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Crystal Palace will be hoping to claim just their second Premier League victory of the season when they host Newcastle United this afternoon.

The Eagles have made a promising start to life under new manager Patrick Vieira, putting in several exciting and entertaining performances in the opening weeks of the campaign.

Draws against the likes of West Ham United, Leicester City and Arsenal have come either side of a famous victory over Tottenham Hotspur, but the south Londoners will be left disappointed by their tally of eight points from eight games.

That’s because the Premier League table could have looked a whole lot healthier for Palace if they hadn’t conceded last-minute equalisers against both Brighton and Arsenal.

The string of frustrating results puts extra pressure on the Eagles to claim all three points when the managerless Magpies come to Selhurst Park this afternoon, with Newcastle sitting 19th in the table and without a win to their name.

As a result, Vieira must go with a more attacking lineup than he has in recent weeks, providing his charges with more firepower in the final third of the pitch.

Schlupp could terrify Newcastle

One effective way to do so without putting Palace’s defensive shape and structure at risk would be to unleash versatile midfielder Jeffrey Schlupp, who hasn’t started in the league since the visit of Brentford in August, at the expense of the more cautious Luka Milivojevic.

The outstanding performances of Conor Gallagher and James McArthur make the pair virtually undroppable in Vieira’s engine room, but the latter is more than capable of taking over Milivojevic’s defensive duties, allowing his teammates the freedom to push forward.

With Schlupp in the side, Palace would have a far greater attacking threat through the middle of the pitch, as last season’s underlying numbers show.

As per WhoScored, the Ghana international recorded three assists in the Premier League – the third-highest tally in the squad – and averaged 0.7 key passes, 0.7 shots and 1.1 dribbles per league game, bettering or matching Milivojevic’s respective totals in each metric.

He was labelled “incredible” by his former manager Roy Hodgson following an outstanding performance against Manchester United in September 2020, and now it’s time for Schlupp to show Vieira what he’s capable of; the French tactician just needs to be brave enough to select him from the off, as the enterprising 28-year-old could terrify a Newcastle side bereft of confidence and form.

In other news… Parish must sanction bargain Palace swoop for 6 ft 2 colossus, Vieira needs him 

Wolverhampton Wanderers could well be without Leander Dendoncker come next season, with Italian Serie A side Lazio said to be interested.

With 35-year-old Lucas Leiva’s future up in the air amid his contract expiry in the summer, as well as the rumoured departure of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – who is thought to be a target for Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur – Lazio are on the lookout for a versatile midfielder capable of replacing the duo.

And, Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb have reported that they are hopeful of landing the 27-year-old Wolves midfielder for between €20-25m (£21-£17m).

With Wolves also facing a fight to keep hold of the £36m-rated Ruben Neves this summer, the further loss of Dendoncker could potentially leave a gaping hole in the Old Gold’s engine room.

As such, they will no doubt be on the lookout for a versatile and impactful central midfielder who can replace the man dubbed a “top talent” by Joe Edwards of the Express & Star.

In comes Wolves’ teenage sensation; Luke Cundle.

The £180k-rated gem earned rave reviews from first-team boss Bruno Lage over his Premier League masterclass against Spurs in mid-February, with the Portuguese manager saying: “Maybe Luke [Cundle] can be a key man because it allows us to play with four midfielders.

“He is just 19 and I am very happy with him. The most important thing is the confidence he gives to us. He was there against top players playing like he is in the playground.”

Cundle has played the majority of his football as a defensive midfielder for the U23s this season having featured 22 times for Jamie Collins’ side.

Though rather interestingly, he has featured as an attacking midfielder on 11 occasions this campaign, where he has earned comparisons to Phil Foden from the U23’s boss:

“We took a litle risk with the change of shape and the ‘false nine’ with no centre-forward. We played Luke [Cundle] up there, ‘Phil Foden-esque’, and I thought he played really well.”

This is why he would fit the bill in place of Leander Dendoncker, who can also play anywhere across the midfield, with the Belgian turning out as an attacking midfielder for Bruno Lage on two occasions this season.

Wolves may not need to spend to replace Leander Dendoncker.

AND in other news: Time to go: Lage must now boldly axe £36m-rated Wolves “magician” in mega deal…

Noel Whelan has tipped West Ham to fight for a Jarrod Bowen contract extension amid interest from Liverpool and believes that the Hammers’ league position will determine the outcome, as per Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Liverpool long-term admirers of Bowen

The Liverpool Echo have claimed that Liverpool are long-term admirers of the West Ham winger, and they will continue to scout the 24-year-old with a potential move on the cards in the summer transfer window.

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Bowen has had an impressive start to the 2021/22 campaign; he currently leads the Hammers in assists in the Premier League, having produced five this season.

The English attacker has also gained valuable experience on the European stage. Bowen has appeared in five games in the Irons’ Europa League campaign, adding an extra goal and assist to his tally for the season.

The Latest: Whelan issues verdict on potential exit

According to a Rush Green source at Football insider, West Ham are planning on offering Bowen a new and improved contract, despite his current deal running until summer 2025.

And Whelan claims that the Hammers will make an effort to do anything to keep the player at the club, insisting that the team’s league position at the end of the season will determine the outcome of Bowen’s future. Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “This is what happens when players are standing out in a team that’s been very successful like West Ham.

“He’s a player that I enjoy watching. His energy, his quality on the ball, he can play down the middle, on the right and left. He’s a player that you would fit the Liverpool bill of what they want across that front three.

“Would West Ham let him go? I think they’ll do everything possible to keep him at West Ham, quite frankly. I think it’ll all come down to how successful West Ham are at the end of the season. Where they are in the league.

“It’s going be interesting. I admire him, he’s a great player, he really is. That energy, that quality on the ball, the link-up play he has.

“I can see why Liverpool would be tempted and interested in a player like that.”

The Verdict: Bowen could stay following recent success

With West Ham’s magnificent start to the season landing them in fourth place, the Hammers are well and truly in the running for Champions League qualification – they have already beat Liverpool and Chelsea, which shows exactly how competitive they can stay amongst the league challengers.

According to Whelan, this could sway Bowen into signing a contract extension and ultimately commit his career to the club.

The former Hull starlet has of course received lots of praise this season – Gary Neville has commented on how the winger “is a bundle of energy” and that ‘he is brilliant to watch”.

Perhaps to Hammers fans’ dismay, Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp has continually praised him over the past year too, culminating with the German saying: “I like Bowen a lot.”

A significant Rangers transfer update has emerged regarding Scott Arfield’s future at Ibrox… 

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Mail, Turkish duo Hatayspor and Alanyaspor are both in talks over a deal to sign the midfielder this month.

The report claims that negotiations are ongoing between all parties, with both Turkish clubs willing to offer a small fee to the Gers instead of him leaving on a free transfer in the summer once his contract expires.

Fans will be delighted

Rangers fans will surely be delighted with this news, as it offers the club the perfect opportunity to part ways with the veteran midfielder.

Whilst Arfield is a useful player to call upon, he is out of contract in the summer and the Gers now have two clubs willing to offer fees to sign him this month. This could increase Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s own spending power to go out and add further players to his own squad, without majorly weakening his preferred XI.

The Gers have already strengthened their options in the middle of the park this month. James Sands has arrived on an 18-month loan from New York City FC, and he could scoop up all the minutes that Arfield would accrue in the second half of the campaign.

Sands averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.91 and won 1.5 tackles per game in the MLS last year and could slot in as one of the holding midfield players at Ibrox. This would then free up Aribo or Glen Kamara to play further forward in Arfield’s role, or it could allow someone like Ianis Hagi to get minutes in the number 10 berth.

This season, the Canada international has produced only two goals in 13 league games for the club, averaging a SofaScore rating of 6.78. In that time, he has missed a whopping five ‘big chances’ to score and only created 0.6 chances per game, whilst also losing 65% of his duels, suggesting that the time is right for him to be moved on as his performances have left plenty to be desired.

Therefore, Rangers fans may well be buzzing with the interest in Arfield, along with the news that negotiations are ongoing over a potential deal for him to leave this month. His exit in January would avoid the club missing out on a transfer fee if he left for nothing at the end of the season, and it appears to be the best possible solution for parties involved.

AND in other news, Bye-bye Hagi: Rangers could find new creative maestro in £1.2m-rated gem with 31 G/A…

Alex Crook has now dropped some Newcastle United transfer news involving Eddie Nketiah.

The Lowdown: Closing in?

Reliable journalist Luke Edwards reported for The Daily Telegraph earlier this week that the St. James’ Park faithful were closing in on the signing of Nketiah before the January transfer window shuts.

However, there then seemed to have been no further movement on that potential deal, and instead reports emerged of Crystal Palace having bids rejected for the Arsenal attacker.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium are running out of time if they want to bring in another striker after signing Chris Wood from Burnley, and Crook has delivered some bad news on the Nketiah front.

The Latest: Unlikely

As per talkSPORT journalist Crook, a deal to bring Nketiah to the North East before the deadline is now ‘unlikely’:

“Believe Nketiah is unlikely as well.

“Always felt odd AFC letting him go with their lack of numbers up front.”

The Verdict: Shame

It would be a shame for the Tyneside outfit to lose out on Nketiah, as he would offer Eddie Howe another solid attacking option for their relegation battle.

He is a player that the former AFC Bournemouth manager is known to like, and so there is no doubt that the boss would be eager to work with him and help him fulfil his true potential.

Described as someone who has an ‘incredible work-rate’, ‘pace’ and a ‘smell for goals’ by his coach Mikel Arteta (Sportskeeda), Nketiah possesses not just the quality but the hunger needed to keep the Magpies up, and with just six months remaining on his current contract at the Emirates Stadium, they could have potentially got him for cheap.

Nonetheless, it seems as if the Toon will now have to focus on other targets if they want to bring in another forward before the deadline.

In other news, find out who talks are ongoing for NUFC to sign here!

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According to Le10 Sport, Everton have approached Paris Saint-Germain over a move for Belgium international Thomas Meunier.

Meunier will see his current deal with PSG expire in summer 2020, so his future with the French champions is certainly in doubt at the moment.

Right-back has proved to be one of the big problem positions at Everton so far this season, with neither Seamus Coleman or Jonjoe Kenny particularly convincing in the No.2 slot.

According to Le10Sport, Everton have actually already made contact with PSG to discuss a summer swoop for the 6ft 3in ace.

The Merseyside club’s supporters have been on social media reacting to the news and it would be fair to say that they are struggling to agree on the defender.

Indeed, whilst some believe that Meunier would be a good signing, others feel that Mason Holgate – currently on loan at West Bromwich Albion – would be the better option in the long run.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

The Birmingham Mail’s Ashley Preece has dropped a worrying contract update about Aston Villa starlet Carney Chukwuemeka.

What’s the story?

Responding to a fan on Twitter about the latest over the midfielder, he said: “He’s contracted to 2023. It’s being dealt with by his reps who aren’t in a rush. I expected it to go through on his 18th birthday but it hasn’t been the case. He’s got a really good chance of starting on Friday. We shall see. Cheers Amir.”

Villa fans will be worried

The recently-turned 18-year-old was handed his senior debut in the Premier League towards the end of last season by Dean Smith, making some late cameos against the likes of Spurs and Chelsea.

The Athletic’s Gregg Evans then delivered some exciting news on the plans for Chukwuemeka heading into this campaign, saying: “Carney Chukwuemeka is the one teenager who will definitely be a part of the first team. He’s starting to fill out and will soon be ready for the demands of Premier League football.”

Indeed, former Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has previously urged Smith to throw Chukwuemeka into the deep end with the first-team.

He exclusively told FFC: “I kind of go off the fans’ views – I know he’s been scoring goals in the Under-18s. When someone is scoring goals, they’ve showed they’re a massive threat, it does attract football clubs and when you’re getting Manchester City and United hovering around the vicinity and are trying to take the young players away.

“This is where I feel if he’s that good we need to see him filtered through to the first team especially at this stage of the season. We’ve seen the likes of Louie Barry, who I felt would have had more of a chance this season, and I would put him in that category. I’d like to see more of him playing, because if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.”

News that a new contract hasn’t yet been sorted is surely a cause for concern for Villa fans, who have seen him play just 63 minutes of Premier League football all season, despite the injury issues in midfield.

After all, a player as talented as he would surely help a side that currently resemble a sinking ship down in 15th place.

Meanwhile, Villa have made contact with this manager…

Brazilian outlet UOL have provided a fresh update on Barcelona’s attempts to sign Leeds United star Raphinha this summer.

The Lowdown: Second bid for Raphinha…

Raphinha has been heavily linked with a move to the Nou Camp following his fine campaign in 2021/22, with the 25-year-old the top of the charts at Elland Road for goals, assists and chances created. [BBC]

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According to Spanish outlet Sport, Barcelona are readying a second bid worth an initial €40m (£33.9m) with various add-ons.

The Whites star will be available for just €25m (£20.9m) in the summer should the club suffer relegation, with Barcelona fully aware of that potential release clause.

The Latest: Deco jets out

UOL columnist Bruno Andrade dropped an update on Raphinha on Monday afternoon, revealing that his agent, Deco, flew out to Barcelona over the weekend to progress discussions.

They added that the former Portugal midfielder was expected for talks on Tuesday as they look to thrash out a possible contract with the Catalan giants until June 2027.

The Verdict: Leeds hold the cards…

Leeds aren’t expected to enter talks with Barcelona over a possible deal until the summer due to their Premier League position.

Jesse Marsch’s side have picked up seven crucial points in their last three games, leaving them eight clear of the relegation zone. All their focus will be on guaranteeing a third successive season of Premier League football, which could also give them control over a possible exit for Raphinha.

They will be able to demand way more than the £20.9m relegation release clause if they stay up, and a possible big-money fee that they may receive could fund plenty of summer arrivals ahead of Marsch’s first season in charge at Elland Road.

In other news: ‘Bad news from Elland Road…’ – Big Leeds injury update emerges on Joe Gelhardt

Wolves have been boosted in their quest to re-sign Matt Doherty this month, with journalist Fabrizio Romano claiming that Tottenham want to sell the defender.

The Lowdown: Doherty tipped to make Wolves return

The right-back was a great servant for the Old Gold for a lengthy period before his exit in 2020, making 302 appearances in total and helping them return to the Premier League.

Doherty has failed to kick on at Spurs, though, and he has been linked with a return to Molineux numerous times in recent weeks ahead of a potential January move.

A new update further suggests that it is a possibility, with the 30-year-old seemingly edging closer to the exit door in north London.

The Latest: Romano offers Wolves hope over Doherty

On Tuesday, Romano took to Twitter to confirm that Doherty is one of several players who Tottenham are happy to get rid of this month, acting as a boost for Wolves as they reportedly hope to bring the Irishman back to Molineux.

The journalist provided the following 12-word update: “Spurs still working to sell players – like Ndombele, Doherty, Bergwijn or Dele.”

The Verdict: Positives outweigh the negatives

Doherty’s possible return may not be universally popular because of his decision to leave in the first place, but it could be a strong piece of business by Wolves. The Republic of Ireland international could come in and add depth to Bruno Lage’s squad, battling with the often-maligned Nelson Semedo for minutes and allowing for more rotation.

Doherty has been hailed as ‘absolutely superb’ by ex-England right-back Danny Mills in the past and he still has enough years left in him at the top to enjoy a fruitful second spell at Molineux. His tally of 28 goals and 41 assists during his first stint in the Black Country speaks volumes about the quality he can offer going forward.

Given how Lage’s side have been far from prolific this season, adding a play who can offer such a viable attacking threat makes this a move well worth exploring, and it’s a bonus to hear that Spurs are eager to offload the Irishman.

In other news, Wolves are reportedly still keen on signing one player in January. Find out who it is here.

Sky Sports journalist Gordan Duncan has dropped an exciting update on Rangers’ managerial pursuit of Giovani van Bronckhorst as they look to quickly wrap up a replacement for Steven Gerrard.

What’s the story?

Following Gerrard’s appointment as Aston Villa boss earlier last week, the Gers have had to about turn and look for a new manager less than halfway through their Scottish Premiership campaign.

But, it seems that their pursuit of a new manager is unlikely to become a long-running saga, with Duncan dropping a major update on where things currently stand with Van Bronckhorst.

Speaking on live TV on Thursday morning at 9:14am on Sky Sports’ Good Morning Sports Fans show, he said: “Rangers appear to be closing in on their man. They are close to agreeing that deal in principle. Talks have progressed, and the Rangers hierarchy are pleased with the progress that has been made.

“Van Bronckhorst has been the main name on everybody’s lips for the last week, and it certainly looks like Rangers are closing in on their man.”

Rangers fans will be buzzing

The big fears for Gers fans after losing Gerrard to Villa, would have been a) would they be able to get someone just as good if not better than the man who left, and b) would it turn into a never-ending saga that threatens to completely destabilise their season.

What Ross Wilson and co have seemingly managed to do, is ensure that Rangers can head into the busy festive schedule with a new man in place and quite crucially, well ahead of the January transfer window where they can draw up plans with the new manager over who he wants to sign.

Van Bronckhorst’s previous spell at Ibrox will already leave him in some credit with the Ibrox faithful, and if he is appointed very soon, then he could have the perfect chance to endear himself even more into the supporters’ hearts with a victory over Hibernian in the Scottish League Cup semi-final this coming weekend. With two Dutch Cups to his name already, he seems to have a liking when it comes to domestic knock-out tournaments, meaning he could guide the Gers straight into a final if appointed by the weekend.

Thus, Duncan’s update that Rangers are “closing in” on the Dutchman is sure to have fans buzzing.

Meanwhile, Rangers pulled off a transfer masterclass with this man…