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In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Carlton Palmer has rubbished reports suggesting that Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek could leave Old Trafford on loan in January.

Van de Beek has been out of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side for the vast majority of the season despite a much-heralded arrival in a £40m deal from Ajax last summer.

The 23-year-old has had to endure a stop-start campaign to life at Old Trafford, having started just two of United’s 21 Premier League games this season, with just one goal and an assist in 23 appearances across all competitions.

The Dutchman was reportedly subject to loan enquiries from unnamed clubs but the Red Devils turned those down and opted to ensure that Van de Beek will spend the rest of the season at the Theatre of Dreams.

Inter Milan are one such potential suitor who have previously considered a loan move for the Dutch international but Palmer dismissed the recent claims and believes he will have to be patient.

He told FFC:

“He needs to be playing but I can’t see United letting him out on loan, not in the position they’re in. They’re going for the league title, they’re going for the FA Cup, he’s got to bide his time, the team is playing well now.

“His time will come. It’s simple, they’re going to need the players over the course of this season, so he’s just got to bide his time.

“If he’s a top player, he will get in the team, but the way they’re playing at the moment, he’s just got to be patient.”

With Inter Milan among the interested parties, there are still questions over whether they would be able to afford his colossal wages as Van de Beek, who is valued at £36m by Transfermarkt, currently earns more than the likes of Ashley Young and Milan Skriniar.

Indeed, according to reports, the Dutchman currently earns around £120,000-per-week at Old Trafford. However, if Inter are serious about their title ambitions, signing a player of Van de Beek’s calibre would be a step in the right direction.

But to all intents and purposes, it seems the Red Devils are reluctant to sanction such a move, particularly as a lack of depth has cost Solskjaer’s side in the past.

Most importantly, however, it appears that Van de Beek doesn’t seem to be too keen on a potential move himself. Therefore, it’s hard to imagine a move being completed before the transfer window closes tomorrow.

AND in other news, Manchester United ace Edinson Cavani let Solskjaer down in Arsenal draw…

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, Carlton Palmer has said that Christian Benteke could be a fantastic signing for West Bromwich Albion.

Benteke could be useful

The Baggies have been linked with a move for the Belgium international (The Express and Star), who has scored three times in 11 matches for Crystal Palace in the Premier League so far this campaign (Transfermarkt).

Palmer believes that Sam Allardyce is right to target the 30-year-old. He said:

“Benteke is one of those strikers, he’s only scored three goals this season but he brings a lot more to the table and maybe in West Brom’s situation, where they’re battling, he can put in a shift up front, he is good at holding the ball up and he’s good at heading the ball at both ends of the pitch. Benteke might be a player who could be useful to West Brom, to help them stay in the league.”

Interesting option

While Benteke has not had the best time of it in recent years – he has just ten Premier League goals since the 2016/2017 campaign – he is still a striker with a fantastic pedigree. He has 75 goals in the top flight to his name despite that disappointing run, and his record this term has shown flashes of the ability that once saw him earn a £32.5m to Liverpool (BBC).

Currently valued at £8.1m (Transfermarkt), Allardyce has confirmed that Benteke is on his radar (Sky Sports). He actually managed the striker during his time at Selhurst Park, so he is someone he is at least familiar with. As West Brom look to stay among the elite, Benteke could provide a boost to the side’s attacking options.

In other news, West Brom fans were delighted by this Champions League giants’ struggles.

Farhad Moshiri must urge Everton to boot Cenk Tosun out of Goodison Park in January amid claims of negotiations with West Bromwich Albion over a permanent transfer.

What’s the word?

According to Ekrem Konur, the Baggies have held talks with the Toffees over a potential deal for Tosun to move to The Hawthorns this winter with the Turkey international warm to their approach.

Tosun has struggled to establish himself under Carlo Ancelotti with just six outings to his name since recovering from cruciate ligament surgery, which saw the £60,000-per-week deadweight’s half-season loan with Crystal Palace called short last March.

Tosun enjoyed his second-longest appearance of the season so far as Everton lost 1-0 at home to West Ham United on Friday night, with only a 21-minute cameo at Newcastle eclipsing his 11-minute run out against the Hammers.

Crystal Palace were in possession of a £20m option to buy Tosun at the end of his loan spell last season, with Everton pushing to recoup as much of the £27m Sam Allardyce paid to sign the 29-year-old from Besiktas in 2018.

Allardyce has been claimed to be behind West Brom’s interest this month, with The Mirror (27/12, p. 69) suggesting the one-game England boss is keen on a reunion as he seeks to bolster the attacking threat of his relegation-threatened side.

It remains to be seen how highly Everton value Tosun this January having requested £20m for the 45-cap international since January 2019, when the Eintracht Frankfurt product was first deemed surplus to requirements at Goodison Park by former head coach Marco Silva.

Time to go

Moshiri must surely step in and urge Everton’s Director of Football Marcel Brands to seal a permanent deal to sell Tosun to West Brom this month with the two sides reportedly holding talks.

Tosun’s time at Goodison Park has been up for the past two years, but has continually stuck around through the Toffees’ inability to secure the fee they have demanded and a serious injury throwing a potential deal with Crystal Palace out of the window.

The Blues may struggle to find a suitor willing to pay £20m in the current market with Tosun yet to score since making his return to action in November, while only scoring five of his 10 Everton goals since Allardyce departed Merseyside in the summer of 2018.

Tosun netted five times in 14 games under Allardyce during the current Baggies boss’ time on Merseyside, but failed to repeat his success under Silva and has now been granted permission to leave by Ancelotti after just 44 minutes of game time.

Ancelotti has come nowhere near to seeing Tosun add to his record, either, with the 29-year-old yet to register a single shot or attempt a dribble under the Italian while losing 50% of his aerial duels, per WhoScored, highlighting Moshiri’s need to urge Brands to seal a deal with West Brom.

AND in other news, a rarely-seen £11m Everton “luxury” may have played his final game at Goodison Park.

Perhaps the time is really up for Dele Alli at Tottenham Hotspur…

What’s been said?

The 24-year-old continues to be snubbed by Jose Mourinho – for the ninth time in the Premier League this season, the two-time former PFA Young Player of the Year was completely omitted from their matchday squad as Spurs defeated arch-rivals Arsenal on Sunday.

Indeed, Alli has only played 66 minutes in the English top-flight this term, and just 333 minutes in all competitions. Even despite his two goals and one assist in the Europa League, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that he isn’t in their plans anymore.

Former England midfielder Carlton Palmer alluded to this during an exclusive interview with Football FanCast last week, he said:

“If [Mourinho] can’t get him to do what he wants him to do, he’ll let him go. He will let him go. He’s not afraid to do that.”

Time to go?

It’s strange to believe that even Tanguy Ndombele, who was frequently in and out of the side last season under the Portuguese, is actually ahead of Alli in the pecking order.

The £46.8m-rated dynamo, who earns around £150k-per-week in N17, has seen a meteoric drop in his career as he also finds himself out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad ahead of the summer’s European Championships.

Once lauded as a “freak of a talent” who could one day eclipse the likes of Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes, it is really no surprise to see that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy wants to keep hold of him at all costs.

But if the tough negotiator wants to make any money on him in the near future, then the January transfer window may be the only good opportunity to cash in on him, so he ought to consider a U-turn this month.

As each game passes by, it’s just becoming clearer and clearer that there is no future for Alli under Mourinho; it would certainly be a waste to continue to let him burn a hole in Levy’s own pocket.

The funds generated could well help bolster their backline having missed out on Milan Skriniar during the summer.

AND in other news, Spurs swoop for “extraordinary” £45m beast like Dembele could complete Mourinho’s midfield…

If you’re a Newcastle fan who’s been sitting through games this season without giving into the urge of falling asleep or tearing your hair out, then fair play.

Make no mistake about it, the Magpies have been a bore to watch, almost too afraid to launch attacks in fear of getting a nosebleed. It’s no surprise that they rank bottom for both shots on goal and shots on target in the Premier League. That’s not to mention the fact they seem allergic to wanting to hold possession too, ranking third-worst in that.

Steve Bruce’s side are desperate for some excitement and energy to lift spirits, and even without fans being able to make their voices heard inside St James’ Park, the discontentment is growing immeasurably with each passing on-pitch disappointment.

The Newcastle boss however, could change the mood with a bold selection call. Namely, the introduction of summer signing Rodrigo Vilca.

The Peruvian arrived from Deportivo Municipal, and has been featuring for the Magpies’ U23s side, playing fives times. Speaking back when the club had confirmed his arrival, Chris Hogg, Newcastle United’s lead player development coach for the U23s​, said: “We’re delighted to have Rodrigo here. He’s an exciting attacking player, and we’ll be hoping to see that attacking ability. We’ll be looking to give him the opportunity to improve with us and be a part of Newcastle United’s future.”

It might be very early to bring him in, especially given that he has only played a handful of times for the reserves. But the first-team are absolutely crying out for someone to bring something new to the side, an unpredictability that gets fans off their sofas.

Capable of playing off the right or just behind the striker, Vilca can just help Bruce change things up a bit. The Magpies are aimlessly drifting at the moment, and the manager’s reluctance to freshen things up both in terms of personnel and tactics is holding them back. Unleashing their 21-year-old summer arrival could hold the key to fixing that.

West Ham United icon Frank McAvennie has claimed David Moyes gave Aaron Cresswell a “kick up the backside” by fielding Arthur Masuaku in the starting line-up.

What’s he said?

While speaking with Football Insider, McAvennie has stated how the arrival of Said Benrahma on loan from Brentford will offer Pablo Fornals competition for a place on the left-hand side of Moyes’ forward line.

The Irons legend feels the Algerian can bring from the Spaniard what Masuaku has brought out of Cresswell, having seen the former Ipswich Town defender thrive in a central defensive position after losing the left-back role to the DR Congo international.

McAvennie is unsure to what extent Benrahma can replicate his Brentford performances at the London Stadium, where Grady Diangana was sold for £18million this summer much to the anger of club captain Mark Noble.

Benrahma has since arrived on a season-long loan featuring a £20m obligation to buy, but has only recorded one assist and is yet to start in claret and blue. McAvennie was pleased with what he saw from the 25-year-old during his 18-minute cameo at home to Fulham, though.

“Benrahma played well when he came on,” McAvennie said. “I did not see the logic in selling Diangana and buying Benrahma but that does not mean that I do not rate Benrahma.

“He is proving what a fantastic player he is, and he is showing glimpses of what he can do. It looks like he will come in [and] provide competition for Fornals on the left-hand side.

“The best thing he brings is competition for places. I know Cresswell has been playing as a centre-half but Masuaku coming in has given him a kick up the backside. It keeps the team ticking.”

Moyes: A tactical genius?

Moyes certainly appeared to hit gold by giving Cresswell the chance to impress at centre-half, having decided early on that Masuaku would be his preferred left-back following a move to a three-man core in defence.

Cresswell was far from at his best at left-back versus Newcastle United on the opening day of the Premier League season, having only registered two tackles, one clearance, two accurate crosses from six attempts, made no successful dribbles and lost possession 18 times, per SofaScore.

He immediately bettered that record when played at centre-half against Arsenal, with Cresswell recording six clearances, one tackle and winning each of his duels. Similarly, against Wolves, the £50,000-per-week ace registered five clearances, blocked two shots, completed 88% of his passes and played four key balls.

Cresswell’s performances have maintained that high-level, too, with a Man of the Match-worthy 8.6 rating against Leicester City thanks to six clearances, two interceptions and four key balls. He again earned the MOTM award against Fulham, as well, with 101 touches, 69 accurate passes, two clearances and one tackle as Lukasz Fabianski kept his third clean sheet of the season.

If Benrahma’s arrival can see a similar lift in Fornals’ performances as Masuaku was able to draw from Cresswell, Moyes will be in delirium at his tactical genius.

AND in other news, West Ham have been given the ideal chance to sign a “phenomenal” £20m David Moyes target.

Southampton are looking to improve on their 11th place finish from last season as they throw themselves into a new Premier League campaign. As it stands, the table is delivering a lot of surprises, with Everton and Aston Villa fighting for the top spot and Manchester United just three points above the relegation zone. In another dramatic twist, the Saints are currently level on points with Manchester City.

With a fiery Danny Ings leading the attacking line and new signings such as Theo Walcott ready to make waves, the south coasters look strong already. Fellow forward Che Adams recently gave insight to what might just be the key ingredient to their promising start.

“He [Hasenhuttl] is mad on stats. If we have done enough running, then the session will end, but obviously if we haven’t hit those targets, then we keep training until we do,” he told Hampshire Live. Whilst he admitted he isn’t too fussed on stat-based training himself, Adams has realised the importance of these kind of sessions.

Southampton looking to break the mould

With a top ten finish in mind, or maybe even a spot in Europe, Southampton will be looking to utilise every single member of the senior squad. Last season, the Saints conceded 60 goals – the fifth most in the Premier League. Hasenhuttl will be focusing on tightening up his defence whilst ensuring the midfield are striking the right balance between dropping back and getting forward.

The Austrian has also been experimenting with his squad this season, constantly moving his chess pieces to find the best combination. Jannik Vestergaard recently sprung into action after being benched in favour of Jack Stephens for the opening two matches of the term. Similarly, Nathan Redmond’s spot looks to be under severe threat, with Hasenhuttl sometimes preferring to opt for Moussa Djenepo on the left.

If he drives the Saints to meet their required targets in each training session, they will have more chance of performing to that standard on the pitch. With two wins, two losses and one draw so far, Southampton are certainly off to a solid start and will push to continue in this manner.

In other news, Ralph Hasenhuttl comments could mean new fate for Jannik Vestergaard…

With the news that Southampton striker Danny Ings has been ruled out of Friday’s game, Newcastle’s chances of clinching a second successive victory in the Premier League has undoubtedly gone up.

The England international has been the Saints’ talisman for a few seasons now, finishing just behind Leicester’s Jamie Vardy in the Golden Boot race last season, and starting the current campaign on fire too, netting five goals in eight games across all competitions.

So the fact Ings won’t be a part of the Southampton side that takes on Newcastle on Friday night is a major boost for Steve Bruce. But whilst that has gone in their favour, they could go even further on their path to clinching a victory by stopping one of the striker’s in-form teammates: James Ward-Prowse.

Spot the fact from the fib: Are these Premier League records true or false?

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Rated at £18m by Transfermarkt, the midfielder has been a vital part of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side this season, playing the full 90 minutes in each of their opening seven league games, wearing the armband for six of them.

His last two matches have been particularly impressive, netting in a 2-0 win over Everton a couple of weeks ago, before bagging a brace and providing an assist in Southampton’s thrilling 4-3 victory over Aston Villa last weekend.

The England international offers the kind of unique threat that you don’t see much of in the Premier League anymore, namely a dead-ball specialist who is currently right up there with the very best of them across Europe.

He struck two perfect free-kicks in that win over Villa, and his teammate, Jannik Vestergaard, couldn’t help but admire his talents after the game. The central defender said: “I think the second goal was even more impressive than the first he did. It was so close to the goal, to get it up and over the wall, there are not many football players that can do that. It was very impressive.”

And adding to that, his manager was equally keen on praising him. Hasenhuttl said: “It’s no coincidence he is our captain, he’s our role model for what we stand for – he’s an unbelievable fighter for the team. When he gets a chance around the box he is unbelievable. On free kicks he is amazing and he is getting better.”

On Friday, it goes without saying that Newcastle absolutely must avoid giving away cheap free-kicks in and around the box, and limiting the number of corners they allow can also go a long way to stopping the Saints.

Ings may not be there, but Ward-Prowse will be, and it’s up to the Magpies to stop him.

Speaking to Football Insider, pundit and former Scotland manager Alex McLeish has reacted to England manager Gareth Southgate’s ‘gamble’ over Harry Kane ahead of Tottenham’s return against West Ham. 

Kane, who played against Denmark despite muscle fatigue, is confirmed to be starting on Sunday with new summer signing Carlos Vinicius set to appear on the bench.

Kane gamble

However, in an alternate universe, things could have gone differently with Southgate’s gamble over the Englishman’s fitness during the international break.

Reacting to the national team manager’s decision, McLeish believes Jose Mourinho would have been ‘apoplectic’ over the choice to play him against Denmark in their 1-0 midweek defeat.

Indeed, the ‘exceptional’ forward is crucial to Tottenham’s hopes of achieving glory this season, and the fact Spurs suffered whilst he was sidelined with a hamstring injury last campaign could have been cause for worry.

At the time, McLeish believes Mourinho would have been lived, going on to explain the Portuguese’ potential thoughts surrounding Kane as the Lilywhites gear up for West Ham on Sunday.

“Mourinho will be apoplectic about that one, I’m sure he’ll be going: ‘Argh, what’s happening?’ You can imagine Jose,” explained McLeish to Football Insider.

“I think he’s got him back in one piece, his legs will probably be just a wee bit sore, the muscles and the masseurs will be working 24/7 over the next few days to get Harry back and ready for the next game.”

Transfer Tavern take

Luckily, as confirmed by Mourinho, Kane is indeed ready and fit to feature against the Hammers – a lucky stroke for the team.

In other news, marquee summer signings Gareth Bale and Carlos Vinicius could be set to make their debuts as supporters eagerly anticipate Spurs’ first game back since the international break.

Spurs fans, what will your front three look like against West Ham? Have your say in the comments down below…

Leeds United are edging closer to another club-record signing and this one could help fill the void left behind by former Marcelo Bielsa favourite Samuel Saiz…

What’s the word?

According to Football Insider, the Yorkshire giants have agreed on personal terms with Udinese midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, although a fee between the two teams is yet to be finalised.

It’s thought that the Premier League newcomers have offered a lucrative contract that is substantially more than his current €28k-per-week (£25k-per-week) wages.

This comes just a few days after transfer guru Fabrizio Romano revealed that the Serie A outfit would ask for between €30m (£26.5m) and €35m (£31m). Talks remain ongoing.

Shades of Saiz

Well, this would not only be one incredible signing for Leeds but also one hell of a statement to the rest of the Premier League having already eclipsed their club-record with a £26m swoop for Rodrigo from Valencia last week.

The 26-year-old seems to be the perfect all-round midfielder – per WhoScored, De Paul provided seven goals and six assists in Serie A last season. He also averaged 2.5 shots, 2.3 key passes, 1.8 dribbles and 1.8 tackles per game.

It’s no surprise to see many sing his praises both on a domestic and international level.

His manager Luca Gotti told Tuttomercato: “I think he is a player who has all the requirements for the high level. From a mental attitude point of view, he has a great personality.”

Meanwhile, former Valencia coach Juan Antonio Pizzi believes the box-to-box maestro “is the best prospect to come through in Argentina in the last five years.”

He very much sounds like a certain Saiz, described as a “natural, head-up dribbler capable of cutting in dangerously from the left and firing powerful and accurate efforts on goal,” this is certainly something United could do in that transition from defensive midfield to attack.

Saiz was the perfect complement to veteran Pablo Hernandez, but now that door is opened for De Paul should Victor Orta and co manage to secure him this summer.

AND in other news, Leeds told to pay £20m for Premier League winger…