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Motherwell defender Declan Gallagher has been linked with a move to Celtic Park in the summer.

TEAMtalk reported earlier this month that the Hoops were ready to make a move for the central defender, who has had his head turned by Celtic’s interest and will be available for free as he is out of contract this summer (Transfermarkt).

Fresh Gallagher link

Now, Give Me Sport are the latest to share news on Gallagher. They claim that the Scotland international is definitely of interest to the Hoops.

Rochdale’s Kwadwo Baah and Peterborough’s Siriki Dembele are two other players also being looked at by Celtic ahead of a summer potentially filled with cut-price moves.

All three could be available for next to nothing at the end of the current campaign when their respective contracts expire, allowing Dominic McKay to start his reign as the new Hoops chief with some bargain hunting.

Bye bye Duffy

Gallagher, a boyhood Celtic fan, is seemingly keen on a Parkhead switch, and would be a clever replacement for Shane Duffy as he has more experience in the league and would cost less.

Duffy is set to return to Brighton in the summer following his season-long loan in Glasgow, and financially, bringing in Gallagher to replace Duffy could be a shrewd move.

Gallagher is on just £1,400-a-week, whereas the Hoops have reportedly been paying £25,000 of Duffy’s £45,000-a-week wage.

The Motherwell man has over 100 Scottish Premiership appearances under his belt and could prove a solid addition to battle the likes of Kris Ajer, Christopher Jullien and Stephen Welsh.

In other news: One former Celtic man worried over Celtic’s possible move for Gallagher, find out more here. 

Crystal Palace could turn to one of their Premier League rivals for a transfer recruit this summer in the form of Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

According to The Mirror, the Eagles are interested in the 23-year-old alongside a number of top-flight clubs.

Rated at £16.2m, the on-loan West Bromwich Albion man could be the perfect addition for Palace this summer.

Initially, his versatility would prove to be an extremely useful asset to the Eagles heading into 2020/21.

He is capable of playing at right-back, right-midfield and central-midfield as displayed in his time with the Gunners and the Baggies.

With Palace seemingly set to lose a number of players in those positions – including Andros Townsend, Nathaniel Clyne, James McCarthy, James McArthur, Joel Ward and Martin Kelly – as their respective contracts continue to tick down – Maitland-Niles would certainly be able to compensate some of the losses should all of those aforementioned players elect to leave.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-crystal-palace-news%2c-transfer-rumours-and-more-townsend-bayindir-butland-van-aanholt-parish” title=”Latest Crystal Palace news, transfer rumours and more…”]

His experience in the Premier League, having played 73 appearances in the competition, would also certainly make him a very attractive option.

Meanwhile, a deal could certainly be relatively easy to complete for Steve Parish, again allowing those departures to be offset with somewhat little cost.

Maitland-Niles does not appear to have any future at Arsenal having been shifted out on loan to The Hawthorns in January, whilst his contract at the Emirates Stadium is set to expire in just over a year’s time.

This could certainly tempt the Gunners into selling, leaving Palace a run at trying to bring Maitland-Niles to Selhurst Park this summer.

There are certainly no negatives in Palace signing the Arsenal man then and as such, they must secure him in what is surely set to be a busy transfer window for both the Eagles and Parish.

AND in more news, Palace have been handed a boost in the race to appoint Eddie Howe this season…

Jackie McNamara says he can see why some Celtic fans would be ‘apprehensive’ about the appointment of Roy Keane but reckons they would appreciate the ‘passion’ he would bring.

Celtic are assessing the candidates for their next permanent manager after Neil Lennon resigned at the end of February.

Keane, who played for Celtic in the 2005/06 season before he retired, has emerged as a contender (via Daily Record). He is also noted as maintaining a strong interest in the Hoops as a supporter.

Although he has taken on assistant roles at Aston Villa, the Republican of Ireland and Nottingham Forest over the last decade, Keane hasn’t managed a team since leaving Ipswich Town in January 2011 (via Transfermarkt).

The Irishman has worked predominantly as a pundit for Sky Sports in the past couple of years.

McNamara a fan of Roy Keane

McNamara, who made more than 300 appearances for Celtic between 1995 and 2005, has no doubts over the 49-year-old’s credentials despite his lengthy spell away from management.

“I wouldn’t mind Roy Keane,” he told 67 Hail Hail. “I liked him as a player, like him as a pundit. He doesn’t mess about with his words.

“I think he would do a good job, I’ve no doubt about that. I would have no problems with him coming here.”

McNamara’s message to Celtic fans

There have been concerns that Keane is out-of-touch with the modern game. His Irish compatriot David Meyler has fought back against critics who have labelled the 49-year-old a ‘dinosaur’.

However, McNamara believes that Celtic fans, even those sceptical at first, would come to relish the passion of the fiery ex-Manchester United captain, whose demands for high standards have led to some notable flashpoints in his playing and coaching career.

“He’d lean towards the older-school approach,” he said. “Some players don’t respond to that now.

“At the same time, the fans would want that passion. I can see why they’d be apprehensive but I think he’d bring in a strong management team that’s fresh, and he’s at the forefront of that.”

Transfer Tavern verdict

However appealing Keane’s approach may seem, particularly to a team which has surrendered the title so meekly, this is surely too great a risk for Celtic.

Their appointment should be a calculated gamble, but this would be an emotionally-driven rather than rational call.

In other news, Danny Mills addresses Celtic links with one Premier League manager.

Many Crystal Palace fans are reacting to the latest update on the future of current manager Roy Hodgson, as reports suggest he might not leave at the end of the season.

According to TEAMtalk and tweeted out by @cpfc_xtra, Crystal Palace remain open to the idea of Roy Hodgson staying on for another season, although the interest in the job has never been higher.

Hodgson’s contract was due to run out at the end of last season, but the club extended it by a further year. Now, with only a few months left until that deal expires, his future has been getting discussed a lot in the media.

The 73-year-old has been at the club since September 2017 and has taken charge of 148 matches (Transfermarkt). In these games, he has managed 1.24 points per game and has kept the South London side comfortably in the division. Clearly many have respected his time at the club, with one calling him a ‘class act’.

However, the Eagles’ form recently has been far from impressive. A Hodgson side is typically known for its stern defence, but this campaign they have only managed four clean sheets. They have also only won three games in the last fourteen and this emphasises that the manager has struggled this season.

Here is how Palace fans reacted to the news:

“I don’t know how I’ll cope if this happens”

Credit: @BMCPFC

“Can’t keep watching this boring rubbish football we pay money to be entertained and were not”

Credit: @MarkDre44138040

“I’ll give up if that happens.”

Credit: @Swanny_32

“I haven’t even got the energy for this right now”

Credit: Machutuck

“If they do then I’m not watching one game till he’s sacked”

Credit: @cpfcjj89

“Think Parish might just be the only Palace fan who wants Roy to stay on.”

Credit: @Nyerider

In other news, CPFC fans were fuming at one-star during a recent loss. Have a read who it was here!

West Brom can make it four games unbeaten for the very first time this season but standing in their way is an Everton side back in form.

The Baggies host the Toffees at the Hawthorns this evening on the back of two draws and a much-needed victory last time out.

Sam Allardyce will be hoping to continue that rich vein of form as his side still remain nine points adrift of safety.

So, what sort of lineup could we see tonight? Here’s our predicted Albion starting XI for this encounter…

Given the run of form they find themselves in, it’s hard to imagine Big Sam making too many alterations to the line-up, so there could only be two changes from the side that dispatched the Seagulls.

One of which is likely to come in defence despite only conceding one goal in their last three outings, as regular centre-back option Semi Ajayi is available for selection following a one-game suspension.

He comes straight back in for Dara O’Shea despite the young Irishman deputising expertly in his absence.

The £13m-rated beast slots right in alongside central defensive partner Kyle Bartley and full-backs Conor Townsend and Darnell Furlong, in front of Sam Johnstone between the sticks.

A midfield trio of Okay Yokuslu, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Conor Gallagher should remain unscathed – the two young loanees are the perfect compliment to the Turkish powerhouse, who has massively contributed to their turnaround defensively.

While in the build-up to tonight’s kickoff, Allardyce revealed to the club’s official website that Robert Snodgrass would be available for selection following injury and he’s likely to come straight back in to help stop Everton’s impressive frontline.

It means 29-year-old attacker Matty Phillips is the likely candidate to make way on that left flank, with Matheus Pereira keeping his place on the other wing.

Whilst Mbaye Diagne has firmly cemented his name down as Big Sam’s no.1 choice in attack over Karlan Grant and Hal Robson-Kanu, who will both have to settle for a place on the bench alongside the recently returned Grady Diangana.

AND in other news, Allardyce must ruthlessly axe “exceptional” West Brom gem, he could struggle…

Philippe Sandler is now 24 years old and remains at Manchester City despite his lack of appearances for the Citizens in recent seasons, and the club should try and get rid of him this summer as he is arguably stealing a living at the Etihad Stadium at the moment.

City signed the centre-back from PEC Zwolle in July 2018 but he has been limited to just two appearances in his two-and-a-half years with the club and spent last season on loan with Anderlecht under Vincent Kompany.

He made just 11 appearances there before returning to the Etihad last summer, with injury issues having seriously stalled the youngster’s progress in a Manchester City shirt.

That being said, Sandler reportedly earns £38,000 per week at the Etihad and has now been at the club for 138 weeks, which means he has cost City £5.24m thus far.

That means that, for each appearance the Dutchman has made in a City shirt, with both coming in cup competitions in the 2018/19 season, he has cost City £2.62m.

That makes grim reading for the City board, who will undoubtedly be disappointed that Sandler has failed to have the desired effect during his time with Pep Guardiola’s side.

The 24-year-old’s contract with City is set to expire at the end of next season but the club may be best served by axing him this summer and trying to recoup some of the money they have wasted on him over the last few seasons.

He is currently valued at £2.7m by Transfermarkt, although Txiki Begiristain would do well to receive anywhere near that fee given his lack of appearances and injury problems during his time in the Premier League.

Therefore, Sandler’s time with City will unfortunately go down as a failure, and they must do their best to get rid of him this summer in order to avoid continuing to pay him for nothing before losing him for free at the end of next season.

In other news… No goals or assists in March: £63m-rated City ace let his standards drop this month

According to The Sun, Manchester United are monitoring Hoffenheim midfielder Christoph Baumgartner.

What’s the word?

With Paul Pogba’s future at Old Trafford so far unresolved, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may find himself short of options in the midfield.

And now, The Sun claim the Red Devils are reportedly eyeing up a move for Baumgartner, who has been dubbed the new Michael Ballack in a nod to the former Chelsea great.

The £16m-rated 21-year-old, who favours playing in the No.10 role, has made 17 Bundesliga appearances so far this season and has three goals and five assists to show for his 15 starts, per Transfermarkt.

United’s very own Michael Ballack?

For all the wealth of riches Solskjaer possesses in terms of his attacking resources this season, there has been one constant when it comes to the team selection in attack.

Bruno Fernandes is one of a very select group of players to have appeared in every Premier League game for United so far this season.

But it’s fair to say that United’s overreliance on Fernandes has slowly started to take its toll, having now gone four league games without a goal or an assist.

Meanwhile, Baumgartner has burst onto the scene this season, scoring five goals and supplying seven assists across all competitions, making six appearances in the Europa League alone.

And when you look at the impact Ballack had at Chelsea – one Premier League title and three FA Cup trophies – it’s easy to see why the Austrian midfielder would make a fine addition to Solskjaer’s squad and be someone Fernandes could mentor in the No.10 role at Old Trafford.

In his heyday, Ballack was widely considered to be one of the most complete and versatile midfielders in the country – he scored 17 goals and supplied ten assists in 105 Premier League appearances, and showed a predatory instinct inside the box, as seen by his goal in the 2-1 win at home to Porto in 2007.

When you consider the fact that Solskjaer seems prepared to wave goodbye to Jesse Lingard – considered to be a future club great – coupled with the fact that Pogba’s future remains uncertain, the next logical step would be to bring in a replacement with an eye on the future. Baumgartner could be the player to do precisely just that.

AND in other news, Manchester United striker Anthony Martial was shocking in Sheffield United defeat…

Is this the start of a stunning turnaround?

If you told Sunderland supporters that within a week of Lee Johnson walking through the door they’d score four unanswered goals, they’d have laughed in your face.

Although Johnson tasted defeat in his first game against Wigan, they bounced back in devastating fashion to utterly demolish Lincoln 4-0 last weekend.

All of a sudden, there is fresh positivity surrounding the Black Cats, something that has been far too infrequent over the last five or so years.

A clash against 14th place Wimbledon on Tuesday will be an interesting one and it is unlikely Johnson will make too many changes considering the previous result.

That being said, we’re tipping him to make one this evening.

The only change from Saturday’s win over the Imps is Aiden McGeady dropping out. The Irishman still hasn’t played a great deal of football since being drafted back into the senior side and like he was at Oldham, could be rested.

The tricky 5 ft 11 winger claimed an assist against Lincoln but so did Chris Maguire when Sunderland beat Oldham in the Papa John’s trophy last week.

Consequently, Maguire gets another run-out and an opportunity to prove himself. Johnson also has a big decision to make on Jack Diamond, someone we think should get the nod again.

He has been superb since the new head coach walked through the door and ran Lincoln ragged last time out, scoring and completing two dribbles.

Denver Hume, Luke O’Nien and Lynden Gooch are all still injured so it’s Callum McFadzean who starts once again on the left-hand side of the defence.

The midfield looked sturdy on Saturday so the usual trio of Josh Scowen, Grant Leadbitter and Max Power all start from the off.

In other news, Better than Maguire: Sunderland have just unearthed their new Josh Maja in “powerful” wizard…

The good times have finally returned to Celtic.

It’s been a long season but Neil Lennon bought himself further time in the Parkhead hot seat by engineering his side to a Scottish Cup final victory over Hearts on Sunday.

However, all attention must now turn to the SPFL and indeed, the January transfer window.

What’s the word?

Where Celtic look to strengthen next month will be fascinating considering their woeful season to date.

The Hoops are 16 points behind Rangers and thus, surely need bodies all over the pitch. Judging by the 19 goals they conceded in six Europa League matches a couple of defenders certainly wouldn’t go amiss.

However, the target in question here is actually a midfielder.

According to The Scottish Sun, the Bhoys are interested in signing West Bromwich Albion’s Rekeem Harper.

Harper came close to joining the Glaswegians in the summer of 2019 but signed a new deal at the Hawthorns to keep him in England. Lennon has scouted the player previously and it’s thought that the £2m-rated midfielder could join on loan.

The report also specifies that Celtic are pursuing his teammate Kyle Edwards – a winger by trade.

The new Ntcham

If Celtic are looking to bring in a midfielder in January it will surely spell the end of the line in the starting XI for Scott Brown.

The Hoops captain started the final on Sunday but his place has come into question, especially with Ismaila Soro’s emergence against Lille and Kilmarnock sparking consecutive victories.

Crucially though, Harper could walk through the door at a time when Olivier Ntcham may leave. The Frenchman has been linked with the Premier League but considering he’s been reduced to just seven SPFL starts, could force his way out.

Harper, however, would be a brilliant like-for-like replacement. Dubbed a “powerhouse” by former West Brom boss Slaven Bilic, he possesses all the ingredients that Ntcham has. He can gallop forward with a lung-busting change of pace and influence things both offensively and defensively.

Furthermore, he’s also been compared to one of the great midfielders we’ve seen. Harper revealed in January 2019: “Academy manager, Mark Harrison, said to me ‘we see you as a midfielder called Patrick Vieira. He said he saw that in me potentially. At first I was naive, I didn’t really want this but then I thought I like this and I can be involved and I took to it.”

The 20-year-old has been restricted to just three first-team appearances this term but he does have a goal to his name.

Even as a temporary piece of business, this would be an astute capture from Nick Hammond.

AND in other news, Celtic ace who was “dodgy” all game has given Lennon a HUGE problem…

Michail Antonio is facing a late fitness test to feature against Manchester United in the FA Cup on Tuesday night, but David Moyes has vowed to put out a strong West Ham side.

The Hammers boss is concerned about Antonio’s fitness after the striker looked seriously fatigued as he struggled to lead the line during Saturday’s goalless draw with Fulham, having played the full 90 in victory over Aston Villa in midweek.

It was only the third time across all competitions that the 30-year-old had seen out a full game following his return from a second hamstring injury of the season, with Moyes short on alternatives after selling Sebastien Haller to AFC Ajax without signing a replacement.

So, as Moyes weighs up his options for who to start in attack at Old Trafford, here’s a potential line-up the Scot could name against his former employer…

Moyes rang in the changes as West Ham beat Doncaster Rovers 4-0 in the FA Cup last month, with several rarely-seen players offered a chance to impress against Darren Moore’s League One side.

Andriy Yarmolenko struck the Irons’ second goal of the day while fielded at centre-forward to afford Antonio a rest, but may miss out on the role against Manchester United with Moyes vowing to name as strong a side as possible on Tuesday night despite doubt over Antonio’s fitness.

“He’s still fatigued, so it’ll be a close call whether he makes it or not,” Moyes said. “I’ll see how he is today [Monday]. We’ll need to assess him tomorrow to see if he’s able to play or not.

“I think we’ve picked strong teams against Stockport and Doncaster. We’re certainly not picking a weakened team. We may have one or two changes through injury or suspension, whatever it may be, but we plan to go there with a really strong team and [see] if we can get through to the next round of the FA Cup.”

Jarrod Bowen has also played at striker for Moyes this season and boasts an imperious record when fielded through the middle, having scored seven goals and provided four assists in 12 games for Hull City before his move to east London last year.

The former Tigers attacker moving into a centre-forward role against Manchester United would also allow for Moyes to recall £40,000-per-week dynamo Ryan Fredericks to the starting XI, looking to add greater support for Vladimir Coufal up against Bruno Fernandes like the Irons enjoyed at Aston Villa when the pair worked well to keep Jack Grealish quiet.

Aaron Cresswell and Coufal will be expected to start in favour of Fredericks and Ben Johnson at full-back with Moyes naming as strong a side as possible at Old Trafford, but could be joined by Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena in two of four changes from the side that drew with Fulham on Saturday.

Diop earned a rare start in the third round win over Doncaster but his lack of game time is believed to be down to a personal issue rather than form, while Balbuena remained at the London Stadium despite Deadline Day speculation the Paraguayan could be sold.

Moyes will be without January loan signing Jesse Lingard against Manchester United with the midfielder unable to feature against his parent side, opening the door for Pablo Fornals to re-join Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek in the engine room.

Fornals has played just six minutes since Lingard moved to east London, having fallen to the bench to make space for the England international beside Said Benrahma after starting 20 of his 21 previous appearances for the season in all competitions.

AND in other news, West Ham failed to offload a £70k-p/w outcast in January despite a manager’s intent efforts…