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The Crystal Palace official Twitter account has announced Luka Milivojevic’s 2019/20 free kick vs Bournemouth as their Goal of the Day, much to the annoyance of some impatient Eagles fans.

Still manager-less since boyhood Crystal Palace supporter Roy Hodgson departed Selhurst Park last month [Independent], the South East Londoners face an enormous rebuild following the departure of 22 first-team players following their release list announcement [Crystal Palace FC Official].

After talks with preferred managerial candidate Nuno Espirito Santo broke down, recent reports have emanated linking Burnley boss Sean Dyche with the vacant head-coach role [Lancashire Live].

Despite meaning to provoke positive emotions by re-airing the Serbian midfielder’s screamer on the South Coast, loads of CPFC fans have taken to Twitter to fume at the post by the official Palace account.

As uncertainty still looms over the direction of the club, you can’t help but feel that the Palace faithful only want one particular announcement across their social media channels, not a goal of the day.

Palace fans react:

Here is what some Crystal Palace had to say regarding the situation:

“Admin running out of ideas, when have we ever done goal of the day?”

Credit: @luiscpfc”literally didn’t ask”Credit: @sigmond_”We don’t score enough to do this in the long run admin”Credit: @palace_tommy”No one cares”Credit: @Thomas01568186″Stop”Credit: @unIocaIpIa9tic”Ok?”Credit: @bentekefan0In other news, the Eagles are interested in a swoop for a Chelsea midfielder.

Cristiano Giaretta has been dealt a blow in his bid to bring Rodrigo De Paul to Watford this summer.

What’s the talk?

In a recent interview with The Athletic, the Udinese Calcio midfielder revealed that he would not find it easy to leave the Serie A side this summer, amid links with both Leeds United and the Hornets.

When asked about his future at the club, De Paul said: “It’s not easy to leave here. At Udinese, it’s a family, the club provides you with everything, even the simplest things, so you can concentrate on your football.”

Giaretta will be gutted

If the 26-year-old’s comments do indicate that he is uncertain about leaving Udinese this summer, it will undoubtedly come as gutting news to the Watford sporting director, who has been tasked with putting together a team at Vicarage Road who are capable of surviving in the Premier League next term.

And, after looking at his returns for the Le Zebrette this season, it would be very difficult to make an argument against the signing of De Paul having a tremendous impact on the chances of the Hornets retaining their status as a Premier League side come next summer.

Over his 35 Serie A appearances for Luca Gotti’s side so far this season, he has scored nine goals, registered nine assists and has created a whopping 20 big chances, in addition to making an average of 2.3 key passes and completing 3.4 dribbles per game, culminating in an extremely impressive average SofaScore match rating of 7.55 – ranking him as the club’s best performer in the Italian top flight.

As such, missing out on a player of the obvious talent of the £31k-per-week star this summer – whom Udinese’s technical director Pierpaolo Marino dubbed “world-class” – would be a devastating blow for the Hornets, as the £34.2m-rated Argentina international would undoubtedly be one of Xisco Munoz’s stars at Vicarage Road in their Premier League campaign next season.

In other news: Giaretta must sanction Watford swoop for 21 y/o likened to Son with “ancient flavour” – opinion

As confirmed by the club in an official announcement, West Ham United have sold young forward Oladapo Afolayan to Bolton Wanderers following his loan spell there as a consistent regular – and many Irons supporters are livid after this development.

The 23-year-old was shipped out to the University of Bolton Stadium on loan for the second half of 2020/21, where he managed to turn heads under manager Ian Evatt.

Helping Bolton to achieve promotion from League Two, the Trotters were seemingly impressed enough to make his temporary spell permanent, with Afolayan now cutting his ties with West Ham.

Making just one senior appearance for the Hammers back in January, Afolayan bagged his debut goal in that game as West Ham thumped Doncaster Rovers 4-0 in the FA Cup fourth round (whufc.com).

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The striker also impressed for West Ham’s under-23s, scoring nine goals and setting up five others in 32 Premier League 2 outings (Transfermarkt).

Afolayan’s potential appeared to excite many Irons supporters, who are now livid with the decision to sell him so soon – check out some of their verdicts on the announcement below.

West Ham fans horrified by Afolayan sale

“I actually find it crazy how these young talents don’t even get a look in with the first team.

We have now lost another kid who could have been a superstar”

Credit: @lozza3man

“Pain“

Credit: @WHUalfiee_

“Crazy decision”

Credit: @tonyclarke1

“Another exceptionally good young player we have lost. Going into Europe we need this talent. Why buy players who don’t fit in when we already have the quality here.”

Credit: @claretandblu1

“Why can we never keep hold of our promising youngsters”

Credit: @littlelegsessex

“Wasted talent”

Credit: @cayz03

“Shame, I thought he could have been given more of a chance in the first team at some point, makes you laugh squad is paper thin and we are always happy to let players go”

Credit: @JackPar78026231

In other news: ExWHUemployee lifts lid on enticing GSB transfer plan for West Ham, find out more here.

Manchester City have been linked with a move for Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic recently and he could be the ideal alternative to Erling Haaland in Pep Guardiola’s side should he join this summer.

According to Corriere Dello Sport (via Sport Witness) the Serbian striker is being considered as a potential replacement for the legendary Sergio Aguero at the Etihad Stadium this summer, although the youngster is also attracting interest from the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Real Madrid.

The 21-year-old has enjoyed a superb season with Fiorentina, contributing 19 goals and three assists in 32 Serie A appearances, which has helped him earn an impressive 6.87 average WhoScored rating for his performances in Italy’s top flight.

Whilst many Manchester City fans may have been hoping to see their club sign Borussia Dortmund sensation Haaland this summer, it would take a huge amount of money to prise the Norwegian away from Signal Iduna Park ahead of next season, whilst agent Mino Raiola is also sure to demand an enormous fee in any potential deal.

Therefore, Guardiola’s side should turn their attention elsewhere as they look to bring in a replacement for Aguero, and Vlahovic could be the perfect man to succeed him at the Etihad.

The former Partizan Belgrade marksman is a similar style of striker to Haaland, as he stands at 1.9m (6 foot 3) and would therefore offer Guardiola’s side an aerial threat up front, something which they have lacked at times this season.

Although there is no doubt that the Citizens have enjoyed a superb season, there have been occasions, notably in recent defeats to Leeds and Chelsea, where they have lacked a physical presence and goalscorer up front, something which Vlahovic could definitely provide.

The 21-year-old, who is currently valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt, has averaged more successful aerial duels per game (2.8) and more shots per game (2.5) than any naturally attacking Manchester City player excluding Kevin De Bruyne this season, so he could definitely add an attacking threat in Guardiola’s side next term if he comes to the Etihad.

He also believes in his own ability, suggesting in an interview earlier this season that he can get to Haaland’s level, so he looks to be a hugely worthwhile signing for the Citizens, and Txiki Begiristain should definitely consider him as an option this summer.

In other news… City can sign their ideal heir to £150k-p/w beast with “outstanding” Premier League star

Plenty of Crystal Palace fans have been giving their thoughts to a transfer update regarding the Eagles and Slavia Prague attacker Abdallah Sima.

According to France Football, relayed by GFFN, Sima is in ‘advanced talks’ to make the move to Selhurst Park.

No finances are outlined in the story, but it seems as if the Eagles have a real chance of landing the Senegal international.

The 19-year-old, capable of playing on either wing or through the middle, has scored 15 goals and registered six assists for Prague this season.

Sima, valued at £9.9m, netted against Leicester City in the Europa League knockout stages, scoring four goals in the competition with Prague eventually being knocked out by Arsenal in the quarter-finals.

Palace fans react

@cpfc_xtra shared the news on Twitter on Monday evening, and, as to be expected, plenty of Palace fans were quick to interact with the post.

This is what some had to say, with one describing Sima as a ‘really good’ footballer.

“Would be insane”

Credit: @CPFCH10

“mad”

Credit: @MATTT046

“This summer might be cool”

Credit: @danofthesouth_

“This guy was insane against Leicester”

Credit: @CPjxke

“He is really good”

Credit: @dougCPFC

“Very promising”

Credit: @ReeceJMT

In other news: Roy Hodgson linked with new club, Palace fans react, find out more here. 

David Moyes is anxiously awaiting updates on Declan Rice’s fitness after the West Ham United midfielder was ruled out of Monday’s trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

That’s according to The Telegraph, who note that Rice sustained a serious knee injury while representing England against Poland during the international break.

Rice’s hopes of featuring at this summer’s European Championships are now in danger, with the current timeframe on a return expected to be four to six weeks.

Rice is claimed to have been wearing a protective brace on his knee to prevent any further damage and will undergo scans to determine the severity once the swelling has subsided.

It is currently unclear if the 22-year-old will need surgery, which would come as a huge blow for Moyes and England manager Gareth Southgate who are awaiting updates.

Rice is said to have sustained the issue around an hour into the Three Lions’ 2-1 win over Poland last Wednesday, but remained on the field to deliver a Man of the Match display.

A worst-case scenario could see Rice miss the remainder of the season and potentially Euro 2020, should he require an operation, while a best-case outcome will still be expected to see him miss clashes with top-four rivals Leicester City, Chelsea and Everton.

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Rice has been in outstanding form all season and has played an instrumental role in the Irons’ challenge for Champions League qualification, having yet missed a second of Premier League football.

The £60k-per-week star will now miss his first top-flight match since May 2019 when the London Stadium natives visit Wolves on Monday night, looking to claim a first victory at Molineux since August 2009.

Moyes will be extremely concerned over how West Ham’s season will end if Rice is to play no further part, and will have to face his own fears over how to live without the midfielder.

The Hammers boss stated back in November that he was fearful of becoming too reliant on Rice, but had stretched the £100m midfielder’s run of Premier League starts to 68 in a row prior to the international break.

“He is such an improved player,” Moyes said, via quotes by the Independent. “I really think he is doing a great job as a player and we are building up hope that he will be an outstanding captain.

“The role, his responsibility he takes on the pitch because of his young age, his leadership qualities will build. He has learned from Harry Kane and Mark Noble. My biggest concern – and I know he is young – would be that I don’t want us to rely too heavily on him.”

Moyes will now have to rely on Noble standing in for Rice over the next month or so with the 33-year-old the only central midfield cover available, which could see the Irons captain start successive Premier League games for only the second time this season.

Noble struggled to keep up with the pace of the opposition during his most recent start, with Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood turning the veteran inside out with a run Peter Crouch would describe as “scandalous”.

Noble will now have to step up and shake off the cobwebs if West Ham are to be without Rice for much of the rest of the season, and ensure his side are no worse off if they are to qualify for Europe.

AND in other news, West Ham trail a Premier League rival for a five-goal, seven-assist star once labelled an “exciting prospect”…

West Ham United are leading the race to sign talismanic striker Odsonne Edouard this summer…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Football Insider, who claim that Premier League rivals Leicester City are having second thoughts over making a bid for Brendan Rodgers’ former Celtic star.

It is thought that the emergence of Kelechi Iheanacho has made them reconsider their interest, bolstering the Hammers’ chances of securing him ahead of next season, having been said to be already laying the groundwork over a potential deal.

Edouard was valued at a whopping £40m last year but his price tag has plummeted, and with him out of contract in less than 15 months time, he could leave for as little as £10m.

Imagine him & Lingard

It’s no secret that the Irons need a new striker as they failed to bolster David Moyes’ armoury during the January transfer window, though they did manage to add Jesse Lingard on loan from Manchester United, and he’s been an instant hit.

In just ten league appearances, the England international has delivered nine goals and four assists, spearheading West Ham into European contention and it’s believed they will do whatever they can to secure him permanently this summer, as per Sky Sports.

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Well, if they do, GSB will need to add another forward to compliment his attacking exploits and they should look no further than Edouard.

The Irons sold Sebastien Haller whilst Michail Antonio’s latest injury is another reminder that you will not get 30 or more matches out of the 31-year-old dynamo each season.

Edouard’s goalscoring record speaks for itself, with his 20 goals in all competitions this term taking his overall tally in Scotland to 81 goals in 163 appearances, via Transfermarkt.

Neil Lennon hailed the Frenchman as “talismanic” and “outstanding” last term, and Bhoys and Hammers legend Frank McAvennie believes he’s a “wonderful talent.”

Interestingly, the east Londoners have been mooted as a potential destination for Chelsea outcast Tammy Abraham but ex-Villa man Gabby Agbonlahor believes the Celtic machine is a better player.

“I rate him higher than Abraham, Werner and [Olivier] Giroud,” Agbonlahor said to talkSPORT earlier this month. “I rate him highly.”

Just imagine the damage Moyes’ side could do next season – potentially in Europe – if David Gold, David Sullivan and Karen Brady manage to prise Edouard away from Celtic Park this summer.

The £13.5m-rated beast and Lingard would be a frightening attacking duo that is fit for any top seven side in the Premier League, so West Ham must get a deal for this “big talent” finalised.

AND in other news, Moyes could sign West Ham’s next Defoe in £26m-rated “goal machine” who’s “dangerous”…

Leicester City have reportedly made an offer to sign Florian Thauvin, according to Estadio Deportivo.

The report claimed that the East Midlands club offered him a four-year deal and a salary of €3.5m (£3m) per season, but Thauvin has not yet made a decision over his future at Marseille.

Tottenham Hotspur, AS Roma and Napoli are also closely following any further developments with the player, but it has not been ruled out that he may leave in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Leicester should sign Thauvin

Brendan Rodgers’ team could do with a player like Thauvin in their ranks in order to boost the numbers in their squad for the 2021/22 season.

The 28-year-old has a lot of pedigree in the beautiful game, having won the World Cup with France back in 2018. He has been enjoying a good campaign so far, with no fewer than eight goals and a further nine assists in 37 games across all competitions (Transfermarkt).

Football legend Paolo Maldini described him as a ‘high level’ player back in November of last year, which is noteworthy praise given the Italian’s glittering CV.

Currently rated at £28.8m by Transfermarkt, the French winger is certainly a player who the Foxes should be looking at signing come the end of the season.

In other news, find out which ‘outstanding’ ace Leicester are eyeing!

Celtic goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas could be handed a quick route out of Parkhead this summer with the Greek stopper already being linked with a move away.

According to The Scottish Sun, Greek Super League outfit PAOK are eyeing the former AEK Athens man ahead of a potential loan offer in the summer.

Incoming Bhoys CEO Dominic McKay must cut his losses and let the 26-year-old go as soon as possible.

Since arriving at Celtic for a reported £4.5m just last summer, the 13-cap international has endured a horrendous time at the club.

Barkas has made just 20 appearances in all competitions and has not played a single minute in the league for the club since a 2-2 draw with Livingston in mid-January, with Scott Bain having been preferred in recent times.

Even when he has been on the pitch, the Greek international has not inspired much confidence at all. According to SofaScore, he has made just 1.1 saves per game in the league, whilst Bain is averaging much more at 2.1.

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Despite having only been with Celtic for just eight months, his transfer valuation has also already taken a hit from £4.5m to £3.6m.

With Barkas not looking likely to be afforded a chance with his current employers any time soon, that only looks set to drop even more as the summer transfer window approaches.

Currently raking in £13.5k per week at the club, which is even more than the likes of Kristoffer Ajer, Ryan Christie and Jeremie Frimpong, he surely has to be shifted sooner rather than later if he is not going to play.

With apparent interest in Barkas, Celtic really should just cut their losses on the goalkeeper and let him go in the summer.

AND in more news, take a look at which former Premier League defender Celtic have to secure for incoming manager Eddie Howe this summer…

Juventus scout Matteo Tognozzi is keen to talk to Celtic in regards to their search for a director of football, according to the Scottish Daily Mail (11/03, p92).

The Hoops are set for massive changes this summer both on and off the pitch, with the newly created DoF role needing to be filled, as well as finding Neil Lennon’s long-term successor in the Parkehead dugout.

Tognozzi in the race

Tognozzi, who appears to be interested in the Celtic Park position (via 67 Hail Hail), is not the only man linked.

Former Bournemouth and Huddersfield chief David Webb and Manchester City’s Loan and Pathways manager Fergal Harkin are two other names thought to be in the frame.

The Italian, who has also worked in Russia and Germany during his career, now wants to talk to Celtic officials ahead of a possible summer switch to Scotland.

Transfer Tavern take

Plenty of Celtic fans were keen for the club to bring in Tognozzi as director of football just days before Lennon’s Parkhead resignation, so they could be delighted at this latest update.

The Hoops don’t exactly have long until the summer window comes around, though, so we feel the director of football and new first-team boss will need to be in the door and settled relatively soon in order to get the best off-field rebuild results ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

In other news: A top-half Premier League boss has emerged as a candiate to replace Lennon, find out more here.