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This summer could well be one of the busiest and most crucial periods of Crystal Palace’s modern history.

The capital club are still attempting to move on from the departure of Roy Hodgson following a relatively successful four-year stint at the helm.

Several big names have been linked with replacing the former England boss at Selhurst Park, but Frank Lampard is a candidate believed to be high up on the Eagles’ wish list after talks with Nuno Santo proved unsuccessful.

A huge task awaits whoever fills the vacancy in south London, as over a dozen first-team players are set to become free agents at the end of the month.

That means the new boss will have to oversee a mass overhaul of the playing squad while working on a limited budget.

With that in mind, if he did take the job, how could Lampard’s starting XI look next season once the summer transfer window has concluded?

Here’s our prediction…

Spanish shot-stopper Vicente Guaita has hardly put a foot, or a glove, wrong since establishing himself as the Palace No.1 two-and-a-half years ago, meaning he is almost guaranteed to resume his place between the sticks no matter who arrives at Selhurst Park.

The defence is likely to have a largely different look to it following the departures of several experienced stars this summer.

Chelsea youngster Marc Guehi has been linked with a move from west to south London in recent weeks following a successful loan spell at Swansea City, and he is likely to cost in the region of £15 million, given Chelsea’s reported valuation.

He could be partnered by FC Copenhagen’s Victor Nelsson at the heart of defence, with the 22-year-old reportedly attracting admiring glances from Palace ahead of a potential £9m move.

Current Eagles players Tyrick Mitchell and Nathaniel Clyne may occupy the full-back positions if Lampard arrives, although the former Blues boss would have to extend Clyne’s contract first.

In midfield, experienced duo Luka Milivojevic and Cheikhou Kouyate could partner England Under-21 international Conor Gallagher.

The 21-year-old has been heavily linked with a £15m switch to Palace, and Lampard may use his Chelsea connections to secure the highly-rated youngster’s signature.

Key man Wilfried Zaha has left the door open to a £40m move away from his boyhood club, with chairman Steve Parish refusing to rule his exit out.

Therefore, Zaha’s departure looks more likely than ever, and Eberechi Eze’s injury means Lampard would have to deal without the creative attacker until the New Year.

However, their absences would allow January signing Jean-Philippe Mateta a chance to shine in the front three, while Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah and Sassuolo’s Jeremie Boga, both linked with Palace, could bolster the Palace attack in £20m and £34m moves, respectively.

And, in other news…Imagine him and Lampard: Palace could form a dream duo with “different class” £15m gem 

Plenty of Crystal Palace fans have been reacting to Wilfried Zaha’s comments regarding his Selhurst Park future on social media.

The 28-year-old still has over two years remaining on his Eagles deal and is the club’s top earner – taking home £130,000-a-week.

Reports last month suggested that Arsenal have reignited their interest in the versatile winger, with Palace now thought to be willing to cash in on his services this summer.

The Ivory Coast international, valued at £40.5m, is closing in on 400 appearances as a Palace player, but it seems as if he may not hit that landmark following his comments.

Zaha, talking to The Face, cited by Eurosport, admitted he would be open to a move away, revealing he wouldn’t turn down a transfer to a bigger club in a bid to win a trophy.

“I feel like I can have another shot at the top teams, because my dream is to win things.

​“I’m good enough to go out there and compete with the best. If the opportunity came, I wouldn’t turn it down, because I feel like I deserve it. It’s so I can show my kids: ‘This is what Daddy won.’”

Palace fans react

@CPFCtransfersHQ shared Zaha’s comments on Twitter on Friday evening. This is what these Palace supporters had to say in reply.

“Eze injured and Zaha going, I’m really not looking forward to next year”Credit: @joe_cpfc_01″Lol, I’m losing all hope for next season and this season hasn’t even finished”Credit: @Thomas01568186″Yeah he’s gone”Credit: @Sumo08112″Meh, who cares?”Credit: @bradhcpfc”Disappointed to read this. We deserve more respect”Credit: @AJWrightnBrite”Got to the point where I’m not bothered anymore”Credit: @Danny_CPFC

In other news: Many CPFC fans fume as ‘pathetic’ Matt Woosnam post emerges, find out more here. 

Celtic have a number of areas they need to strengthen this summer but none are arguably more important than the Hoops’ defence.

Of course, the Bhoys didn’t enjoy a good season in any shape or form but they can go a long way to winning the league again by addressing their backline.

What’s the word?

With Kristoffer Ajer potentially leaving, it only heightens Celtic’s need to find a defender this summer.

However, even if they do find an adequate replacement, they will not improve sufficiently until they find a new goalkeeper.

Celtic tried their best to lure Fraser Forster back to Paradise last summer but he remained in Southampton and will continue to do so next season.

After the failed signing of Vasilis Barkas, the Hoops have been eyeing a move for Dundee United stopper Benjamin Siegrist. The 29-year-old has been on their radar for a while now but the ‘keeper is thought to be keen on a switch.

In a recent interview with Blick (via Daily Record), he refused to rule out a switch to Parkhead. After being questioned about Celtic, he responded: “If there is interest, I’ll take a close look.”

Bullying Celtic

With Scott Bain and Barkas making a number of high profile errors this season, signing a player like Siegrist certainly makes sense.

After all, the Hoops need a goalkeeper who is going to stand tall between the posts, something they’ve not had since the colossal 6 foot 7 frame of Fraser Forster was in Glasgow.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-celtic-manager-and-transfer-news-howe-favre-mcgregor-mccann-tierney” title=”Read the latest Celtic manager and transfer news!”]

Siegrist stands shorter at 6 foot 4 but that’s still a gigantic height for a ‘keeper and he’s someone that’s already embarrassed Celtic.

With the Hoops needing to record a win over Dundee United in order to prevent Rangers from prematurely lifting the Premiership crown, they could only draw 0-0 at Tannadice.

They were diabolical in front of goal with Odsonne Edouard spurning three opportunities to score.

However, much of that was down to the inspired Siegrist. He was a man-mountain between the posts when the two teams met back in March, making no fewer than 12 saves.

It was a mammoth performance from someone who’s had an “extraordinary season” in the words of his agent.

Though, we shouldn’t be surprised by this when you consider the phrasing Micky Mellon used to describe him. Speaking earlier in the campaign he claimed Siegrist “trains like a monster.”

With his long reach and ability to frighten attackers, he’d surely offer more of a presence for Celtic than Bain or Barkas have at any point in the last year.

AND in other news, Forget Soro: Celtic already have their Scott Brown heir in 6 ft 6 “man mountain”…

After tasting defeat to Arsenal last time out in the Premier League, Newcastle will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways when they take on Leicester on Friday night.

Steve Bruce’s side fell to a timid 2-0 defeat to the Gunners, registering just one shot on target in the entire 90 minutes.

With a trip to the high-flying Foxes tonight, there will certainly be no margin for error, and Bruce may feel that he needs to shake things up slightly to try and provoke a reaction.

With that in mind, below is a look at how the Magpies might line up when they face Leicester at the King Power Stadium.

In goal, Martin Dubravka will continue in between the sticks, while the back four should also remain unchanged, with Fabian Schar – who may have started tonight – missing through suspension after picking up a red card upon his return from injury last week.

The midfield is where Bruce might be keen on freshening things up. Here on Football FanCast, there have been calls for him to drop Jonjo Shelvey from the starting line-up, and if the manager does make the call to leave out the struggling former Liverpool man, then that could well see a rare opportunity for Matty Longstaff.

The 21-year-old hasn’t started for the Magpies in a number of months and has even failed to make the matchday squad on numerous occasions.

However, with the Premier League now winding down, Bruce may feel this might be the perfect opportunity to give the local lad a chance, especially with news that Elliot Anderson – who the manager confirmed would be in his plans – suffered a late injury setback to rule him out of contention.

The two Longstaff brothers are likely to be joined by Arsenal loanee Joe Willock, who missed the game against his parent club last week due to the terms of his loan agreement.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/newcastle-steve-bruce-premier-league-transfer-gossip-rumours-news-st-james-park-joelinton-shelvey-max-aarons” title=”Read the latest Newcastle transfer rumours and news!”]

In attack, Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin should be the main sources of inspiration for a Magpies side seeking to pick things up again.

Predicted XI: Dubravka; Murphy, Fernandez, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie; S. Longstaff, M. Longstaff, Willock; Wilson, Saint-Maximin.

Meanwhile, Bruce must drop this “liability” tonight…

Norwich City are reportedly interested in signing Bordeaux winger Mehdi Zerkane this summer, as Daniel Farke looks to strengthen his squad.

The Lowdown: Additions needed for PL return

The Canaries have sealed a return back to the Premier League, with Farke’s side clinching title glory in the Championship and playing superb football along the way.

Despite this, there is no denying that reinforcements are needed, in order for Norwich to avoid relegation this time around.

The Latest: Norwich interested in Zerkane

According to La Gazette du Fennec [via Eastern Daily Press], Norwich are eyeing up a move for Zerkane, who has made 26 appearances for Bordeaux in Ligue 1 this season.

The 21-year-old recently made his debut for Algeria and it is believed that the French would consider an offer for the £1.8million-rated attacker.

The Verdict: An exciting option

Admittedly, Zerkane has only registered one goal and assist apiece in the league this season, but he is a young player with clear potential, enjoying an 84.9 percent pass completion rate.

His statistics are actually eerily similar to rising Canaries starlet Adam Idah – Zerkane manages 0.6 shots, 0.5 key passes and 0.6 dribbles per game, while Idah musters 0.8 shots, 0.4 key passes and 0.6 dribbles.

This all suggests he would fit into Norwich’s fast-paced, ball-playing style and his long-term potential means he is someone Farke could build into a top player.

That being said, more established players are required if the Canaries are to remain in the Premier League, with youngsters not enough to take them up another level.

In other news, Norwich have reportedly entered the race to sign a centre-back this summer. Find out who it is here.

Craig Hope has dropped a big revelation on the potential new owners amid the ongoing Newcastle United takeover saga.

Writing in his latest piece for the Daily Mail, the football journalist has revealed that the St. James’ Park faithful’s proposed new owners ‘do not wish to keep’ any of the staff working at their retail store, with Mike Ashley closing it down and making all of the staff redundant.

Hope has also claimed that the developments around the club store is a move that insiders say ‘points towards a development’ in the proposed deal between Ashley and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) group.

It is understood that the change is one of the conditions of the bid, and there is a mention of incoming owners in a letter that has since been sent to staff with regards to the situation.

Newcastle takeover sign?

There would not be any talk of the potential new owners and what they want to do with the Magpies if there was not still a chance that they could take over.

Thus, it is an encouraging sign that the takeover could still go through for the Toon, even if it is followed by the sad news of redundancies being made.

Nonetheless, the saga does not seem to be dead in the water just yet, with a pending arbitration case between NUFC and the Premier League to come.

It could also mean the end of Steve Bruce’s time at the club, something which is sure to be music to fans’ ears, as one pundit claimed this week that the new owners want the former Aston Villa boss out on arrival.

In other news, find out who the potential new owners have been claimed to want out if the takeover is completed here!

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Marlon Harewood, who made 164 appearances for West Ham, has backed Said Benrahma to have a big role to play for David Moyes during the business end of the season.

Benrahma initially joined on loan last summer from Brentford, however his move was made permanent in January so that West Ham could bring in Jesse Lingard on loan from Manchester United.

The Algerian joined the club despite there being concerns during his medical, and has failed to make a significant impact this season as well as seeing starts hard to come by in the Premier League, such has been the form of Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio and Lingard.

Speaking on how he expects Benrahma to still have a big role to play this season and how Moyes has handled him perfectly, Harewood told FFC:

“I see him being massive for them from now until the end of the season because they’re going to need him.

“I think the way Moyes has handled him has been spot on because when there have been times for him to come on, he’s done so.”

The £23,000 per week winger may be hoping for some more minutes now that Michail Antonio is out injured until likely the end of the season.

Moyes will have to utilise his entire squad in the coming weeks with Declan Rice, Antonio and Aaron Cresswell all requiring time on the sidelines at the minute.

Danny Mills believes that Ryan Kent’s future at Glasgow Rangers depends on whether the Ibrox outfit qualify for the Champions League group stages.

Mills makes Kent claim

Kent was heavily linked with a move to Leeds United last summer, with the Whites even having a £10m bid for the 24-year-old rejected (rte.ie).

Speaking to Football Insider, Mills believes that the Premier League outfit could make another move for the winger, but says that he will stay at Ibrox if the Gers get through the Champions League qualifying rounds. When asked if Leeds would make a move for Kent if Helder Costa departs, the ex-England defener said:

“Yes, I would think so.

“But the pull of Champions League may be too much.

“That will all depend on Rangers going through qualifying, if they can get through the qualification process then suddenly it changes things again for them.

“Players will go ‘Hang on a minute, I want to test myself. I want to play against the best and give it a real good go.’ And the financial impact [for the club].

“Players want to play against the best and if you play well in the Champions League your fee and value goes up massively.

“It’s something I would suggest will depend on what happens to Rangers in the Champions League.”

Big draw

At some point, it will be hard for £7.2m-valued Kent (Transfermarkt) to resist the temptation of the English top flight. With more money on offer and greater competition, it is a bigger draw than the Scottish Premiership, of that there is little doubt. However, this summer the Gers could well be able to offer enough advantages to keep him at the club.

As Mills has hinted, the Champions League is the obvious one. With all due respect to Leeds, it is likely to be years before they even have a chance of reaching that competition. Rangers, meanwhile, would need to get through just a couple of two-legged rounds to make the groups.

Should they prevail, there is no reason for Kent to depart just yet, and his stock should only rise if he gets to perform in Europe’s premier club competition.

In other news, Rangers eye this defender as Filip Helander is linked with an exit.

Celtic are still yet to announce a deal for Eddie Howe as their next manager, despite reports claiming he verbally agreed on a move to Glasgow last week.

And now, according to a report from Football Insider, the Hoops are fearing the 43-year-old is having second thoughts over a move to Parkhead.

Howe put off by Celtic pressure?

They have been informed by a Celtic source that Howe has received a ‘wonderful’ offer from the club, however, they have concerns he may be having second thoughts about the vacant post.

One reason mentioned is the demands of winning every game in Scotland, with Howe not used to that pressure during his previous stints at Bournemouth and Burnley.

Transfer Tavern take

Even though Football Insider are sharing the club’s fears over Howe’s stance on a move, we aren’t as concerned over a proposed deal falling through.

The Sun have suggested that both parties are reluctant to rush negotiations, which, in our view, is the right decision.

A potential start date, along with certain assurances may still need to be agreed between both Howe and Celtic, so as long as the two parties are on the same page throughout, we’re confident a move will still be finalised.

In other news: Premier League side set to bid for Celtic midfielder, find out more here. 

Many Everton fans have been left tormentd as Paul Joyce relayed an injury update on Abdoulaye Doucoure.

As per a tweet from The Times journalist, Carlo Ancelotti has said that the former Watford man could be out injured for between eight and ten weeks with a small fracture in his foot.

It means for the Goodison Park faithful that unfortunately he is most likely going to miss the rest of the 2020/21 campaign in what is a big blow to the Merseyside club.

The central midfielder has been nothing short of immense ever since his move to the Toffees from the Hornets in last summer’s transfer window, winning no fewer than 4.3 of his duels per game in the Premier League so far this season as well as averaging 1.8 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per match (Sofascore).

Everton fan reaction to Doucoure update

These Blues fumed upon reading the update on Twitter, with one Everton supporter even going as far as to claim that it was ‘typical’ of the Toffees’ luck with injuries throughout the season:

“Nooooo”

Credit: @The_Bin_Man77

“Pain. Immense pain.”

Credit: @rossEFC95

“This season man”

Credit: @NathSJones1

“Oh man, not our top 4 chances!”

Credit: @TheGriff91

“We can’t have nice things, can we?”

Credit: @TimmyMieldezis

“Just when we get Allan back. All so typical of our historical bad luck with injuries. Not going to get to see the Davies, Doucoure, Allan midfield three I spoke of with @PlanetFPLPod after all. Not this season anyway.”Credit: @spirit_bluesIn other news, find out what early team news before Burnley has been lauded by some Everton fans here!