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Leeds must win the race to sign Crystal Palace star Patrick van Aanholt in this summer transfer window amid reports linking him with a move elsewhere.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent weeks have suggested that Marcelo Bielsa’s side have got their eye on signing the Dutchman on a free transfer when his contract expires this summer.

However, Football Insider now claim that Galatasaray have offered a contract to Van Aanholt as they look to beat the Whites to his signing, with the Turkish giants also the team who have supposedly agreed a deal to land Leeds’ Gjanni Alioski.

Premier League proven

Van Aanholt is battle-hardened in English football, having played 209 times in the Premier League, and would surely be more of a guarantee in terms of hitting the ground running at Elland Road.

His more attacking style of play as a left-back is also right up Bielsa’s wheelhouse, with Gus Poyet, his former manager at Sunderland, saying: “You need to be really on top of him for his defensive duties and maybe have people around who can help him to maintain the mentality you need to defend. He’s a very offensive full back. He has an explosive ability to go forward and help the team to create chances.

“I would say use him as much as you can on the offensive side, and convince him to help with his defensive duties. But that’s his character. It is what it is. We can’t change that and he can’t be a different player than he is.”

The £55,000-a-week earning Dutchman would be a shrewd signing for Leeds given his Premier League experience and the fact he would arrive as a free agent once his contract expires.

It’s a deal which Victor Orta and co should be all over.

Meanwhile, Leeds must surely rue letting this star leave…

Lea Schuller made the difference as Germany secured a place at the Olympic women's football tournament in a 2-0 win over the Netherlands on Wednesday.

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• Germany secure Olympic qualification
• Beat the Netherlands 2-0 to do so
• Half-time sub Schuller the game-changer

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  TELL ME MORE

  Chances were at a premium in what was far from a classic encounter, but it was Germany who regularly came closest in this Women's Nations League third-place play-off, with the winner to secure a place at the Olympics. Chelsea star Sjoeke Nusken thought she'd given the visitors the lead in Heerenveen midway through the first half, only to see her well-hit effort bounce off the inside of the post and back out, while Alexandra Popp's header would've certainly broken the deadlock just before the break had she directed it anywhere other than right at Daphne van Domselaar.

  Then Germany made a change at the break that paid dividends. Those came almost immediately, too, but for the offside flag to deny half-time sub Lea Schuller a quick goal. The Bayern Munich striker made Germany much more dangerous going forward as they peppered Van Domselaar's goal, both her and Nusken bringing the best out of the Aston Villa shot-stopper. However, she had no chance with Klara Buhl's emphatic finish just past the hour and Lena Oberdorf deserves a lot of credit for the way she kept the ball alive in the box, too.

  Lineth Beerensteyn constantly looked like the Netherlands' best bet at getting on the scoresheet with her quick runs in behind but the most notable look at goal she got was just before Germany's opener, a driving run ending with a shot that was easy for Merle Frohms to hold. Instead, Schuller made sure of the result with a deserved goal 12 minutes from time, Van Domselaar only able to watch as her header nestled in the corner to seal third-place in the Nations League for Germany and, with it, a spot at the Olympic women's football tournament this summer.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  This was always going to be a difficult ask for the Netherlands. The Dutch lost a key player in January when Jill Roord suffered a devastating ACL injury while with her club, Manchester City, and two more were absent on Wednesday after the Arsenal duo of Vivianne Miedema and Victoria Pelova returned to London for reasons that are thus far unspecified.

  The 2017 European champions have made impressive progress under Andries Jonker but qualifying for this summer's Olympics just proved to be too much of an ask at this moment.

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  THE MVP

  Who else but Schuller? Germany lacked a focal point until her introduction, with Popp so often dropping deep to defend and then needing to get all the way back up the pitch to be there for the attack. Schuller's presence meant that there was always someone keeping the Dutch defence busy, though, and she was lively in her play, too, as Germany created chances aplenty to win the game.

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  THE BIG LOSER

  Van Domselaar deserved a clean sheet for her performance on Wednesday, really. The Aston Villa star made some truly fantastic saves, most notably to deny Nusken just after the break and then, a few minutes later, to get a glove on the ball as Schuller raced into the box. But with the Netherlands struggling to get out and unable to stifle Germany's second half performance, it was inevitable that she was beaten.

Crystal Palace have reportedly become the latest club to register an interest in Hatayspor striker Aaron Boupendza.

According to 90.com, the Eagles have been monitoring the Gabon international, alongside a host of fellow Premier League sides, namely Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton, Leicester City and West Ham United, amongst many others.

Steve Parish and the Palace hierarchy need to ensure that they push themselves to the front of the queue and secure the £6.3m-rated striker in the summer.

Boupendza is currently in lethal form for Hatayspor. He sits top of the Turkish Super Lig scoring charts with 18 goals in just 26 matches. That record is even more remarkable considering that the 24-year-old has started just 16 matches in the league this term.

He would certainly bring a distinct eye for goal to Selhurst Park should he sign for the Eagles, an aspect that Roy Hodgson’s current options are certainly missing.

Of the strikers currently at the club, Christian Benteke is the highest-scoring with a measly five strikes. Meanwhile, fellow forwards Jordan Ayew, Michy Batshuayi and Jean-Philippe Mateta all sit on just one goal each.

It goes without saying then that the Eagles need to bring in someone capable of finding the back of the net.

When comparing his match statistics, Boupendza continues to come out on top.

According to WhoScored, he attempts more shots per game than any of Crystal Palace’s current players with 2.8.

Remarkably, the striker also completes a huge 2.7 dribbles per game which would be by far and away the best in the Eagles’ squad – an astounding feat considering the fleet-footedness of the likes of Eberechi Eze and Wilfried Zaha.

It is no surprise then that there is considerable competition for his signature. Palace must make sure they push themselves to the front for him as they are in desperate need for a forward who can find the back of the net.

AND in more news, take a look at which former Premier League boss would be the perfect replacement for Roy Hodgson…

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, ex-Celtic striker Frank McAvennie said he believes Celtic have missed a trick by not playing “best finisher at the club” Leigh Griffiths more often this season.

The former Scottish striker has been restricted to a bit-part role at Celtic Park this term, starting just seven Scottish Premiership matches, and hasn’t been included in the XI since January.

Despite his lack of opportunities under both Neil Lennon and now John Kennedy, Griffiths has still chipped in with six goals and two assists in all competitions, in under 750 minutes of action.
And his lack of game-time has led to speculation surrounding his future – with Aberdeen, who’ve recently signed Scott Brown on a player-coach role, interested in making a double-swoop in order to bring Griffiths to the North of Scotland.
The former Wolves and Hibs striker has been an outstanding servant to Celtic, scoring more than 100 goals in his eight seasons in Glasgow, but has under 14 months remaining on his contract with the Hoops, which could lead to a summer departure.
And given his goalscoring prowess, McAvennie believes that Griffiths has been unused this season. He told Football FanCast:

“I look at him and think, he’s the best striker at Celtic. At the moment he’s better than Edouard, finishing I mean, he’s the best finisher at the club. You give him a chance and he’ll put it away, that’s what he does.

“I’d have played Griffiths, I’d have stuck with it. I don’t get this in the modern day game, people saying he’s not fit. I’ve heard John Kennedy saying he’s not fit, Neil Lennon saying he’s not, that’s on you, you’re the manager. What are all these fitness coaches getting paid for?”

It’s been a difficult campaign for Celtic, but with Odsonne Edouard the only player to reach double figures in the league, they might have missed a trick by not playing Griffiths slightly more.

Laura Woods has seen an obsessed stalker who left her living in “real fear” jailed for 14 months following a two-year campaign of harassment.

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• Presenter subjected to vile abuse
• Tormentor handed 14-month prison sentence
• Restraining order also put in place

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Woods, who is a presenter for TNT Sports and DAZN, was subjected to a string of vile messages, online comments and unwanted food deliveries to her home by 25-year-old Harneet Kaur. The sick campaign, which began in June 2021, also saw Kaur threaten to kidnap and kill Woods’ pet dog.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Prosecutors said that Kaur’s actions had an “enormous and devastating” effect on Woods, leaving her with “real fear”. The 36-year-old suffers from anxiety and has been forced to step up security at her home and while at work.

• WHAT WAS SAID?

  Kaur – who had already been banned from Liverpool’s Anfield stadium for touting – is said to suffer from a severe case of autism that leaves her open to “obsession and compulsion”. She has, however, been jailed for 14 months during a hearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Woods is said to have initially been unaware that a campaign was being launched against her, as she received an unexpected delivery of Krispy Kreme doughnuts, but contact from there quickly "all turned much darker". One message from Kaur accused Woods of being a “former prostitute who slept herself into a job”. She also visited the London road where Ms Woods lived and posted “vile, stuck-up person” comments online.

Carlo Ancelotti should urge Marcel Brands to launch a summer swoop for Everton to sign a second Richarlison-type player in VfB Stuttgart forward Silas Wamangituka.

What’s the word?

According to Eurosport, Wamangituka has caught the attention of a clutch of Premier League clubs with his dazzling efforts in the Bundesliga this season.

The 21-year-old has been the star of Stuttgart’s campaign since Die Roten returned to the German top-flight last summer, netting 11 of his side’s 44 goals while providing three assists.

Wamangituka, who is under contract at the Mercedes-Benz Arena until 2024, is considered to be one of the most exciting talents across the Bundesliga, having delivered an instant impact while tackling matches with a distinctive style of play.

His pace and finishing excellence from a wide position is thought to have Everton and Fulham on alert, along with talent spotters from some of Germany’s bigger clubs.

The DR Congo native is likened to Arsenal’s £72m forward Nicolas Pepe for the way he broke out at LOSC Lille to seal his move to the Emirates Stadium in 2019, having provided 22 goals and 11 assists in 38 Ligue 1 appearances.

Should Everton sign Wamangituka?

Ancelotti urging Everton’s Director of Football Brands to launch a pursuit to sign Wamangituka this summer could see the Dutch chief acquire a versatile dynamo, who is capable of playing on either wing as well as in behind the striker.

The £22.5m-rated speedster is able to find the back of the net on either wing, too, having struck nine goals and produced three assists from 19 games on the right-flank along with two goals in two Bundesliga outings from the left.

Fitness rarely seems an issue for the 21-year-old, either, with the energetic winger starting 21 of his 22 appearances while sitting out just one fixture to date this term.

Arsenal’s Pepe is not the only player Wamangituka has been likened to, as well, with former Gunners Head of Scouting Sven Mislintat, now Stuttgart’s Sporting Director, comparing the Paris FC product with Gabon star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

“There are some differences between them, of course, but also many, many similar things,” Mislintat told Bundesliga.com. “His father was a player, defensive midfielder, playing for the national team of Gabon, hard worker and Auba got this attitude.

“And he has learned quite a lot also from Jurgen Klopp in working defensively. If they adopt this and they are able to do this, then they will become big, big stars in football with their qualities and their mindsets. And this is what Silas did as well.”

Mislintat also describes Wamangituka as a “scoring machine”, along with being “humble, hungry for success, [and] he would like to improve his game every day.”

Wamangituka’s drive, output, style and versatility would not be too dissimilar to Richarlison if brought to Everton, offering Ancelotti two high-calibre options for either wing.

“I think he [Richarlison] cannot play centre-forward because he is really good at attacking the line and to play centre-forward, most of the time you have your back to the goal,” Ancelotti said, via quotes by the Liverpool Echo. “I think for him, better is centre-left.”

The Toffees boss has also praised his star Brazilian for his defensive contribution, noting via quotes by the Mirror: “I was not happy with him against Newcastle because I think he could work more. Against Leeds, he did fantastic defensive work and I was pleased with that performance.”

It remains to be seen how much Stuttgart would value Wamangituka at the end of the season, but Everton should certainly sound out the Bundesliga side’s position.

AND in other news, Everton are tracking a prolific 15-goal winger backed to reach another level…

Celtic’s managerial vacancy is one of the most talked-about gigs in world football right now.

Of course, the Hoops are a massive club so they likely won’t have any shortage of suitors in their hunt to replace Neil Lennon.

Big names like Roberto Martinez have been linked with the vacancy but another name mentioned in recent days is Thierry Henry.

He has recently left his role with Montreal Impact in MLS due to family reasons but a number of coincidences have occurred since. Indeed, the man he wanted as his number two a few years ago, Julien Stephan, has left his role at Rennes.

That provoked journalist Robin Bairner to comment the following on Twitter: “Interesting that Stephan has quit just days after Thierry Henry left Montreal. Henry wanted Stephan to be his assistant at Monaco but Rennes refused permission to talk. Could they team up, Henry as figurehead, Stephan as the coach?”

Described as someone with “a science to football” by Radamel Falcao, his coaching methods have drawn mixed results. He was sacked as manager of Monaco after just three months for instance.

That being said, it would certainly be an interesting line of approach for Celtic to take but it could be game-changing in keeping one of their star players.

Odsonne Edouard has regularly been linked with a move away, most recently to Arsenal. Given the mass interest and Celtic’s trophy-less season, it would be very difficult to keep him in Glasgow. That being said, he is a man that Henry rates incredibly highly.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-celtic-manager-hunt-stories-wagner-marsch-martinez-lennon-news” title=”The last stories on Celtic’s hunt for a new manager!”]

Speaking about the relationship between the two last year, Ally McCoist told talkSPORT; “I spoke to Thierry Henry at the Liverpool vs Leicester City game and he really rates Edouard. He was saying in France in particular [he’s rated] and he personally really, really thinks he’s got a chance of going right to the top.”

Henry, of course, is a legend of the French game and there would be few better strikers to learn from than the Arsenal great.

He is one of the most lethal strikers we’ve seen over the last two decades and if Henry sees Edouard as someone who could reach the top, he’d surely be central to his plans at Parkhead.

Of course, a move to a bigger club may be on the cards but surely a man of Henry’s influence in French football could sway him to stay?

After all, why wouldn’t he want to learn from a master craftsman in Henry? The 43-year-old could take him to the next level and help him earn an even bigger move than may initially be on the cards.

This has the potential to be a dream combination. Dermot Desmond needs to see if it can become a reality.

AND in other news, Celtic may have their new Ajer in 17 y/o “hungry talent” never-seen in the first team…

Charlotte FC are in advanced negotiations to sign Uruguayan starlet Luciano Rodriguez from Liverpool Montevideo, GOAL understands.

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• Charlotte FC near deal for striker
• Hero of U-20 World Cup
• Had drawn interest from River Plate and Feyenoord

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The third-year MLS club is closing in on the striker, who was Uruguay's star at the U-20 World Cup in 2023 as they triumphed in Argentina. Charlotte are in negotiations to sign the 20-year-old forward to a Young Designated Player contract and, while some details are still being ironed out, the fee would be among the largest ever in MLS. Sources say the fee would end up being among the top five in MLS history, which puts it at at least $12 million. The current MLS record is Thiago Almada, who was signed by Atlanta United for a $16m transfer fee.

  The potential deal comes after Charlotte lost two of their three DPs this offseason. Karol Swiderski departed the club for Hellas Verona on an initial loan while Kamil Jozwiak made a permanent move to Granada. That leaves just Enzo Copetti as the club's lone DP, with Rodriguez set to join to provide Charlotte with a young striker to help lead the attack.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Rodriguez has burst onto the scene over the last year thanks to his exploits with Uruguay's youth national teams. He was his country's hero at the U-20 World Cup as he scored the winning goal in the final against Italy to help Uruguay lift the trophy for the very first time.

  Rodriguez has also shone for Uruguay's U-23s, having scored six goals in as many appearances, and in January he was named to the country's squad for CONMEBOL Olympic qualifiers. Uruguay, unfortunately for Rodriguez, crashed out, despite a hat-trick performance from the striker against Paraguay and goals against both Peru and Argentina.

  On the club level, Rodriguez joined Liverpool Montevideo in 2023 after coming through the ranks at Progreso. In his first season, he scored nine goals for the club and was named the Uruguayan League's Young Player of the Year in 2023. Additionally, he was named to the Uruguayan Primera Division Team of the Year.

  The striker has previously drawn interest from the likes of River Plate and Feyenoord.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Rodriguez is the latest Uruguayan to make the move to MLS, with the league continuing to be a hotbed for young South American talent. Diego Rossi and Facundo Torres have become stars in MLS after making their own early-career moves to the US, while legendary Luis Suarez recently signed with Inter Miami to link up with former teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CHARLOTTE FC?

  Charlotte FC will open the MLS season, the club's first under new coach Dean Smith, on February 24 at Bank of America Stadium as they host New York City FC. The club is entering its third season having made the playoffs for the first time in 2023 before falling to the New York Red Bulls in their first match.

Brazil coach Dorival Junior says he will bring Neymar back into the national team as long as the Al-Hilal attacker gets fit following his injury.

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• Neymar out with ACL rupture
• Dorival asked about his return
• Star told he must get fit

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Neymar has been out of action with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and required surgery last October. The 32-year-old initially hoped he would still have a chance of playing at the 2024 Copa America, but he was ruled out by the team doctor. The Selecao boss has now said Neymar will have to prove that he is fit and "focused" before he will be called up again.

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  WHAT DORIVAL SAID

  Dorival said: "It is one of the main projects. Neymar is a very important player. He is well aware of that. He is one of the greatest players in world football. Our hope is that he recovers physically. He has a place [in the squad] for everything he has accomplished in the national team, but he needs to be confident, calm, balanced and, above all, focused. He will be part of the process as long as he is fully recovered."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Brazil will face England and Spain in international friendlies next month and will have to make do without star forward Neymar. They are also without Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Matheus Cunha and Joao Pedro for those matches.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR NEYMAR?

  Neymar will continue his recovery at Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, who signed him from PSG in an £86m deal last summer. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star has been accused of being overweight on his return to training with the club, and it is still not known when he will be ready to feature in a competitive setting again.

Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action as they welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to North London this afternoon.

Ryan Mason’s side know a victory would see them rise into sixth place to bolster their slim hopes of making the top four, though they will need to keep picking up results to ensure qualification to the Europa League at the very least.

The visitors have very little to play for, languishing down in 12th place but this encounter has often produced goals and after last weekend’s shocking performance at Leeds, the 29-year-old caretaker may want to tinker his side.

It will be interesting to see what sort of line-up he opts for today, so here’s the XI we reckon he could go with, as well as the latest team and injury news from N17…

We’re predicting there to be as many as three changes right across the pitch as Mason looks to spark a reaction in pursuit of a crucial three points.

Joe Rodon could be in contention to start.

The 23-year-old has been “unfortunate” not to feature under the interim boss and he revealed in the build-up to this encounter that the Welshman has “trained well, done well.”

He could be gifted a start, taking the place of axed Eric Dier, who was at fault for all three goals at Elland Road. And he will partner Toby Alderweireld in the middle, with Sergio Reguilon and Serge Aurier on the wings, in front of skipper Hugo Lloris.

A second change could come in midfield, with Tanguy Ndombele due a start, having been snubbed from the line-up in their last two outings.

The £45m-rated box-to-box maestro would likely replace the underwhelming Giovani Lo Celso to take up a place alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg at the base of the engine room.

There is a tricky decision to make over Dele Alli in an advanced role. The 25-year-old has started back-to-back league games for the first time this season but his lack of game time (377 PL minutes) could raise fitness doubts.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-latest-spurs-manager-update-gossip-transfer-rumours-daniel-levy-enic-mason-mourinho-more” title= “Read the latest Spurs news, managerial gossip, transfer rumours and more!”]

Despite assisting Spurs’ only goal against Leeds, Mason could look to freshen things up by deploying Lucas Moura in the role instead.

Described as a “nightmare” to train and defend against by his teammate Dier, the £26m-rated Brazilian winger has thrived through the middle, providing two goals and three assists in seven appearances.

The front three should write itself, with Gareth Bale, Heung-min Son and Harry Kane all likely to keep their places.

AND in other news, Gold drops fresh Spurs manager claim over “unbelievable” 48 y/o, fans will be buzzing…