t know if Celtic will go to the kind of levels Spurs will expect to receive.”

The Verdict: Down to the player…

You’d like to think that the USA international would be open to committing his future to Celtic, as he has made more appearances for the Hoops (36) than any other club in his career.

This is his seventh loan spell away from Tottenham and he may finally feel at home in Scotland, but ultimately, he’ll be the one to have a major say in his next move, regardless of Celtic’s option to buy clause.

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Winning the Premiership and going straight into the Champions League may only boost Celtic’s chances of signing the player on a permanent deal, so it could be a crucial few months ahead.

In other news: BBC Radio 5 Live man hits out at Celtic player after penning Parkhead deal worth whopping £2.9m. 

While Tottenham have enjoyed a resurgence under Antonio Conte and a number of players have found their form, one man who has been left on the outside looking in, is Steven Bergwijn.

Signed for £27m from Dutch giants PSV back in January 2020, the winger was quick to express his satisfaction at sealing a move to the Lilywhites, saying: “I think it is an amazing move, an amazing club.

“When I was a young boy I looked up to the coach, of course Mourinho, and now I play for him. You have to believe in yourself and I know what I can bring to this club and this team – I am good with the ball and I can score. They play good football and that is what I like, to play here is a dream for me. It is an honour.”

And, he got his Spurs career off to the perfect start by netting in the victory over Manchester City at home, and fans of the north London club would’ve been forgiven if they had thought they had pulled off an absolute masterstroke in signing him.

Instead, things have not quite hit the heights of his debut, with some fleeting moments here and there – his role in the thrilling comeback victory over Leicester being one – not doing enough to justify his price tag from a couple of years ago.

Indeed, according to CIES, his value has now dropped to £13.5m, exactly half of what Spurs actually paid for him.

With just seven goals and ten assists in 76 games across all competitions for the north Londoners, Bergwijn has struggled to really adjust to life in English football, and his game-time under Conte has become increasingly limited.

The last 11 games in the Premier League have seen him start and play the full 90 minutes just once, while his previous seven outings have amounted to just 51 minutes of football, with Conte restricting him to meaningless cameos.

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Given the kind of fee Daniel Levy shelled out to sign Bergwijn at the time, seeing the Dutchman completely fall off the radar at Spurs and almost become an outcast will surely have left the Spurs supremo tearing his hair out.

AND in other news: Left in 2019, now worth £50m: Levy suffered shocking Spurs howler over “insane” star

Rangers have been dealt a major transfer blow over Ibrox academy striker Rory Wilson…

What’s the talk?

According to Rangers sources speaking to Football Insider, the attacker has told the club that he wants to depart from Glasgow in the summer and continue his career elsewhere.

The report claimed that unnamed Premier League ‘big guns’ are interested in signing him, with the player rejecting a fresh contract offer from Rangers recently. English teams are unable to give him a professional contract until next year but can take him on a scholarship deal with the option to become a pro when the time comes.

Gilmour repeat

Ross Wilson is now in grave danger of repeating the club’s big Billy Gilmour disaster with his 16-year-old namesake.

The Scotland midfielder left Ibrox as a teen to join Chelsea in England and he has come on leaps and bounds since moving south of the border.

Transfermarkt currently value Gilmour at a whopping £10.8m almost five years on from his move to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2017. He was valued at £2.7m in 2020 and Transfermarkt cites his move to Chelsea as being worth £1.53m – well short of what he is worth now.

The 20-year-old has been capped 11 times by Scotland’s first team and is currently on loan at Norwich in the Premier League. This shows that he is making great strides as a player, but Rangers will not benefit from it as they lost him at under-17 level.

Rory Wilson now looks set to be the next big talent to fall through their grasp. He has found the back of the net a sensational 47 times at youth level for club and country this season, suggesting that the 16-year-old predator has immense potential, having scored at a phenomenal rate throughout the campaign.

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Rangers have already been burned by Gilmour’s progression since leaving the club, and having it happen a second time with Wilson would be a huge disaster. It would mean that the Glasgow giants potentially miss out on another huge payday in the future, as they will not be able to sell the forward at a point when his value is similar to Gilmour’s £10.8m.

The recent club-record sale of Nathan Patterson highlights the benefit of keeping top talent and bringing them through into the first team before selling them further down the line. This is why Ross Wilson must now do everything in his power to change the teenager’s mind and get him to remain at Ibrox, potentially bolstering Gio van Bronckhorst’s team in the years to come.

AND in other news, Rangers played a masterclass over Ibrox “dafty” whose value plummeted 50% in one year…

After highly impressing in the various age groups of the Tottenham Hotspur academy, hopes for the future of Troy Parrott amongst those in the know in north London were extremely high.

It is not difficult to understand why this was the case. Over his 15 appearances for Spurs’ under-18s, the centre-forward bagged an incredibly impressive 17 goals, also hitting nine in nine for Tottenham’s under-19 side in European action and five in 14 for the under-23s.

This form led to comparisons with current Spurs striker Harry Kane, with it being reported last year that Tottenham’s backroom staff were trying to convince Daniely Levy not to block the Irishman’s pathway to first-team football due to their faith in his ability.

However, whether or not the £3.24m-rated youngster does indeed have the same level of potential as the England captain is very much up for debate. Over two loan spells at Milwall and Ipswich Town respectively, the 20-year-old hardly took either club by storm, failing to score in 14 outings for the Lions and bagging just twice in 18 fixtures with the Tractor Boys.

Things have improved for the forward somewhat this season, with the £7k-per-week hitman beginning to find his feet over 34 League One appearances at MK Dons. He has scored five goals, registered five assists and created four big chances for his team-mates, along with taking 2.2 shots and making 1.1 key passes per game.

On Tuesday night, he also had the pleasure of scoring a dramatic late goal in the Republic of Ireland’s 1-0 friendly win over Lithuania, with the youngster’s 97th-minute rocket giving his team victory.

The Spurs academy graduate has not only improved his reputation on the pitch at Stadium MK, but also off it, with Republic of Ireland assistant manager Keith Andrews stating of Parrott’s work ethic: “Troy has been flying in training. There has been a real noticeable difference, I would say, in Troy between this and the last camp. You sometimes forget how young Troy is.

“I have a really good relationship with him. Up until a certain point in Troy’s career, he was just on that upward trajectory. And then there were a couple of loan moves but they are invaluable experiences.

“Even at MK Dons during that spell when he was a little bit out of the team he pressed the reset button and just started to work hard. He has got his reward for that from his club manager and what we have seen this week. He has been really, really sharp. We have a lot of belief in him.”

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As such, while the 20-year-old – who MK Dons midfielder Scott Twine claimed “runs over every blade on the pitch” and dubbed a “class” talent – undoubtedly has a long way to go if he is to emulate Tottenham’s £90m-rated Kane at some point in the future, there would appear to be similarities between the duo’s progression in north London.

Indeed, with the 28-year-old having similarly struggled on a number of lower-league loan spells in his youth, before exploding into the 243-goal Spurs sensation that he is today, there is still hope for Parrott at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It could just be a matter of Antonio Conte giving him a chance in the team.

AND in other news: Daniel Levy had a Spurs nightmare on £204.2m “alien” who has “magic in his boots”