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New Crystal Palace signings can put them on road to Europe

Crystal Palace ended last season under a cloud. A run of seven defeats and one draw to close the campaign saw Project Restart turn talk of Europe into suggestions that Roy Hodgson’s future could be in doubt.

Two games into the new season, though, and things look a lot brighter at Selhurst Park.

The Eagles are revitalised and have made a perfect start after an opening-day victory over Southampton was followed by an impressive win at Manchester United.

Hodgson has always been a pragmatist when it comes to his approach to matches — his Palace side has always been remarkably well-drilled, if a little restrained — but after a summer of investment and exiting attacking arrivals, he has licence to be more adventurous.

That has been evidenced by the 73-year-old’s change of tack so far this season. A holding midfielder has been sacrificed for another forward alongside the striker, while Hodgson has twice turned to Eberechi Eze from the bench while holding one-goal leads, rather than simply looking to shut up shop.

Eze is one of three summer signings who, alongside Michy Batshuayi and Nathan Ferguson, has added youth, vibrancy and competition to a squad that had become a rather stagnant. They could soon be joined by more new faces, with Palace keen on both Brentford’s Said Benrahma and Liverpool’s Rhian Brewster.

On top of the new additions, Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend look revived.
Both players endured tough campaigns last season, with Zaha struggling for form after he missed out on a move to Arsenal, while Townsend fell out of favour and suffered from injury problems.

With under a month until the close of the window, there seems little prospect of Zaha leaving. And, so far, he has not clamoured for a move. Palace’s talisman is fit, firing and seemingly happy to stay and play his part.

Hodgson said at the end of season that if Palace had the transfer window he wanted, then those slim hopes of European football last season could become more realistic this term.

He warned yesterday that it is still the early stages of a long campaign. Against Everton tomorrow, Palace face a real test of what their summer of evolution has done in terms of their prospects. Everton, too, have invested well and got their season off to a flying start. The meeting at Selhurst Park could be the acid test of Palace’s ambitions.

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Solskjaer offers Man United transfer update

On Chris Smalling he said: “Different things need to happen, then. So let’s wait and see if there’s that change. Let’s see what happens if and when the transfer window closes and what happens to Chris.”

On potential new arrivals: “As I’ve said so many times I’m very confident in my players and if and when something happens with ins and outs we’ll update you. In football you can’t predict too much but for me we’re just working on getting better.”

Alex Morgan could make Spurs debut at Arsenal

Tottenham Women head-coach has described the signing of Alex Morgan as a “dream” ahead of the superstar’s possible debut against Arsenal tomorrow.

Two-time World Cup winner Morgan has been training with Spurs for a week after her stunning arrival on a season-long deal from Orlando Pride and the club will make a “last minute” call on whether she starts at Meadow Park in the 2019-20 FA Cup quarter-final.

Morgan, who is still working her way back to peak condition after giving birth to her first child in May, is one of the biggest stars on the planet but she is joining a Spurs team which only turned professional last year.

Arsenal eye Jorginho

Sky Sports continue to report that Arsenal are interested in signing Jorginho from Chelsea before the window shuts.

Mikel Arteta was assistant manager at Manchester City wanted to bring the Italian to the Etihad Stadium before he was eventually reunited with his former Napoli boss, Maurizio Sarri, at Chelsea.

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Liverpool cool Sarr interest

Liverpool are no longer interested in signing Ismaila Sarr from Watford, according to talkSPORT.

The Reds completed a £45m deal to sign Diogo Jota from Wolves last week, meaning Jurgen Klopp now has six forwards to choose from in Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi.

The report claims the Reds are no longer pursuing the Senegal international, who was valued at £40m by his club, and that could put Aston Villa in the driving seat.

Spurs enter Milik talks

Tottenham are making moves in the transfer market and Italy seems to be their favoured area for finding players.

We have already brought you the news that the club are in discussions over Inter Milan centre-back Milan Skriniar and according to The Athletic, talks have taken place with Napoli about the availability of striker Arkadiusz Milik.

The 26-year-old looks set to leave the San Paolo after turning down a new contract but so far, proposed moves to Juventus and Roma have fallen through.

It is believed Spurs would favour a loan move for the Poland international, while Napoli favour a sale due to his contract expiring next summer.

Liverpool strength emphasised as Brewster nears exit door

If Rhian Brewster’s withdrawal from Liverpool’s squad last night served as confirmation of his impending departure, the team named in his absence offered an insight into the reasons why he might be keen to leave.

Even without a striker considered one of the leading English talents of his generation, Jurgen Klopp found himself able to put out a side capable of claiming a thumping 7-2 win over Lincoln City.

Yes, it was League One opposition, and yes the presence of a partisan home support would no doubt have made the tie trickier, but that is an impressive scoreline in any circumstance.

What’s more, it is hard to see where Brewster would even have figured in the starting line-up – a state of affairs that just won’t do for a gifted young player entering a delicate period in his development.

By full-time on Thursday it was apparent that there is no shame in the 20-year-old looking to move on for regular football when, clearly, the alternative is scrapping for minutes as part of the strongest Liverpool squad ever constructed.

PSG pull out of Dele loan talks

Paris Saint-Germain are set to withdraw their bid to sign Dele Alli on loan from Tottenham, according to The Telegraph.

The 24-year-old has been tipped to leave the north London side after the return of Gareth Bale from Real Madrid, with Alli left out of Jose Mourinho’s last two matchday squads.

PSG reportedly entered negotiations about a one-year loan agreement but it is reported Spurs’ financial demands are

Mendy: ‘At a club like Chelsea, you have to win’

New Chelsea signing Edouard Mendy has outlined his ambitions after joining the club he supported as a boy.

Mendy completed his £22million transfer from Rennes on Thursday morning as Frank Lampard looked to increase competition for the No1 spot at Stamford Bridge.

Kepa Arrizabalaga, the world’s most expensive goalkeeper, joined Chelsea in 2018 but has struggled to impress under Lampard and has made a string of mistakes this season already.

While Mendy is expected to eventually emerge as the club’s No.1 goalkeeper, the Senegalese international is more than aware of what is required at his new club.

“I want to adapt to this league, continue my progression that has been constant for a number of years, and to win,” he told the club’s official website. “At a club like Chelsea, you have to win.”

Atletico in Torreira talks – but no Partey swap with Arsenal

Atletico Madrid are close to signing Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira on a season-long loan, but the two teams are yet to reach an agreement.

The Uruguayan is not part of Mikel Arteta’s future plans at Arsenal and is wanted by Atletico coach Diego Simeone, a long-standing admirer of the former Sampdoria player.

Standard Sport understands Atletico’s new signing, Luis Suarez, has also given his blessing to the arrival of his compatriot – having also recommended Torreira to Arsenal’s former Head of Football Raul Sanhelli in 2018.

Torreira, who is also being tracked by Torino, is keen to join Atletico.

However, the deal has been complicated because Atletico are keen to seal a loan move without an obligation to buy the midfielder, while Arsenal want to make a permanent deal compulsory.

In addition, Atletico need to remove more players from their wage bill and hope to sell or loan Mexico midfielder Hector Herrera in the coming days, which could further delay the completion of this transfer.

Atletico still hope to keep midfielder Thomas Partey, a long-time target for the Gunners, and the Ghanaian is not part of the negotiations for Torreira.

AS Monaco want Tottenham’s Dele Alli

AS Monaco are the latest Ligue 1 side to be linked with a move for Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli.

Reports emerged last week that PSG were interested in a move for the England international, though Spurs’ apparent reluctance to let the midfielder leave has seen interest dissipate.

But 90min reports that AS Monaco are also monitoring his situation at Tottenham.

Coutinho to Arsenal still on

Arsenal could yet sign Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho on a season-long loan, according to reports.

The Gunners have been the go-to club for some time with regards to speculation linking the former Liverpool star with a return to the Premier League.

And the Daily Star reports that a season-long loan deal is still not out of the question, with just over seven days remaining in the transfer window.

Man United to make final offer for Sancho next week

Manchester United will make a final £90m offer for Jadon Sancho next week.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s chief transfer target has already started the season with Borussia Dortmund with the Germans holding firm on their £109m valuation thus far.

The Mirror reports that United will return to the negotiating table however with an offer worth £75m up front with £15m to follow in add-ons.

The report adds there will be no negotiating over the structure of the deal.