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Michael Salisbury will be the man in the middle when Crystal Palace host Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon, and a number of Palace fans have been reacting to the news on social media.

Salisbury is yet to take charge of a top-flight fixture, so the clash at Selhurst Park will be his first, with the former teacher only starting to officiate in the EFL during the 2016/17 season.

He has shown 30 cards in just eight games in all competitions during the current campaign, five of which have been red cards.

Palace will put their unbeaten home record under Patrick Vieira on the line against Steven Gerrard’s side, with the Eagles recently having issues with a relatively new Premier League referee this season in Darren England.

He took charge of Palace’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle last month and ruled out Christian Bentke’s late header following a foul in the build-up.

Palace fans react

Reliable Villa reporter Ashley Preece shared the news regarding Salisbury’s appointment on Twitter on Wednesday morning.

Here is what these Palace fans had to say in reply to the update, with one labelling it as ‘awful news’ and a few comparing it to when England was in charge against Newcastle.

“Oh man I can’t wait for a repeat of the Newcastle fiasco. They love using mid table clubs as guinea pigs”

Credit: @Phillyconcarne

“Given we have previous with Villa, this is a terrible appointment.”

Credit: @MarcWilliams22

“Awful news, the making his debut for our game against Newcastle was shocking. Not even biased, just a poor referee”

Credit: @GeorgeHilder1

“This is gonna be so bad… another don that doesn’t know what he’s doing officiating our game”

Credit: @AlfieVincent13

“Oh joy! Hope he’s better than the last rookie to rock up at Selhurst. Surely he can’t be worse than that Darren England fella against Newcastle! ”

Credit: @red_blue_review

“We all know that one teacher who can’t handle his class so goes around handing out detentions”

Credit: @Dave_Winbod

In other news: Palace in talks with £9m worth of talent after Vieira gives the ‘green light’

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a huge injury boost ahead of their Premier League meeting with Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon.

What’s the latest?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference (via the official Tottenham website), Antonio Conte revealed that, despite withdrawing from the Wales squad ahead of their friendly against Czech Republic on Tuesday, Ben Davies will be available for tomorrow’s visit of the Magpies.

Regarding the current condition of the 28-year-old, the Spurs boss said: “Ben is okay. He had a little problem, but he’s available.”

Great news for Tottenham

Considering just how important Davies has been to this Tottenham side since Conte’s arrival in north London last November, the news that the defender has recovered from his knock in time for Sunday is undoubtedly great news for Spurs.

Indeed, following the 52-year-old’s move to the club, the £18m-rated left-back has featured in all but one of the Italian’s 27 games in charge, with 25 of these coming as starts, most often on the left of Tottenham’s three-man defence.

Of Davies’ 23 appearances as one of Spurs’ three central defenders this season, the £60k-per-week Welshman has impressed, averaging a WhoScored match rating of 6.81 – slightly better than his 6.79 rating over nine outings at left-back.

As such, the news that the 28-year-old will be fit to face Newcastle this weekend will certainly come as a huge boost to Conte and Tottenham, especially considering the club’s considerable lack of depth at left centre-back, with the position being one of Fabio Paratici’s priority targets in the summer transfer window.

AND in other news: Paratici plotting £59m bid for 24 y/o “appreciated by Conte”, he’s “perfect” for Spurs

Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie has talked up the possibility of a late Newcastle United loan move for Manchester United’s Donny van de Beek. 

The lowdown

The Athletic’s Laurie Whithwell says that that Van de Beek is one of the Man United players ‘looking at exits’ in the final week of the January transfer window.

But he anticipates that any deal will be ‘tricky’ given ‘the money required’.

Van de Beek, a £35.1million signing from Ajax in 2020, has only played 380 minutes of football for The Red Devils this season in all competitions.

He’s been an unused substitute in 14 Premier League matches already in 2021/22.

The latest

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Downie was asked whether Van de Beek was a potential marquee signing.

“I think he’s one that would fall into that bracket for Newcastle if he was available on loan,” he said.

“That’s the sort of signing that they could make, that big-name loan signing that could come in.”

The verdict

Van de Beek certainly ticks the ‘big-name’ box given the fee Man United paid to sign him. This is also a player who started all but one game on Ajax’s run to the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League semifinals and even earned a nomination for the Ballon D’Or.

It also feels like a fairly realistic transfer – Van de Beek will surely be desperate to play, whether that’s to prove to his current employers what he’s capable of when given a run of starts or to advertise his abilities to other suitors.

He might hope to make a similar impact to Joe Willock, who was an eight-goal revelation after making the loan switch from Arsenal this time last year.

Newcastle should, you’d think, be in a position to pay a hefty loan fee too, if that’s what the Red Devils demand.

In other news, could this outcast also be headed for SJP?

Celtic are facing a major injury blow over Kyogo Furuhashi ahead of their Scottish Premiership clash against Hibernian on Monday…

What’s the story?

According to The Scottish Sun, the Japan international did not train with the rest of Ange Postecoglou’s side and now faces a race to be fit for the clash at Parkhead.

Ange will be gutted

With a whopping 16 goals in his 26 games for the club, it’s fair to say Furuhashi has well and truly hit the ground running, with Kevin Campbell waxing lyrical about just how well he has adjusted to life at Celtic.

He said: “Wow, what a phenomenal impact he is having on that football club. When a player has confidence he can produce goals like that.

“Let’s be honest, he has been the difference for Celtic this season. They are a different team when he plays. They need him fit and available every week. He can carry the team and that is what he has done. He has been nothing short of awesome since he has signed. You have to give Postecoglou credit.”

It’s not just for his on the pitch actions where Furuhashi seems to have endeared himself with the Celtic supporters.

Frank McAvennie said: “He really is a breath of fresh air. The boy can’t put a foot wrong. You see things like him picking up litter off the pitch when he’s coming off.

“When he was injured he was sat in with the fans as well. That’s so good to see. It’s like he’s in love with the club already and you can’t buy that. He is so enthusiastic, it’s no wonder people have taken to him.”

It’s exactly why Postecoglou and the club’s fans will be devastated to be without the Japan international for Monday’s game.

Meanwhile, Anthony Joseph has dropped a transfer update…

Tottenham Hotspur could yet move for a centre-back on deadline day…

What’s the word?

The north London outfit are closing in on the double swoop for Juventus duo Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski but it appears they may not be done just yet with hours left to go in the window.

That’s according to reliable Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor, who delivered an exciting claim to GIVEMESPORT today. He said:

“At centre-back, I believe – effectively – we could see a rabbit out of the hat. But that could hinge on outgoings.”

Much-needed addition

Spurs manager Antonio Conte is adding some solid depth to his Spurs squad in the aforementioned signings  – the Uruguay international adds a better option in the engine room with club-record flop Tanguy Ndombele on his way out, whilst the Swede offers a hugely versatile presence in the attack.

However, that isn’t enough if he’s to truly get the north London outfit back in the top four. The Italian head coach has already worked his magic, losing only one league game since his arrival in November, so just imagine what he could do with a couple more additions.

It’s thought that he requested signings in three priority positions, whilst there has always been suggestions of a desire to bolster his backline, where the likes of Davinson Sanchez and Japhet Tanganga have struggled to look the part in recent months.

Spurs have been linked to a number of options in the role, including Conte’s ex-Inter beast Stefan de Vrij, Milan’s arch-rival captain Alessio Romagnoli and sensationally, Juventus star Matthijs de Ligt, who sporting director Fabio Paratici has signed before.

[snack-amp-story url = “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/tottenham-hotspur-thfc-spurs-transfer-rumours-gossip-conte-paratici-levy-updates” title=”Read the latest Spurs news, transfer updates and much, much more!”]

All three would be outstanding additions to Spurs’ squad but time is running out if they are to secure any one of them, if not any other central defender.

If the Lilywhites can land Conte a new colossus late on in the January transfer window, then both he and the fanbase will surely be absolutely buzzing.

AND in other news, Spurs eye club-record swoop BEFORE deadline, it’s Conte’s dream signing…

The January transfer window is inching closer to opening and it could be a particularly busy month for those of a Newcastle persuasion.

Eddie Howe’s side are currently 19th in the Premier League table and have only won one of their 18 matches in the division so far.

This means that a vast improvement is going to be needed to avoid relegation in the second half of the campaign, which could come through new signings being made in the winter market.

Steven Taylor 2.0

One player the club have been linked with a move for is Everton’s versatile defender Mason Holgate. According to Sky Sports, he is one of a number of defensive options Howe is considering as the ex-Bournemouth boss plots signings to bolster his squad.

Newcastle could find their Steven Taylor 2.0 in the former Barnsley man as he is a player capable of playing at both centre-back and right-back. He has played in both positions throughout his career and has established himself as a Premier League performer, with 120 games for Everton in all competitions – 100 of those coming in the top-flight.

Taylor made 268 appearances for the Magpies during his time with the club and mainly played as a centre-back, but was also able to play at right-back, holding midfield and left-back. He managed 194 Premier League outings for Newcastle, highlighting how he was a crucial member of the side over the years as he was consistently selected to play at the top level.

In Holgate, Newcastle could bring in a similar player who is able to improve the side at centre-back whilst also being able to switch out to the right when needed. This also means that he could suit playing on the right of a back three, as he is comfortable being in a wider role in defence, which would be useful if Howe wants to switch up formations from the start or during a game to counter the opposition.

Toon legend Alan Shearer previously dubbed the £64k-per-week gem as “impressive” and that shows that he has been able to catch the eye in the top-flight, as an ex-pro of the Englishman’s stature was glowing of him.

Then, speaking earlier this year, the former Toon star called him “outstanding” on social media.

At the age of 25, Holgate also has plenty of room to grow and improve as time passes and that is another reason, along with his versatility and experience, why Newcastle must swoop for him.

They could land their next defensive gem by signing the Everton man and PIF must splash the cash to get a deal done in January. He has the positional flexibility and the Premier League experience akin to Taylor in the latter stages of his career at St. James’ Park and he could be a useful player for Howe to call upon.

AND in other news, NUFC must sign £50m gem who Shearer thinks has “ridiculous ability”, he’s Solano 2.0…

Liverpool are set to complete the signing of highly-rated Celtic midfielder Ben Doak, according to Football Insider.

What’s the story?

According to their sources, now that the Reds have agreed the signing of Fulham’s Fabio Carvalho, they are close to agreeing on a deal for the Celtic teenager who has already been pictured holding a Liverpool shirt.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-liverpool-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-salah-gnabry-isak-romano” title= “Read the latest Liverpool news!”]

The 16-year old is set to sign an initial three-year deal with Liverpool paying around £600k in compensation to the Scottish club. It’s understood that to begin with he will play for the club’s development side.

More exciting than Carvalho

Fabio Carvalho has lit up the Championship this season, with 14 goal contributions in 29 appearances, so we know an awful lot about how good he is.

However, the fact we know less about Doak, and that Liverpool are signing the youngster for such a fee for his age, makes this one more exciting and intriguing.

He has already made two senior appearances for the Hoops, one of which was as a late substitute in an Old Firm game which shows just how highly thought of he is in Scotland.

Where he has excelled is at youth level for his country. Doak has made six appearances for Scotland U17’s scoring four times, which included a hat-trick in a 6-1 rout against Georgia last month.

He’s been described in glowing terms as a “generational” talent by Bhoys Analytics and will be looking to the likes of his fellow countryman Andy Robertson when judging how successful a move to Anfield can be.

Doak rejected a professional contract from Celtic to move south of the border and sign for Jurgen Klopp’s side. Whilst this may seem like a bold decision, it’s not every day that you get offered the chance to sign for one of the best teams in Europe.

He is a wide player with the ability to play on the wing and in the full-back position, adding a further string to his bow, with Hoops manager Ange Postecoglou describing him as a “fantastic kid” who is “composed” for his age.

It was reported by The Athletic that Leeds were also interested in signing the teenager but Liverpool managed to seal the deal first.

Overall it’s an extremely exciting signing, he may not feature in the first team straight away but with a lot of clubs interested, he must be special. We’ll definitely be keeping an eye on how he progresses through a Liverpool set-up that is known for developing great players.

IN other news: Fewer touches than Alisson: Liverpool gem who won just 16.6% duels let his side down

West Ham United must sanction a move for Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly in the upcoming January transfer window, ending David Moyes’ injury crisis.

The Hammers are currently sitting in fourth place in the Premier League table after a hugely impressive start to the season, but extensive fitness woes across the backline are threatening to unravel their hard work.

First-choice centre-back Angelo Ogbonna has been ruled out for the rest of the campaign with an ACL problem, while Kurt Zouma and Ben Johnson are also set for extensive spells on the sidelines.

That leaves just Craig Dawson and Issa Diop as the capital club’s only fit central defenders, meaning the winter window could prove pivotal in their future success.

According to 90min’s Toby Cudworth, West Ham’s hierarchy are assessing a raft of options as Moyes looks for the right candidate to slot into his impressive starting lineup.

One of those being watched is reportedly 23-year-old Kelly, who has put in a string of eye-catching performances for the Cherries throughout 2021/22.

He’s what West Ham are missing

After arriving on the south coast from boyhood club Bristol City back in 2019, the youngster initially struggled to settle, failing to produce his best form as Bournemouth were relegated from the top-flight.

However, he’s gone from strength to strength over the last 18 months, playing a pivotal part as the Vitality Stadium outfit reached the play-offs last term, earning the praise of former manager Jonathan Woodgate.

“He’s got talent. He’s got a lot of attributes that Premier League teams look at. But he needs to be consistent week in, week out now,” he said before lauding Kelly’s natural pace.

“At the minute he just looks like a bit of a Rolls-Royce doesn’t he? He looked very, very good (against Bristol City). I was impressed to be honest with you, especially when (Antoine) Semenyo tried to run him down the line and Semenyo gave him two yards and Lloydy overtook him.

“It’s eye-catching when things like that happen, especially as a fellow defender. When you see things like that, it’s like ‘you’ve got a bit’,” he concluded.

And the £9m-rated ace has taken his game to new heights this time around. As per WhoScored, Kelly has averaged 3.2 aerial duels won per league game, a whopping 5.2 clearances and 5.5 long balls while averaging 73.8 passes per game.

Those figures place him in the top two for each metric when compared to his teammates, illustrating his top-class potential.

Therefore, it’s clear that Kelly is exactly the sort of player that West Ham are missing in their first-team squad at this moment in time due to their injury woes, and Moyes must push the club’s hierarchy to secure his services in January.

And, in other news…Newman could seal dream West Ham deal with “outstanding” £21m “superstar”

Flocking to Twitter, many West Ham fans have urged the club to sign Marseille defender Duje Caleta-Car, after news emerged linking him with a move to the Irons.

David Moyes’ options at centre-back were depleted by the season-ending injury sustained by Angelo Ogbonna, as the defender suffered a cruciate ligament rupture at the start of November.

When Kurt Zouma suffered a hamstring injury in early December, the Hammers were left with just two senior centre-backs available for selection – Craig Dawson and Issa Diop.

Although Zouma has now returned, it is clear the Irons need to seek reinforcements in that position.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-news-copy/” title=”West Ham latest news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

West Ham fans react to the Caleta-Car news

Sky Sports have claimed that West Ham want to sign Caleta-Car on a loan deal with an option to buy, although Marseille only want to let the defender leave on a permanent deal worth £17million.

Independent Hammers site West Ham News & Views shared the news on Twitter. This sparked a number of Irons fans to reply in the comments, with many urging the club to go through with the deal.

It is perhaps no surprise fans are excited, as the Croatia international is noted for his ability to break lines with his passing and his excellent recovery pace.

Here’s what they had to say, as one supporter called a potential £17m deal a ‘bargain’…

“MAKE IT HAPPEN, I’LL BE KNEE-SLIDING ACROSS MY CARPET”

Credit: @whudex6

“£17m is a bargain for him”

Credit: @1bbyWHU

“We are on the brink of a masterstroke. If you want fans on side then just get the deal done. Pass it on Dave x”

Credit: @_WestHamReport

“Should get the deal done tbh if true”

Credit: @WHUsamzini

“I’d rather spend £2 Mil more & get Caleta-Car than £15 Mil Nat Phillips”

Credit: @RugbyLad86

“That’s nothing in today’s market. Get it done.”

Credit: @WestHam_SW

In other news: Fans gutted by ExWHUemployee’s Brereton Diaz update

An update has emerged on Glasgow giants Rangers’ interest in bringing John Souttar to Ibrox next month…

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Record, Giovanni van Bronckhorst has taken over from where Steven Gerrard left off and may yet make a move for the defender in January.

However, the report does claim that English Championship side Blackburn Rovers have opened pre-contract talks with the 25-year-old, whose deal is up at the end of the season.

Ibrox could be rocking

Van Bronckhorst must ensure that Rangers can get a deal over the line for Souttar in January, as he could get Ibrox rocking by bringing him to the Scottish champions.

He is a proven Premiership performer who also has time on his side and he could be a phenomenal addition to the Gers’ squad. Supporters would surely love to see him playing for the Light Blues in the second half of the campaign and for many more seasons to come, and the announcement of his name on his debut could get fans excited if he does arrive at Ibrox to bolster the squad.

This season, he has averaged a sublime SofaScore rating of 7.43 for Hearts across 18 starts. He has made 4.4 clearances per game and won a whopping 71% of his duels overall, showing that he has been consistently brilliant in his defending.

Former Hearts boss Craig Levein previously lauded the Scot, saying: “I’ve known him since he was 12 years old and he’s just got better and better. When he came here from Dundee Utd, we just needed to give him time. He’s grown into the player that I hoped he would be and for me he’s the best centre back in Scotland.

“Just for the fact that he can do wonderful things. His passing of the ball Saturday was fantastic, but he is also now capable physically of competing with any centre forward. His pace is very, very good and he’s strong, focused and aggressive.”

Along with his statistics from 2021/22, this shows why Souttar could be a fantastic player for Rangers, whilst he still has room to grow and improve at the age of 25. He could be the club’s first-choice centre-back for years to come and signing him in January could be a masterclass by Van Bronckhorst.

However, it will take some effort now to avoid losing out to Blackburn in the transfer race as they have already entered talks, which means that Ross Wilson and the Dutchman must get to work immediately to give themselves a chance of landing the Hearts defender.

AND in other news, GvB can finally axe the new “Alex Rae” from Rangers by signing £4m “conductor” in Jan…