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A report by The Times (subscription required) suggests that Crystal Palace could lose both Christian Benteke and Alexander Sorloth this summer, with the former subject to a £15m from Chinese outfit Shandong Luneng Taisan and the latter having failed to impress since signing in January 2018.

Unlike Benteke, Sorloth has had few opportunities to impress in the starting XI and has notched just once in 20 appearances – an output that has left the Palace bigwigs underwhelmed with and willing to sell on the £9m striker.

The 23-year-old was surely brought in to be deputy to the aforementioned Benteke but, instead, Michy Batshuayi was signed a year later to replace the big Belgian, leaving Sorloth to stagnate in the reserves until an opportunity abroad presented itself.

Belgian outfit Gent offered the former Midtjylland hitman the chance to jumpstart his career again but he failed to take it, netting five times in 22 appearances. It looks as though Sorloth’s career at Palace is hanging in the balance, but what do Football FanCast’s writers think of the situation? Are the Eagles casting their judgement too soon? Read on for their verdicts…

Ben Goodwin

“If Christian Benteke is indeed on his way out, then Palace should give Sorloth another season. He has been woeful since moving to Selhurst Park, there’s no doubt about that, but some players take a couple of years to adjust to English football, and he is still only 23. Providing the Eagles bring in a quality centre forward, like Michy Batshuayi, who can take the brunt of the goalscoring pressure, Sorloth could still be useful as a target man off the bench. He also has a contract at the club until 2022, so it would not be a horrific financial decision to wait one more term before making a decision.”

Harry Sherlock

“It just hasn’t worked, has it? Sorloth has scored just once for the club in a total of 20 appearances and it feels as though he isn’t cut out for life in the Premier League. A loan spell at Gent hasn’t really turned up too many goals, either, and it feels as though he needs a move away to get his career back on track. A £9million fee looks foolish in retrospect but it was always a punt; Palace are unlikely to get their money back but this is the time for the club to let him loose.”

A Crystal Palace fan shares his most gutting moment of the last 10 years supporting the Eagles in the video below…

James Beavis

“Yes they should. From what we’ve seen it seems clear that Sorloth isn’t suited to the Premier League, and in that respect what is the point of keeping him in the hope he will come good? Palace’s gamble didn’t pay off and now they must admit defeat this summer, sell the Norwegian and then bring in a quality replacement who suits their style of play. What is for sure is that Zaha and Townsend won’t miss him having played with the far superior Batshuayi in recent months.”

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On paper, Liverpool appear to be overriding favourites for the Champions League final.

The Reds have world-class performers in a lot of positions, such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Fabinho, Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker.

If they play to the level we know they’re capable of, it could be a long, long evening for Tottenham.

However, football isn’t played on paper.

Are the media letting Jurgen Klopp off lightly for his lack of silverware? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…

Mauricio Pochettino has one of the smartest footballing minds in the industry, and he will definitely set his side up to combat Liverpool’s obvious strengths.

So, what can Jurgen Klopp instruct his players to do in order for them to be the ones lifting the trophy inside the Wanda Metropolitano?

The image above shows how Klopp can set his side up to successfully secure the club’s sixth European Cup.

Firstly, as we all know already, Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold bombing up and down the wing is a crucial feature of Klopp’s system – the pair have a whopping 29 assists between them this season.

Whilst they go off on their ventures forward, Fabinho’s job will be to cover the gaps they leave so the likes of Heung-min Son and Lucas Moura don’t exploit them with their pace.

After a chat with Klopp about wanting to be played in his favoured position at No.8, Jordan Henderson has starred in the role during the second half of the campaign and will be looking to get in advanced positions again in Madrid – as the arrow indicates.

When the midfielder vacates his position in the middle of the park, James Milner must use his experience and energy to fill the gaps, making sure that Christian Eriksen is not allowed to dictate play; something we all know the Dane is capable of doing.

Ahead of them, Roberto Firmino will probably be starting deep in a false 9 role like he so often does.

This is crucial to how much joy Salah and Mane will get against Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose, two players who occupy what are arguably Spurs’ weakest areas.

Firmino playing that deep should draw one of Jan Vertonghen or Toby Alderweireld towards him, which leaves the inside forwards – Mane and Salah – a free run inside against just a single centre-back if they can successfully come inside their full-back.

Play like this, and Spurs won’t be able to handle Liverpool.

It looks like a lot of the Premier League’s top clubs will be trying to do their shopping at Bournemouth this summer.

In recent weeks, for example, there has been a lot of talk about Ryan Fraser as Arsenal continue to be linked with a move for the 25-year-old (via Football.London).

But as well as Fraser, it appears Nathan Ake is also attracting some serious interest, with The Sun reporting that Tottenham are readying a £40m bid for the Netherlands international.

Big money and the chance to make some serious profit after buying the 24-year-old central defender from Chelsea for £20.52m back in 2017 (via Transfermarkt), some clubs would not hesitate to accept such an offer.

Bournemouth, though, should not be one of those clubs. Having firmly established themselves as a Premier League outfit, the Cherries will surely want to start aiming for Europe and will not be able to do that if they lose players like Ake.

Even with £40m, Eddie Howe would surely struggle to find and attract a replacement of similar quality. Ake is the complete modern-day centre-half; he is composed on the ball, can pass it out and is no slouch when it comes to recovering.

How many mid-table clubs have that or the appeal to attract such? The answer is not a lot.

Ultimately, Bournemouth should not be selling Ake this summer and especially not for £40m.

Bournemouth fans, would you take £40m for Ake? Let us know in the comment section below!

All the talk coming out of Crystal Palace right now has been about big departures as Aaron Wan-Bissaka continues to be linked with a move to Manchester United.

According to Sky Sports, the Red Devils are set to make a second bid for the 21-year-old after having an initial £40m offer turned down.

But as well as a big exit, there could also be a big arrival at Selhurst Park this summer, that is according to Guardian journalist Ed Aarons.

Aarons reports that Crystal Palace are looking to bring in Jean Michael Seri on loan from Fulham, and what a signing the Ivory Coast international would be.

Seri, of course, had his struggles last season as Scott Parker’s side went on to see relegation. After a decent start to the campaign, as Fulham declined, so did the 27-year-old.

Seri, though, is still a quality player who could bring a lot to the Crystal Palace midfield. Let us not forget that it was only in 2017 when Barcelona were chasing his signature (via The Guardian), and it was not hard to understand why.

At Nice, his passing was exceptional and he was such a threat outside of the box with his long-shot ability.

Again, things have not gone quite to plan at Craven Cottage. But to put Seri’s ability on the ball into perspective, last season his pass success percentage in the Premier League was 87%, beating Luka Milivojevic’s 80% and James McArthur’s 79.3% (as per WhoScored).

That sort of passing accuracy in the middle of the park could really help Roy Hodgson’s side to control games better, perhaps evolving from the sort out of the counter-attacking system that sees them perform far better away from home than at Selhurst Park.

When you consider that, Seri could be a really good addition for the Eagles this summer.

Crystal Palace fans, would you like to see Seri at Selhurst Park next season? Let us know in the comment section below!

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Sky Sports in Italy claim that AC Milan have recognised Liverpool’s Dejan Lovren as a top target this summer and could soon move ahead with the deal. The same source also claim, however, that a formal approach still hasn’t been made and no offer is currently tabled for the coveted Croatian defender.

But Lovren, for all his faults and inconsistencies, still has an important role to play for Liverpool. Here are two key reasons why Jurgen Klopp and the Reds should keep the centre-back at Anfield.

Winner’s mentality

Lovren is a really experienced player. He’s been through thick and thin with Liverpool, sure, but we shouldn’t forget that he was one of the key pieces that led Croatia to their runner-up finish in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

He has tasted the biggest stage of them all and naturally has that winner’s mentality – even dubbing himself last summer as one of the best defenders in the world. He’s always ready to compete and he wants to be the very best. After lifting the Champions League, that mentality will be crucial to stopping complacency creeping in at Anfield and ensuring Klopp’s side challenge effectively for the domestic crown next season.

“It reminds me of a bus seat!” – Watch a damning verdict on Chelsea’s new kit in the video below…

Great squad player

Lovren is a really interesting persona, on and off the pitch. At times he shows his quality, and when he does, he can truly shine. But there’s also that other side of the coin that gives more than just a glimpse at his inconsistent nature. It often seems that what worked for him one day wont the other, and vice versa.

But he’s a rugged defender and Liverpool are pretty packed with superstars, so having someone in reserve who’s willing to do the dirty work and add to the squad depth is essential to sustained success.

In his 14 Premier League appearances last season, the 6 foot 2 centre-back managed to score once while averaging 1.2 tackles per game, 4.1 aerial duels and 3.9 clearances, showing that he does what he’s tasked to do once he’s been selected.

All of this should suggest to Klopp that Lovren can be a good relief to the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip if and when the need arises. Joe Gomez is an option too but some occasions will call for Lovren’s physicality and experience, rather than the youngster’s fleet of foot and enthusiasm.

It was always going to be difficult to retain all their star players, but now next season has just become a lot harder for Portsmouth with Matt Clarke essentially gone.

The 22-year-old defender is on the verge of joining Premier League side Brighton, with the Sun reporting that Portsmouth are set to recoup £5 million for Clarke, who joined the club from Ipswich Town in a swap deal for Adam Webster in 2016 following a successful loan spell at the then League Two side.

Clarke has been a pivotal player for Portsmouth since his move to the south coast, being an ever-present figure in the starting XI in their rise from League Two to League One and establishing himself as one of the best defenders in the English third-tier, being named in the PFA League One Team of the Year, and Pompey need to ensure the centre-back is the only standout individual to leave this summer.

After coming close last season to being promoted to the Championship, Portsmouth face a realistic possibility next season at being one of the favourites to make the jump to the next division, but continuing to allow all their best players to leave for clubs higher up in the football pyramid will do more harm than good for Pompey.

With new names starting to enter through the front door at Portsmouth, namely Gary Mackay-Stevens from Aberdeen via the Aberdeen Evening Express, Kenny Jackett can replenish the quality left by Clarke with some smart scouting, but if more names continue to leave then it could leave the club in a dangerous position for next season.

Portsmouth fans, can the club gain promotion next season? Let us know!

It looks like Crystal Palace could be heading to France to do some shopping this summer as they try to bolster their attack.

Things will not be cheap, though, that is according to the Daily Mail, who report that the south London club will have to fork out £25m if they want to land key target Allan Saint-Maximin.

With six goals and just three assists in Ligue 1 last season, Crystal Palace supporters may have some concerns with that sort of money being spent on the Nice winger.

However, at just 22 years of age, it is an area of his game he can easily improve. And overall, he looks capable of injecting more of a threat out wide and in attack in general.

With 4.2 per game (Ligue 1 2018/19), Saint-Maximin even beats Wilfried Zaha (3.4) when it comes to dribbles made. Considering the Ivorian finished the second highest in that department in the Premier League (only Eden Hazard made more with 3.7), that is some feat (as per WhoScored).

Factor in his 1.7 key passes per game, which is the same amount Andros Townsend averaged but more than what Max Meyer managed (0.8), and Roy Hodgson could be getting a really bright attacker here.

It may seem like a lot of money now but, given what he could develop into considering his age and talent, £25m does not sound like a crazy fee in this day and age.

Crystal Palace fans, would you like to see Saint-Maximin at Selhurst Park next season? Let us know in the comment section below!

[ad_pod ]Hector Bellerin has been sidelined for quite a while now.The young Spanish full-back suffered a serious injury in January that ended his season half-way through. It was during Arsenal’s two nil defeat against Chelsea that the 24-year-old was taken off on a stretcher, and he won’t return until the 2019/20 kicks off in August – or even later – according to recent reports.It was later revealed that he indeed suffered from a cruciate ligament rupture, which was his second injury of the season. Even though he is on a path to recovery, the Gunners will have to wait a bit more until they see him donning that new kit of theirs.Watch Arsenal Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Be that as it may, Bellerin took to Twitter to post a mysterious message that has fans guessing.

It was just a simple emoji of an hourglass, which could either indicate that something is about to happen or that he is merely patiently waiting to return from injury.

Plenty of fans jokingly suggested that agent Hector was working on something behind the scenes, while others hope that it could be a positive sign regarding his return from injury.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

It seemed that Chris Wilder’s transfer radar was some way off last week when the Blades were being linked to Emannuel Adebayor. Now though, it seems that they are looking towards a much more suitable signing after being linked with Charlie Austin on Sky Sports’ live transfer blog (June 27, 15:34).

The former QPR star has the perfect mix of attitude and talent to rediscover the form that saw him score 18 goals in the 2014/15 Premier League season.

Wilder’s magic touch

You really can’t understate Wilder’s ability to get the best out of his players.

The whole squad really saw vast improvements in their performances last term, but nobody encapsulated this more than David McGoldrick. Just 12 months after being released by Ipswich he found himself picking up the Player of the Year award at a club who had just been promoted to the top flight.

The Blades boss has often been able to rejuvenate faltering careers, and Austin is the perfect player for the 51-year-old to work his magic on next.

Austin perfect for Blades

Although Austin has been misfiring recently, having scored just two goals last term, he could be the perfect player for Wilder to work his magic on.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has previously commented on the striker’s fantastic attitude saying:

“He is a perfect example of a guy who is always positive for the team and very important for the team.

“If the training session is not the quality he wants to be then he shouts at the other guys.”

Which Sheffield United players won’t cut it in the top-flight next season? Ingood Nick discusses in the video below…

A former goalscoring star who wants to improve, coupled up with a manager who is fantastic at getting the best out of players could be a recipe for success at Bramall Lane. The Southampton man may just get back to his best under the tutelage of the Sheffield United boss.

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Having conceded 51 goals in the Premier League last season, it has been little surprise to see Unai Emery attempt to bolster his side’s defence this summer.

Reports in recent weeks had suggested the Gunners were very much interested in bringing in Celtic’s Kieran Tierney and St Etienne’s William Saliba, and it now appears the north London club might be closing in on a deal for the latter.

According to The Evening Standard, Emery’s side are in “advanced talks” to sign the 18-year-old for a fee in the region of £25m, and the centre-back will remain on loan with St Etienne for the upcoming season.

The report adds that the Gunners can structure their payments in a way which would allow them to pay only a small initial fee this summer and therefore retain most of their summer kitty for other targets.

After hearing the news, Arsenal fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the matter and the issue of loaning Saliba back to France was certainly divisive.

Some supporters felt the club are in dire need of new defenders to help the team straight away and therefore it’s an “absolute joke” that they would loan the youngster back.

Others however insisted Saliba’s potential is worth having him only join up with the club next season, and insisted that it is “brilliant business” to sign him and yet keep a significant proportion of their summer budget.

Check out some of the reaction of Arsenal fans below: