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Crystal Palace have been enjoying a promising season so far, and Patrick Vieira is now in a position to lead his side to a top-half finish if they can find a good run of form in the last few months of the season.

The club enjoyed a busy transfer window in the summer and have been linked with a few players this month, but emulating the previous transfer window could be off the cards.

What’s the word?

Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge has made a fresh claim on the likely scenario for the rest of the winter transfer window in terms of the Eagles adding players to their squad during January.

He told GiveMeSport: “Things are going pretty well under Patrick Vieira at the moment. He would like to add maybe one or two, but from what I’m told, they’re happy. And it would have to take a bit of a crisis injury wise to change that at the moment.”

Palace have been strongly linked with two players over the last few weeks, with both Eddie Nketiah and Bamba Dieng having their names put forward as potential targets for the south London club. However, nothing has materialised as of yet, and no bids have been made for either player.

Fans will be fuming

With nine draws in the Premier League this season, there have been plenty of missed opportunities to rack up a few more wins and push even higher up the table. The loss of two points late on against Brighton on Friday night, and the concession of a last-gasp equaliser in the reverse fixture in September, illustrates as such.

Being linked with attacking players such as Nketiah and Dieng could well have strengthened Vieira’s options when it comes to maximising output in the final third of the pitch.

Some Palace fans have been outlining the positions where they feel the squad need strengthening this month, but Bridge’s update suggests that supporters waiting on new arrivals in January will be left fuming.

Although the Eagles are lodged in a comfortable mid-table position, all it takes is a handful of injuries to key players for their squad to suddenly appear threadbare. Therefore, it could be a source of frustration that the club seem content not to bolster their playing ranks this month while they are getting the opportunity to do so.

In other news: Journalist drops huge update on Eagles target Eddie Nketiah

Armstrong Oko-Flex has left Celtic and sealed a move to Premier League side West Ham, leading a number of Hoops fans to react to the deal on social media.

The versatile forward made the move to Parkhead back in 2018, with the Hoops delighted at securing his services from Arsenal.

However, things didn’t go to plan for Oko-Flex in Glasgow. He made just two senior appearances for Celtic, both of which came after the Hoops had to rely on a number of their academy players to fulfil Scottish Premiership fixtures following Christopher Jullien’s positive result back in January.

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Oko-Flex featured as a substitute in the draws against Hibernian and Livingston but has now departed after his contract in Glasgow expired.

He has signed a two-year deal with the Hammers, who have the option to extend that for a further 12 months.

Celtic fans react

Celtic confirmed the move on their official Twitter page on Friday evening. This is what these Hoops supporters had to say in reply, with one describing his exit as ‘good’ and another labelling him as a ‘beast’.

“Rotten player. Super deal”Credit: @pajmanio”There’s the first one”Credit: @EddieMcArdle93″Good.”Credit: @RogicSZN”Pointless exercise, like many who have arrived and left”Credit: @COYBIG15″He’s a wee beast anyway”Credit: @kthed0312″He must have some agent”Credit: @gazzarinho1″Goodbye and good riddance”Credit: @Smithybhoy798

In other news: Alan Nixon provides Aaron Hickey to Celtic update, find out more here. 

Tottenham Hotspur may have to be a little smart with their transfer business this summer and it appears they already have their sights set on an absolute bargain.

According to the Daily Mail, the Premier League outfit are monitoring Celtic midfielder Ismaila Soro ahead of a potential swoop in the upcoming window.

Spurs are still in the face for a top-four finish but given their fortunes since the turn of the year and the sacking of Jose Mourinho, it would be some feat to pass either Chelsea, West Ham or Liverpool to that final spot.

Another season in the Europa League could beckon, or even worse, the north Londoners could be left without those midweek European matches.

It means Daniel Levy has a tricky task of negotiating the transfer window with likely few funds at the new manager’s disposal, so a move for Soro, who cost the Scottish giants just £2.7m could become more and more likely.

The 22-year-old powerhouse has been likened to N’Golo Kante and that should provide some encouragement over his credentials.

Speaking to The Scottish Sun, the Ivorian’s former coach at Israeli side Bnei Yehuda, Ori Guttman, made the lofty comparison.

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When I saw Soro I was immediately excited. From the first second I noticed his explosive power,” revealed Guttman.

“Now he reminds me of N’Golo Kante at Chelsea. Kante maybe doesn’t look like he’s strong, but he is. He wins most duels and tackles. Soro does the same and wins the battles too. Both are good at dribbling with the ball. Neither of them score a lot of goals. They need creative guys alongside them in midfield, so they are alike in that way.”

Spurs should not be apprehensive about signing players from north of the border, either. After all, Victor Wanyama was a hit for several years in north London and in Soro, they could actually unearth another Mousa Dembele – his long-standing partner in the engine room.

The Belgian beast was renowned for being a brute force in the heart of the pitch, one that was ‘big, powerful and technically gifted.’

Soro is cut from the same cloth – in the SPFL this term, he’s averaged three tackles and 2.1 interceptions every 90 minutes, proving to be that anchorman-like rock in front of the backline, whilst 1.3 dribbles per 90 shows he likes to drift forward too.

And in one Europa League clash with Lille, he made a whopping ten tackles alone.

Very much in a similar vein to that of Dembele.

It remains to be seen how much the young 5 foot 8 midfielder would cost Spurs this summer but they could well land themselves a bargain whatever the price. If he becomes half the player of a Kante or a Dembele, then they’ll have one hell of a beast at their disposal.

AND in other news, Forget Nagelsmann: “Unbelievable” Premier League guru could rejuvenate Spurs…

Everton are interested in signing £27m-rated Atalanta defender Merih Demiral this summer and he could be the perfect replacement for Michael Keane.

What’s the story?

According to journalist Yakup Cinar (via Goodison News) Everton are among several sides who are “interested” in signing the 24-year-old who’s is currently on loan at Atalanta from Juventus.

They have the option to make the move permanent in the summer for £23.5m, but could potentially sell Demiral on for a profit like they did with Cristian Romero. When interviewed by TuttoJuve.com Cinar said that the interest in the player is high.

He’s miles better than Keane

Everton are battling for survival at the moment and are currently in the relegation zone. Whether or not they stay in the Premier League this summer doesn’t change the fact that they need a squad overhaul.

Many of their current players have underperformed massively this season, and one of those is defender Michael Keane, who Demiral could replace if he is brought to Goodison Park.

Keane has featured several times for the Toffees this season and has been a key part of their troubled defence. They have only managed to keep six clean sheets in the league all campaign, and it has led to Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher rightly calling their back four “Championship level”.

Demiral has been described by outlet Goal as a “brick wall” and at 6 foot 2, he is a strong presence in the box. He impressed when facing English side Manchester United in the group stage of the Champions League earlier this season, scoring versus the Red Devils and winning 100% of his duels in a 3-2 defeat, so he has proven himself against Premier League opposition already.

The Turkey international is a force in the air, being ranked in the top 2% when it comes to aerial duals won compared with other centre backs in Europe’s top five leagues over the last year.

When you compare him directly to Keane he’s also better on the ball with a higher pass completion percentage of 87.5% compared to 77.3%. He’s also tackled a higher percentage of dribblers than the Englishman.

If Demiral is available at a decent price in the summer then Frank Lampard should look no further than him to solve their issues at the back. At 24 he can also be a figurehead at the club for years to come.

IN other news: More misery: Alan Myers drops four-word Everton claim that’ll leave supporters fuming…

Fans of Manchester City have been reacting to a post on Twitter, which relayed a report regarding City’s pursuit of Borussia Dortmund centre-forward, Erling Haaland.

According to James Ducker’s article for The Telegraph, Manchester City view Haaland as Sergio Aguero’s long-term successor at the Etihad Stadium, with Pep Guardiola’s side thought to be eager to get a deal done for the 20-year-old despite likely competition from Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United, following confirmation of Aguero departure this summer.

Ducker also goes on to claim that, in spite of the fact a move for the £99 million-rated Norway international almost certainly meaning that City would have to smash their £65 million incoming transfer record, the club’s desire to sign the Dortmund forward remains strong.

And, after City Xtra relayed the report on Twitter, fans of Manchester City flocked to have their say on the matter, with many appearing ecstatic at the prospect of their club pursuing a deal for the centre-forward this summer.

So, what exactly did these Manchester City fans have to say in reaction to the report regarding Erling Haaland?

“That’s what I like to hear!”

@JMC_OfficiaI

“This is what we like to hear. Eases the pain of today’s news.”

@Priceless_Silva

“This is getting spicy.”

@DiasMcfc

“If we just sign him I would be very happy.”

@mancitymj14

“He’s the only reasonable replacement.”

@MattHarl42

“Firstly, Aguero is irreplaceable. But apart from that, this is needed.”

@lnGoodKompany

“Just pay whatever it needs to get him. If we don’t get Haaland after letting Aguero go someone needs to leave.”

@NickFilipovich

“WHAT I LIKE TO HEAR.”

@WaporteMC

In other news: These Man City fans were ecstatic as this transfer news emerged – find out more here!

Ange Postecoglou has now had a few days under his belt to get to know some of the Celtic players.

He touched down in Glasgow for the first time last week following quarantine and has now held his first training sessions at Lennoxtown.

The Hoops have a number of pre-season friendly matches to look forward to before their Champions League qualifying campaign gets underway.

They will, however, have to undergo the first few weeks of training without those players who went to the European Championships.

Postecoglou will also have to make quick decisions on the futures of Odsonne Edouard and Kristoffer Ajer who could both leave but a new manager should act as a clean slate and a fresh start for every player on their books.

On the chalkboard

The same goes for Boli Bolingoli, a player who if Neil Lennon was still in charge, would have no future at the club.

Last summer, the Belgian was forced to move out on loan following a remarkable set of events.

During the height of the pandemic, Bolingoli visited Spain for an unsanctioned trip that the club wasn’t aware of.

The defender failed to quarantine upon his return and then featured in the matchday squad against Kilmarnock a few days later. He featured as a substitute, not only putting his teammates at risk but also the playing and coaching staff at Killie.

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Speaking in the aftermath of that situation, Lennon called him “stupid” before going onto say: “This has been premeditated. You don’t book a flight to Spain on a whim. He knew exactly what he was doing. So this has been quite calculated. It’s been total disregarding of the outcome and the risks involved, so he will be dealt with in the strongest possible way by the club.”

That incident has now been brushed under the carpet but the £15k-per-week earner would be fortunate to earn an opportunity under Postecoglou anyway.

Celtic appear to be in the market for a left-sided defender this summer after Diego Laxalt’s loan spell came to an end with Aaron Hickey being targeted for a Bhoys reunion.

On top of that, the new manager has plenty of younger players at his disposal.

Adam Montgomery made his first-team breakthrough at left-back under John Kennedy towards the back end of the season and he could get more senior minutes after Postecoglou placed blooding the next generation on his list of priorities.

Celtic also have Matthew Anderson coming through the ranks, a youngster who has already earned comparisons to Kieran Tierney.

Bolingoli burned his bridges at Paradise 12 months ago and shouldn’t have a look in, especially with younger options coming through.

AND in other news, Alan Nixon drops exciting Celtic transfer news, fans should be buzzing…

David Moyes is in line to receive a major behind-the-scenes boost at West Ham United this summer…

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, the 58-year-old Scotsman has hired his son, David Moyes Jnr, to work in the Irons’ revamped scouting and recruitment network.

It’s a move that highlights his growing influence at the East London outfit as he’s been trusted to form his own scouting department, with more senior appointments expected in the near future.

Moyes Jnr has left his role as an agent with Wasserman, who have some big names like Man City’s John Stones and Liverpool defender Joe Gomez on their books, to join his father at the London Stadium.

GSB trust

This will come as a hugely encouraging boost to many at the Hammers, especially Moyes, who has seemingly earned the trust of the club’s hierarchy during his second stint.

The former Everton boss was linked with a sensational return to Goodison Park before signing a new three-year extension and in the 16 months or so that he’s been back, he’s transformed West Ham’s fortunes greatly.

After avoiding relegation with one game to go in 2019/20, the Scot guided the squad into the Europa League, recording their best-ever points tally and their highest finish since 1999.

Moyes has managed to achieve such a feat thanks to his impressive coaching on the training ground as well as his phenomenal recruitment in the transfer market.

Nobody could’ve foreseen the impact of unknown Czech duo Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal, who both appear to be two absolute bargains, whilst the turnaround in Jesse Lingard’s career was just as unpredictable.

And that’s all thanks to Moyes.

Therefore, it should come as little surprise to see GSB put their faith in the 58-year-old to build his own scouting network.

This sort of thing escaped him during his first tenure, so it represents a change in attitude from those at the very top and that’ll come as a hugely exciting boost to West Ham.

Moyes will have to do the business in the window once again if they are to stand a chance at remaining competitive next season as right now, the squad lacks substantial depth options right across the pitch.

Either way, fans should be buzzing by this latest development from Rush Green.

AND in other news, Hammers must secure “unbelievable” 30-goal beast amid concerning ExWHUemployee update…

Grab a pen, get a list of players in the Celtic reserve squad and put a tick next to those who have played senior football for the Bhoys.

As you will quickly realise, it’s a quick and simple task; not many have actually been afforded an opportunity at Parkhead.

One of the main criticisms of Neil Lennon’s tenure was that he didn’t give chances to young players. Karamoko Dembele has featured on just four occasions since making his debut as a 17-year-old while a lack of opportunities led to Cameron Harper’s exit.

Despite possessing senior minutes for Bolton, Luca Connell hasn’t been given any appearances for the Celtic first-team and is now on loan at Queen’s Park.

Another young player out on loan is Leo Hjelde. A 17-year-old Norwegian, there are plenty of comparisons to be made with a certain Kristoffer Ajer.

The duo are cut from the same cloth; they are centre-backs and they both came from Norway to Paradise at a particularly young age.

Ajer has made a seamless transition into the senior side over the last few years and is now one of the first names on the team sheet.

Hjelde is enjoying a temporary stay at Ross County but unfortunately, he could be on his way out of the club on a permanent basis before he’s even made his Celtic debut.

That’s because Southampton are interested in signing the teenager this summer. The Saints love a Celtic player and have managed to prise away the likes of Fraser Forster and Victor Wanyama in recent years.

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The main one, however, is Virgil van Dijk. He left for Southampton in 2015 for a fee of just £13m. He has since become a global icon of the sport, moving to Liverpool in a deal worth £75m in 2018.

Of course, the exponential rate at which his value has grown was because of his initial stint in the Premier League, but such is his quality that if the Hoops waited a little longer, they could have received an ever bigger fee.

Ronny Deila was the manager who Van Dijk departed under and it was clearly a mistake from a financial point of view to let him go when they did.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look as though the Bhoys have learnt their lesson. In a move that’s showing shades of the colossal Dutchman, Hjelde could be the latest in a long line of players to swap Glasgow for the south coast of England; a move that would surely upset plenty of supporters along the way. After all, they must be fed up of being a selling club.

But there is more to Hjelde than just a Southampton connection. Like Van Dijk, he is cool and calm in possession of the ball and is assured when passing out from the back.

Ross County boss John Hughes has been glowing in his appraisals for the centre-back, telling Not The Old Firm: “Leo is going to be the next Van Dijk. Trust me on that.”

Speaking about his game in the past, Hjelde has drawn comparisons in his game to both Ajer and the Liverpool centre-half: “I like to be on the ball and try to create things too but my main priority always has to be defending,” he said.

Indeed, if they can keep him at the club this summer he could well transition into Celtic’s Ajer replacement. It would also give them a chance to bump up any potential fee they receive in the future.

That was something Celtic didn’t do with a certain Van Dijk.

AND in other news, Celtic may finally replace Tierney by signing 18 y/o who could end up “like Busquets”…

West Ham United are likely to try and tempt Olivier Giroud into a move this summer…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Eurosport’s Dean Jones, who claims the Irons have a long-term interest in the Chelsea forward and are set to make a move for him when his contract expires next month.

The East Londoners were said to be keen on the 34-year-old during the January transfer window, via the Mirror, as David Moyes looked to bolster his options following the departure of club-record flop Sebastian Haller.

Giroud has been at Chelsea since joining from Arsenal in January 2018 but his £110k-per-week deal comes to an end this summer, with the Blues unlikely to renew it.

Shades of Cole

It’s no secret that Moyes needs fresh additions in the striker department ahead of next season, especially with a Europa League campaign on the horizon.

Giroud would be an interesting option to consider, even more so as he’d cost GSB absolutely nothing in terms of splashing out a transfer fee. Effectively, they could bring him in as well as another striker.

The World Cup winner has vast experience in the Premier League, where he has featured 255 times and scored 90 goals, as per Transfermarkt. He has also picked up 107 caps for France, and won a whopping four FA Cups.

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West Ham also lack players with a history in these European competitions, another positive factor behind signing Giroud, as he won the competition with Chelsea in 2019.

Valued at just £4.5m by Transfermarkt, the French veteran has previously been described as “an extremely underrated player” by former top-flight talisman Gary Lineker, who also added: “His intelligent movement and finishing are exceptional. He’ll always score plenty of goals.”

The Hammers have long lacked a proper target man as Haller clearly failed to live up to expectations, so perhaps Moyes can finally find the club their next Carlton Cole in Giroud.

After all, both would have arrived from their west London rivals and both are over 6 foot 3 in stature.

Furthermore, the former West Ham legend was always a mystery on the pitch. In other words, he was either absolute quality or just shocking.

Giroud, you could argue, has been very similar throughout his career in England. Back in 2015, the Daily Star lambasted his goalscoring record, claiming that even Steven Fletcher had been performing better but then we’ve seen him score some phenomenal strikes too.

That scorpion kick against Crystal Palace in 2017 springs to mind – that won him the Puskas award that year – as does his bicycle kick against Atletico Madrid earlier this campaign.

He’s certainly still got it and considering he won’t cost a thing, the Irons must make a swoop for the 6 foot 4 beast this summer.

AND in other news, Benrahma 2.0: West Ham must land “magic” 17-goal monster who’s “got a lot of ability”…

Crystal Palace secured their first victory under new manager Patrick Vieira in emphatic style, seeing off Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 at Selhurst Park.

A red card for Spurs defender Japhet Tanganga just before the hour mark swung an evenly-contested game in the Eagles’ favour, with the 22-year-old being dismissed when the match was still goalless.

Tottenham’s day went from bad to worse soon after when Palace were awarded a penalty following a handball, and Wilfried Zaha made no mistake from the spot.

Summer signing Odsonne Edouard stole the show at the end, bagging a well-taken brace in the closing stages after entering the pitch as an 84th-minute substitute to make his debut for the south London outfit.

However, it was Zaha who was really the star of the show throughout, playing a pivotal part in Vieira securing his first league win for Palace at the fourth time of asking.

As per SofaScore, the Ivory Coast international received a match rating of 8.3 out of 10, the highest of any player who started the game after scoring once and providing an assist for Edouard’s first goal.

However, Zaha’s underlying numbers are arguably even more impressive. After being embroiled in a tussle with Spurs full-back Emmerson Royal during the 90 minutes, Palace’s talisman won a whopping 11 duels, made three key passes and completed six successful dribbles.

The former Manchester United gem had struggled in the early stages of the season, failing to make any goal contributions in his first four appearances of 2021/22, but he returned to form in emphatic fashion this afternoon.

Vieira will be hoping to see more of the same from Zaha throughout the campaign, and if the 28-year-old can reproduce his performance from today on a regular basis, then Palace should be in for an exciting few months.

In other news… Journalist reveals exciting Crystal Palace transfer update which will have fans buzzing