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Many Crystal Palace fans are reacting to the latest transfer update on Premier League target John Lundstram.

The midfielder, who currently plays for Sheffield United, has been linked with the Eagles on multiple occasions, most recently in the January transfer window. According to The Mirror, and as tweeted by @CPFCTransfersHQ, several clubs in England’s top flight are monitoring the player, whose contract expires at the end of a season, and Palace are among those. However, this link hasn’t gone down too well with some of the Palace fan base, with one supporter even calling him ‘useless’.

The Blades midfielder has failed to score in 23 league appearances this season, accruing six yellow cards and committing 0.8 fouls per game (WhoScored). Only one Palace player has been booked more often, while Eagles defenders Gary Cahill and Scott Dann have both found the net this term (WhoScored).

Palace  arguably have a decent midfield with a fair amount of depth, but this could look very different in the summer.James McArthur is nearing the end of his career at the age of 33 (Transfermarkt), whilst James McCarthy’s contract expires in the summer. This emphasises that Lundstram could be the ideal signing for Palace, especially due to the fact that, as things stand, the £7.2m-valued player could be picked up on a free transfer in the summer, with his contract expiring at the end of June.

Many Eagles fans weren’t too pleased with the Lundstram links, although there were some views in favour of such a move:

Here is how Palace fans reacted to the update:

“Already 27 years old, no thanks! I’d rather get Gallagher, Cantwell or Brooks.”

Credit: @TheGoverner99

“Whyyyyyyyyyy”

Credit: @sam_palace

“No thanks…. useless lump”

Credit: @Tushydog

“Perfect midfielder for a club like us, everyone’s always complaining about getting a macca replacement, this would be it.”

Credit: @cpfc_sean

“It’s so boring”
Credit: @Kevbartleyy
“Please no”Credit: @letstalkpalaceIn other news, many Palace fans react to this club update!

Preston North End manager Alex Neil has been named as a possible successor to Celtic boss Neil Lennon.

Neil to replace Lennon?

Those were the words of former Premier League centre-back Steve Howey, who reacted to the immense pressure currently on the Northern Irish tactician’s shoulders.

The Green Brigade have been vocal on their displeasure towards Lennon, with his team 18 points behind arch-rivals Rangers after their 2-1 victory over St Johnstone on Sunday.

Not only that, but their trip to Dubai in December was heavily scrutinised not just by the fans, but by Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon with the country still in lockdown due to the pandemic.

Speaking to FootballFanCast, Howey stated that Neil would be a solid fit for the Glaswegians with Lennon’s position on the line.

“I think he would like that job,” he said. “Given the fact he’s Scottish, I think he would take it [the Celtic job].”

Transfer Tavern Verdict

Neil was previously described as an “excellent” manager by former Hamilton boss Martin Canning (via Not The Old Firm), but supporters may want someone more ambitious.

From 182 matches in charge of Preston, the Scot has averaged a points-per-game tally of 1.43, which is marginally worse than what the 39-year-old managed at Norwich before the Canaries dismissed him (Transfermarkt).

Having previously had the likes of Brendan Rodgers and Martin O’Neill in the hot seat, we think that this appointment would upset the Green Brigade.

In other news, Football finance expert believes that Celtic fans will not carry out empty threats amid revenue reveal.

After beating Rotherham 1-0 in mid-week, Nottingham Forest are back in Championship action when they take on Derby County at Pride Park on Friday night.

Chris Hughton’s side are beginning to pick up some much-needed momentum as they really begin to pull away from the relegation places, with an impressive four wins and just one defeat in their last seven league games.

The Forest boss made a couple of changes for the victory over Rotherham, resting a few key players and bringing some old faces back into the fold – one of them, Ryan Yates, struck the all-important goal to seal three points.

Hughton is likely to go full strength for the trip to Derby, and with that in mind, below is a look at how Forest might line up.

In goal, Bryce Samba will keep his place in between the sticks, and there are unlikely to be any changes to the back-four either. Yuri Ribeiro was left out of the match-day squad for the victory over the Millers, and that may be a hint that his replacement, Gaetan Bong, will once again be the side’s starting left-back.

The midfield area gives Hughton a major headache, with Yates of course scoring the winner in mid-week. But, Manchester United loanee James Garner may be pushing for a recall to help offer Forest a bit more control with his passing.

Further ahead, Alex Mighten was dropped to the bench against Rotherham after netting the only goal of the game against Blackburn a week prior, and the 18-year-old starlet could provide the injection of pace and trickery to cause Derby problems. That could see 28-year-old Luke Freeman drop to the bench.

Predicted XI: Samba; Christie, Figueiredo, Worrall, Bong; Garner, Cafu; Knockaert, Krovinovic, Mighten; Murray.

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak suggested to Stadium Astro earlier this month that Sergio Romero could join Everton at the end of the season, but Carlo Ancelotti can overlook a deal on one condition.

Romero is due to depart Old Trafford in the summer having entered the final six-months of his contract, and played no role in the Red Devils’ efforts in any competition this season.

The 33-year-old has spent the past two transfer windows eyeing a move away from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side due to his place in the pecking order, with David de Gea, Dean Henderson and 38-year-old Lee Grant all named in United’s 25-man Premier League squad.

Everton were linked with a move to sign Romero on loan on Deadline Day in October as Ancelotti sought to add competition for Jordan Pickford, but saw the deal blocked as Manchester United demanded a permanent transfer.

Romero was later claimed to be “baffled and angry” at how the Red Devils had handled his situation in the off-season and discussed tearing up the final year of his contract, before saying his goodbyes to select club staff in December ahead of a possible move last month.

No exit was eventually secured, however, and Kuszczak now believes Romero would jump at the chance of joining Everton once he becomes a free agent at the end of the season.

“He needs to make a decision on what to do with his career. I’m sure if he can go to Everton, he would do it. But there must be something we don’t know that is on the way,” Kuszczak said. “Everton need to bring someone in for competition.”

Romero has not played in a Premier League fixture in more than 1,000 days now, and only boasts seven English top-flight appearances to his name since joining Manchester United in 2015.

The £2m-rated veteran had been a regular of Solskjaer’s plans in the Europa League last season with nine starts in 11 games between the Group Stage and Semi-Final, but was ruthlessly axed for the Final with Sevilla which the Red Devils lost 2-1.

Only a year prior Solskjaer was said to be lining the Argentine up to replace De Gea as his number one if the Spaniard moved on, and his vast experience with Argentina – earning 96 caps to date – would more than be enough to see him offer Ancelotti depth behind Pickford.

But the Italian may not need to add depth behind Pickford in the summer on one condition. Retaining AS Roma loanee Robin Olsen, who moved to Goodison Park on Deadline Day in October after Romero’s proposed move met a dead end.

Ancelotti has since been more than open with his admiration of Olsen and plans to negotiate a permanent transfer at the end of the season, while the Sweden international himself is keen to stay at Goodison Park, as well.

Olsen may have struggled against Manchester United over the weekend with his kicking sometimes wayward, caught out by the dipping nature of Bruno Fernandes’ shot and stumbling while rushing to stop Scott McTominay’s header. But he impressed greatly to keep Everton in the lead against Leeds United last week, with vital saves and quick reflexes.

If a deal is there to be had with Roma for Olsen, Ancelotti and Everton should be jumping at the chance and not jumping ship to revive interest in Romero after a year on the scrapheap.

AND in other news, Everton have their eyes on a £10m+ striker boasting 18 goals this season…

For Leeds United, this has been a troubling start to 2021. They have failed to win a single game and in the process, have shipped seven goals in three matches.

For Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites, it is very out of character. On top of their poor defensive record, they are yet to score this calendar year either.

Thus, director of football Victor Orta is surely thinking of ways Leeds can strengthen in the January transfer window. Eye-catching Montpellier forward Andy Delort has been linked in recent days but it’s another target in France that we want to focus on for the time being.

That happens to be Lens defender Loic Bade. The 20-year-old has been impressive in Ligue 1 this term, proving himself to be a combative centre-half, a player capable of brushing attackers aside with ease.

It’s hard to suggest that sounds like any defender already at the club, but it does bring back memories of a bearded Swede; Pontus Jansson.

Before Bielsa grew tired of him, the centre-back was an imperious figure, a man-mountain who’d win aerial duels and battles like they were going out fashion. Leeds didn’t have the best defensive tally in the Championship, but he was a big reason behind their record from corners and free-kicks.

On Jansson’s way to earning his place in the PFA Team of the Year in 2018/19, Leeds conceded just 13 goals from set-pieces over the season. That was the 12th best record in the division, but just a year later their frailties were there for all to see. Of all the goals they conceded last season, 34% of them were from set-pieces.

To add to Bielsa’s woes, Leeds currently have the worst record in the Premier League this term from set plays, conceding a league-high ten goals.

With that in mind, they could do with someone like Jansson or rather, they could benefit from signing Bade.

Jansson was remarkable in the air, winning 4.9 aerial duels per game during his final season in the Championship for Leeds. Now, Robin Koch might be good in the air – succeeding with 2.8 aerial duels but it doesn’t come close to their former defender or Bade.

The £5.4m-rated target has won 4.3 aerial battles per match in 2020/21, reigning supreme in the air. The 20-year-old is just an inch smaller than Jansson, but it’s evident that he doesn’t let that impact him.

With Leeds struggling so much from set-pieces, signing someone who is as good in the air as Bade would undoubtedly be a massive help. For that reason alone, Victor Orta must conclude a deal as soon as possible.

He’d undoubtedly help Leeds replace their ex-defender.

AND in other news, Forget Gelhardt: Leeds should consider unleashing rarely-seen 16 y/o with 4 goals in 5…

Liverpool were recently linked with a move for Folarin Balogun but it seems as if the Arsenal striker is set to join a European side.

What’s the word?

It was originally suggested by David Ornstein in The Athletic that the Reds could target the 19-year-old in the summer when his contract with the Gunners expires.

However, it was revealed earlier this week that the forward, who has been prolific at youth level for Arsenal, is close to signing a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club.

Transfer blow for LFC?

Balogun has been superb for Arsenal’s youth teams in recent years, having scored 38 goals in 41 games for the U18s whilst he has 17 goals and six assists in the same number of games for the U23s.

The New York-born forward has broken through into Mikel Arteta’s side this season in the Europa League and has managed an impressive two goals and one assist in five games for the North London club.

Arteta spoke publicly about how impressive Balogun has been recently, perhaps in an attempt to convince him to stay, but it seems as if he will depart the Emirates Stadium outfit at the end of the season.

The Spanish manager said:

“His progression and the use of the time that he’s had with us has been incredible. He will keep having chances while he’s with us.”

The Merseyside club have enjoyed great success in promoting young strikers into their first team, with the likes of Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen establishing themselves as Liverpool greats from the academy, whilst Rhian Brewster was recently sold to Sheffield United for £23.5 million after being poached from Chelsea’s academy set up.

Balogun certainly seems to have the potential to follow in the footsteps of these former Liverpool players, but it seems as if the Reds have fallen short in their hopes of signing the American as they had the disadvantage of not being able to negotiate with the 19-year-old until his contract with Arsenal expires, something which will surely frustrate Jurgen Klopp.

It will be interesting to see how Balogun progresses if he does end up leaving Arsenal and whether the Reds end up rueing not being able to bring him in, as he surely would have been the ideal replacement for Divock Origi as Roberto Firmino’s back-up at Anfield.

And, in other news… Forget Thiago: £80k-p/w Liverpool beast who made 3 key passes was Klopp’s game-changer vs Villa

Fabian Schar was Steve Bruce’s true hero against Manchester City on Boxing Day as the Newcastle United defender earned his first start in seven weeks.

Bruce recalled Schar to the Magpies’ line-up for their trip to the Etihad Stadium as he sought to favour a five-man defence, having lost top-scorer Callum Wilson in the build-up to kick-off after the summer arrival sustained a knock.

The decision to name an additional defender failed to prevent United from tasting a third defeat in their last four fixtures across all competitions, yet Schar produced plenty of positives against Pep Guardiola’s Sky Blues.

Bruce had been without Schar for the Magpies’ previous three Premier League fixtures, although the reason behind his absence was never formally confirmed, with Newcastle choosing not to reveal the identities of any employees who contracted coronavirus.

Jamaal Lascelles and Allan Saint-Maximin were later revealed to have tested positive, though no official declaration was made over the causes of Schar and Javier Manquillo’s recent unavailability.

Bruce may have now hinted toward Schar testing positive, though, after discussing the Switzerland centre-half’s return to action after the Manchester City game.

“Fabian Schar has trained once in five weeks but wanted to play, the attitude of them all was there to see,” Bruce said, via quotes by the Chronicle. “We have got a large chunk of players missing. I don’t want to make excuses, but we are struggling for numbers.”

Schar had not started a top-flight game since Newcastle lost 2-0 at Southampton in early November, before playing the second half of the following 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at St. James’ Park.

His limited practice in the following weeks can forgive Schar for some of his misdemeanours against Manchester City, yet the 29-year-old – who a senior official of one of his former employers told The Athletic that he “drove me nuts” – still left Bruce with plenty to praise on a night where goalkeeper Karl Darlow was being lauded for an “excellent” display.

Schar registered more than twice as many interceptions as any other player for either side at the Etihad on Boxing Day, with the £40,000-per-week defender snatching possession five times, along with making four clearances, per SofaScore.

He additionally blocked a shot as one of just three Newcastle men to stand in the way of Guardiola’s Citizens, won his only aerial duel of the night and was the sole Toon centre-half to complete a long ball.

Federico Fernandez misplaced each of his four attempted long passes while Ciaran Clark chose not to attempt any passes at range, while Schar found teammates with six of his 12 long balls as he recorded a greater number of accurate passes (21) than each of his defensive partners.

Bruce now only stands to benefit from Schar regaining more fitness in the coming days before Newcastle host champions Liverpool on Wednesday night.

AND in other news, an £18m-rated Newcastle ace badly betrayed Steve Bruce with a horror show performance at Man City.

Glasgow Rangers target Niklas Dorsch stood out for Gent despite their 2-1 loss against Slovan Liberec on Thursday in the Europa League.

Dorsch shines

The Gers were linked with a move for the former Bayern Munich man this summer before he joined Gent from German outfit Heidenheim for €3.5m (£3.2m).

Gent have struggled so far in Europe this term, failing to pick up a single point in five matches in the competition, but Dorsch at least impressed this midweek.

He completed both of his attempted dribbles and managed three tackles, whilst he also provided the assist for Roman Yaremchuk’s strike. His display was well rounded, providing two key passes, drawing two fouls and adding an interception to those all-important three tackles (Whoscored).

It was the type of performance that may tempt Steven Gerrard to refresh his interest in the midfield in the future.

Gers missed out

It is thanks to this kind of showing that there was a battle for Dorsch’s signature during the summer. Heidenheim were on the verge of earning promotion to the Bundesliga, only to be beaten in the relegation play-off on away goals by Werder Bremen, and Dorsch played in 34 out of a possible 36 matches during that run. His form last term led to Heidenheim CEO Holger Sanwald calling him “special”.

In the end, Gerrard did manage to bring in Bongani Zungu on loan from Amiens. However, Dorsch has a strong pedigree and was a star player for his team last term. With three goals in 13 matches in the Belgian top flight this time around, he also appears to be settling well. He may be the one that got away from the 54-time Scottish champions, or potentially a target again in the future as players like Scott Arfield move past their prime.

In other news, this shock Champions League result could have a big impact on Rangers.

Leicester City will have their eyes on a third-place spot in the Premier League table this evening as they prepare to host Brighton at the King Power Stadium.

Chelsea’s surprise 1-0 loss to Everton last night will have hugely frustrated Frank Lampard in his title endeavours, but the Foxes could capitalise on this and move third.

Leicester’s last fixture saw them bank a 2-0 victory over AEK Athens to finish top of their group in the Europa League.

Prior to that, they put their bodies on the line to snatch all three points from Sheffield United in what looked certain to be a game ending in a draw.

With morale high and their recent wins in mind, Football FanCast has predicted how Brendan Rodgers will set up to face the Seagulls tonight.

After his recent performances in the Europa League, Cengiz Under may have earned himself a start in the Premier League.

Whilst it would come at the expense of James Maddison’s spot in the lineup, the winger and Harvey Barnes are a very dangerous duo when they take to the pitch together.

Both of them teaming up with Jamie Vardy could cause a huge headache for Brighton in three changes by Rodgers.

With Wilfred Ndidi back to fitness, he should be one of the first names on Rodgers’ team-sheet. The £75,000 per week defensive midfielder has been sorely missed and will help to keep any surprise Brighton attacks at bay.

An outlandish prediction which could come to fruition is that Luke Thomas could be rewarded with a start after his strong European form.

Whilst this would mean James Justin drops to the bench, it would be a huge chance for the 19-year-old, who is desperate to become a regular under Rodgers.

A win tonight will be huge for the Foxes, who will knock Chelsea off their third-place spot and put pressure on Liverpool and Spurs, who will face each other today.

In other news, Luke Thomas did Rodgers proud in match vs Athens…

Conor McLaughlin stole the show as Sunderland were held to a one-all draw at Doncaster Rovers, having produced a Man of the Match-worthy display from centre-half on Saturday.

Black Cats boss Phil Parkinson had been without McLaughlin for the Stadium of Light natives’ 2-1 defeat to MK Dons last week through international duty, with the 29-year-old away with Northern Ireland for their UEFA Nations League Play-Off Final tie with Slovakia.

McLaughlin did not feature in the Group B clash that saw Slovakia score a winner deep into extra time at Windsor Park, but returned to the North East after playing the full 90 minutes in defeat to Austria and an 11-minute run-out at home to Romania to earn his 41st-cap.

Parkinson will have been delighted with the performance McLaughlin was able to produce on his return to League One action, offering a key presence on the right of Sunderland’s three-man defensive line and venturing forward to produce a number of dangerous crosses.

It was a display Sunderland fans will have come to expect from Jack Ross’ £6,400-per-week signing, who has now racked up 29 appearances in red and white since signing on the dotted line in 2019.

Ross was over the moon to welcome McLaughlin to the Stadium of Light from Millwall in a deal he felt would bring competition for places in a key position.

“I am delighted to be able to bring Conor to the club,” Ross said, via quotes by the Chronicle. “He brings quality and experience to a position that was of high priority for us to have options in. I look forward to working with him over the course of the season.”

Ross’ capture once again proved his worth to Sunderland against Doncaster as McLaughlin pulled the strings from centre-back with a game-high 92 touches and 64 accurate passes, per WhoScored.

No player for either side could match or better McLaughlin’s seven per cent share of the possession, while only Doncaster ace Benjamin Whiteman could match the 29-year-old’s 73 attempted passes.

McLaughlin further completed his only attempted dribble of the game, was only dribbled past once, won four of five aerial duels, completed one of two tackles and made three clearances.

He would only commit one foul before the full-time whistle rang around The Keepmoat Stadium, too, while winning three of his five ground duels, being fouled once and connecting with one of four attempted crosses, per SofaScore.

McLaughlin’s performance more than deserved a fifth League One clean sheet of the season to match, but would be left without another shut out on his record thanks to Fejiri Okenabirhie’s 93rd-minute equaliser to leave Sunderland eighth in the table.

AND in other news, Phil Parkinson risks the wrath of a £2k-p/w monster amid his recent Sunderland claim.