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As Crystal Palace took on Newcastle United at Selhurst Park today, many Eagles supporters were left blown away by the performance of striker Christian Benteke.

Patrick Vieira’s side, looking to gain some momentum after a fairly inconsistent start to the season, met the Magpies in London this afternoon in what was a fairly entertaining encounter.

The travelling side, fresh off their headline-grabbing takeover, were given a run for their money by Palace who constantly threatened and provided real problems.

One major vocal point of the attack was Benteke, and despite missing some big chances across the 90 minutes, hitting the woodwork twice, his goal summed up just how threatening he actually was.

According to SofaScore, the Belgian had six shots on goal in total and won the vast majority of his duels up against Newcastle – prompting supporters to praise Benteke on social media, who was unlucky to have a second strike ruled out by VAR too.

Find all of their best verdicts down below.

Palace fans blown away by Benteke…

“This is one of the best Benteke performances I can remember. He’s been excellent”

Credit: @TalkCPFC

“Forget the goal, Benteke has been absurdly good in hold-up today”

Credit: @jack_jsteele

“If you cross the ball, Benteke becomes almost unplayable.”

Credit: @CroydonExile1

“Benteke has much more confidence under Vieira”

Credit: @Dave_Winbod

“I can’t believe my eyes benteke back in form??”

Credit: @GhostKingUK

“wow our own benteke”

Credit: @AendeLaw

Crystal Palace have been linked with a move for Marseille striker Bamba Dieng with the Eagles looking to push for a top-half finish in the second half of the 2021/22 season.

What’s the story?

According to French outlet La Provence, the 21-year-old Senegalese forward is on the shortlists of a handful of Premier League clubs, including Palace, Aston Villa and West Ham United.

The Marseille striker has scored four goals in 14 league appearances for the Ligue 1 outfit so far this campaign, having made just five league appearances all season last term.

It’s fair to say that this has been the youngster’s breakthrough season.

Dubbed to be “a Didier Drogba” with “great potential” by his fellow countryman El Hadji Diouf, Dieng is certainly an exciting talent who is starting to catch the eye of Premier League outfits.

The £7.2m-rated striker is currently with the Senegal national team ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations opener against Zimbabwe on Monday afternoon.

Palace fans will be buzzing

After an impressive first half of the campaign, Patrick Vieira will certainly be targeting a top-half finish for his Palace side with the South London club sat in 11th after 20 games, two points off of 10th placed Leicester. However, the Foxes have two games in hand.

Christian Benteke has had a decent campaign thus far, contributing four goals and an assist in 19 Premier League appearances whilst on-loan midfielder Conor Gallager is the club’s top scorer so far this campaign with six goals.

However, Palace could do with some extra firepower up front.

Jordan Ayew has been a popular option for Vieira, despite scoring just one goal all campaign whilst there are reports that Jean-Philippe Mateta could leave Selhurst Park this window.

Moreover, with Ayew now 30 and Mateta a loanee, signing a young striker like Dieng with bags of potential would be a shrewd move from the Palace hierarchy.

In other news, Patrick Vieira has delivered a major update…

Renowned Sunderland podcasters Roker Report have been left buzzing over some news that has now emerged involving one of the club’s youth teams.

The Lowdown: U15s triumph

As shared on Twitter, the Stadium of Light faithful’s U15 team won the Northern Floodlight Cup on Thursday.

They beat Premier League outfit Manchester United in the final, in what was a big triumph for the young Black Cats.

The Latest: Podcaster reacts

Taking to Twitter, Roker Report buzzed over the news of the youngsters celebrating their trophy win:

“Sunderland celebrating a trophy win whilst Man Utd look on. Things you love to see! Haway the young Lads!”

The Verdict: Exciting

The fact that the Wearsiders have won the Cup ahead of a club like Man Utd, with the difference in level of resources that they have available that runs through to youth level, is certainly exciting for SAFC and their supporters.

First-team manager Alex Neil will be hoping to see some of these youngsters develop over the next few years to a level that would make him consider them for the senior squad, and the fans will be eager to see more from their homegrown talents.

Nonetheless, this is a victory that the whole club can get behind, and it certainly bodes well for the future, as it seemingly looks like a promising next generation of talent is starting to come through.

In other news, find out what fresh Sunderland blow has now emerged before Cambridge United here!

Arsenal are lining up a shock move for Youri Tielemans this month, according to reports…

What’s the word?

Goal journalist Charles Watts delivered an exciting update to supporters on Twitter this week, claiming that the Gunners’ are ramping up their plans to sign a new midfielder before deadline day.

“Arsenal and their search for a midfielder:

– Contact made over Arthur

– All sides open to a loan

– Tielemans a long-term target

– Talks have taken place with his agent at London Colney,” he tweeted alongside an accompanying article.

The reliable reporter went on to explain how the north London giants have already held talks with the 24-year-old’s agents about a potential switch from league rivals Leicester City.

Outstanding addition

What an incredible signing this would be for Arsenal and as surprising as it would be, it has to be realistic considering their form under Mikel Arteta this campaign.

On the cusp of the top four, the Gunners are some ten points clear of the Foxes, who finished above them last season. The prospect of offering the Belgian dynamo Champions League football is becoming increasingly possible each game.

The need for a new midfielder is paramount to those chances, so landing Tielemans could come hand-in-hand.

Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny have gone to the Africa Cup of Nations and are unavailable for selection for the rest of the month, whilst Ainsley Maitland-Niles has been shipped to AS Roma on loan.

Meanwhile, Arteta is thought to be missing the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard ahead of tonight’s Carabao Cup clash with Liverpool, so there’s somewhat of a big engine room crisis going on at London Colney at the minute.

After securing the FA Cup last season, Tielemans won Leicester’s ‘ Player of the Year’ award, by both the fans and his peers.

He is capable of providing goals from midfield, having bagged five times this season but he also offers attributes in the defensive third too. He has averaged 1.9 tackles and 1.5 clearances per game, via WhoScored.

On the above evidence, Arsenal fans will surely be absolutely buzzing by this transfer bombshell.

AND in other news, David Ornstein drops huge transfer update on the Gunners’ striker search…

Arsenal have been offered a couple of late solutions to their nightmare search for a new striker…

What’s the word?

According to CBS Sports reporter James Benge, who delivered a fresh update on the Gunners’ pressing situation ahead of the January transfer window deadline at 11pm.

‘The Gunners have also been offered several players on loan this month, including Real Madrid’s Luka Jovic and Mehdi Taremi of Porto, and are working to upgrade Arteta’s strikeforce before the transfer window closes Monday night,’ he wrote.

Late business inbound?

It appears as if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is about to stay at the club after a loan move to Barcelona fell through but his future at the club is by no means certain after he was stripped of the captaincy in early December.

Meanwhile, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are out of contract in the summer, so manager Mikel Arteta could be really light on options heading into next season.

You’d have to call into question the attitudes of all three players if they feel as if they have no future in north London, too, so the Spanish head coach desperately needs additions before tonight’s 11pm deadline.

Therefore. it’s encouraging to learn that they have been offered potential solutions, especially after missing out on several key targets.

For instance, Dusan Vlavhovic opted for Juventus instead, whilst Jonathan David isn’t going anywhere until the summer. Meanwhile, a late move for Raul de Tomas appears to be way out of stretch financially.

Whether Jovic or Taremi are the answer remains to be seen but further options to this squad are definitely needed. If Aubameyang departed, then that would have been their sixth exit of the window, all without a single signing.

That’s a troubling prospect but this latest update gives some hope to the Emirates Stadium faithful.

AND in other news, David Ornstein has bad news for Arsenal fans on deadline day…

Everton’s social media are having a tough time of it at the moment.

In fairness, it is never easy to operate an account when the team in question is performing poorly, which is the case for Everton.

Indeed, the Toffees have lost five of their last six matches in all competitions, including their last three in the Premier League.

Marco Silva should surely be getting a lot more out of the group of players.

However, it seems to be more of a collective issue.

Next up for the Merseyside outfit is a trip to Cardiff City on February 26 and a defeat in that game would lead to serious questions being asked.

Everton’s Twitter account attempted to raise the spirits of the fans with a message about Lucas Digne on Monday, but it did not go down very well.

Indeed, not too many of the supporters were pleased with the amount of smiling faces that they saw on the training ground due to the team’s current form.

A selection of the reaction can be seen below:

Leeds United, Everton and Newcastle United have been linked with a move for midfielder Ross Barkley, TEAMtalk report.

The Lowdown: Barkley’s struggles…

Barkley, who shares the same agency as Whites midfielder Adam Forshaw, has had his struggles in 2021.

He spent last season on loan at Aston Villa, however, he started just four of Villa’s final 15 Premier League games last season.

The Englishman’s last appearance for his country came over two years ago and he’s failed to make an impact under Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge during the current campaign.

Tuchel recently labelled Barkley as ‘strong’, but he has started him just twice in all competitions this season, and it seems as if Victor Orta is keen to bring the attacking midfielder back to Elland Road following a loan spell in 2013.

The Latest: Whites interest

According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle are thought to be leading the chase for the 27-year-old’s services.

The report adds that Leeds and Everton are also keen, with an initial loan with option to buy preferred.

Barkley is still hopeful of making Gareth Southgate’s England squad in 2022 and has 18 months remaining on his Chelsea contract.

The Verdict: Avoid…

Leeds are fairly short of midfield options at this moment in time and haven’t signed a central midfielder on a permanent deal under Marcelo Bielsa. However, bringing in a player like Barkley, who is on big money and was labelled as ‘lazy’ by Roy Keane when playing for England, could be a risk.

He hasn’t exactly been a regular in the Premier League over recent years and has a lengthy injury history, so there’s no guarantee he’d hit the ground running in Bielsa’s high-intensity Leeds side.

Perhaps the Whites would be better off looking for a more versatile midfielder similar to Mateusz Klich, who would be able to provide cover in multiple areas such as an eight or 10.

In other news: Joe Donnohue states how much it could take for Leeds and Radrizzani to cash in on Raphinha. 

Journalist Pete O’Rourke believes that Rangers defender Connor Goldson could sign for Aston Villa in January, as per GIVEMESPORT.

Unsurprisingly, a number of Villa fans have been giving their thoughts to a possible winter move for the centre-back on social media.

Gerrard left Ibrox for Villa Park last month and was linked with a move for Goldson, whose £27,000-a-week contract with the Scottish giants expires at the end of the season.

The 29-year-old is thought to be ‘dreaming’ of a Premier League move, with a £2m fee involving Villa being touted. NSWE have promised Gerrard a huge January transfer kitty, and when asked about the Villa manager’s transfer plans, O’Rourke said:

“One of the names in the frame would be Connor Goldson, who is yet to sign a new deal at Rangers. “I think his contract is up in the summer, so Villa might be able to get him for relatively cheap in January.”

Villa fans react

Total Villa shared O’Rourke’s comments via Twitter and here is what these Villa supporters had to say in reply, with many not exactly keen on a transfer to go through, possibly due to the fact that the club already has four on the books, or that Goldson is relatively unproven at Premier League level.

Indeed, one supporter dismissed him as a “carthorse”, given that the 29-year-old hasn’t always excelled for Rangers.

“My dayysss, Hause is clear”

Credit: @AvfcRoyal

“Are you willing us to get relegated? Total carthorse, nowhere near as good as the 4 CBs at Villa.”

Credit: @Cuchullain2505

“No”

Credit: @JxmesAVFC

“He is a CB, is he really better/as good as Konsa and Mings? If not, no point signing him”

Credit: @markwalker1985

“Don’t want any of these Scottish league players, substandard”

Credit: @waynipoos1

“No thanks”

Credit: @CharlieAEG

In other news: ‘On my knees’ – Many Aston Villa fans erupt as Lange makes ‘bold’ January transfer bid

Newcastle United must prepare for the departure of star man Allan Saint-Maximin this summer – and may need to take a risk on his replacement.

What’s the word?

According to a report by the Daily Mail, Newcastle’s star forward is expected to be sold this summer, with the fee received expected to be pumped back into Eddie Howe’s squad.

Among the Frenchman’s mooted replacements are Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson and Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby, while Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe has also been linked with a switch to St. James’ Park this season.

However, in a recent interview with Football Insider, Ex Leeds United forward Noel Whelan claimed that a move for the Gunners attacker would be something of a risk.

Speaking about the Magpies’ potential interest in the 26-year-old, Whelan said: “A loan move may be something that Newcastle might fancy. These are the sort of players they will be targeting. He could turn his career around and end up being that big-ticket player. But right now, it’s a gamble.”

Bye-bye Saint-Maximin

Saint-Maximin has yet again proved his importance this season in more ways than one.

His five goals and three assists have been imperative in Newcastle’s bid to secure Premier League survival, though it’s his dribbling and ball carrying ability that have been the biggest positive for the Magpies.

It comes as no surprise that the 25-year-old ranks top of the Newcastle squad for successful dribbles per match with 4.3. Quite simply, his ability on the ball is often the catalyst for his side’s counterattacks, with the £28.8m-rated forward by far and away being the most efficient carrier of the ball.

However, while losing a player of Saint-Maximin’s calibre would certainly come as a huge blow to the Magpies, they could employ a like-for-like replacement in Nicolas Pepe – the Arsenal winger who has struggled to live up to his enormous transfer fee since signing from Lille in 2019.

Although he has faced scrutiny, he has not exactly been a flop in England thus far. The potential has always been there, with his end product on display for all to see just last season – when he bagged an impressive 10 goals over just 29 appearances for the Gunners.

Indeed, his £72m fee has arguably been his biggest enemy during his time in England, but a move to Newcastle for a rumoured fee of £25m could release the reins for the 26-year-old Ivory Coast international.

Pepe is a technical player, just like Saint-Maximin, who thrives in possession, more specifically within the attacking third. With around 35 touches in the attacking third per 90, he ranks in the 93rd percentile amongst positionally similar players within Europe’s top 5 leagues over the past 365 days.

For context, Saint-Maximin is ranked within the 81st percentile with around 23 touches in the attacking third per 90.

In this aspect, the £140k-per-week Pepe who Joe Cole claimed “makes things happen” would serve as an upgrade for his composure in the final third.

He may be a risk to some, but the underlying stats suggest that the Arsenal winger has everything it takes to replace Allan Saint-Maximin at Newcastle United – leading us to believe that PIF must take a chance on Pepe this summer.

In other news: Fee agreed: NUFC now already set to seal 1st summer signing, Howe surely over the moon

Crystal Palace had a very busy previous summer transfer window, not just in terms of seeing Patrick Vieira appointed as Roy Hodgson’s replacement in the manager position, but also with the number of players that were moved in and out of the club.

One player the Eagles signed on a permanent deal over the summer that has already proved to be a great bit of business from the south London club is defender Marc Guehi.

Since joining from fellow Premier League club Chelsea in a deal worth a reported fee of £18m, the centre-back has gone on to play the full 90 minutes in all but one of Palace’s 29 league games in this campaign, showing how important he now is to the team.

To highlight what a useful defensive figure he is, no other Palace player has managed to equal the average of clearances per game (3.5) that the 21-year-old has racked up.

Also, only Christian Benteke (82) has won more duels than the young defender this season, proving what a tough opponent he is at the back.

Overall, the former Chelsea youngster, who is currently picking up a weekly wage of £31k-per-week according to Salary Sport, has earned himself an overall performance rating of 6.77, making him the sixth-highest rated player in Vieira’s squad according to WhoScored.

The defender’s performances for Palace even convinced England manager Gareth Southgate to give Guehi his first senior call-up during the current international break.

Back in June 2021, shortly before he made the move to Selhurst Park, Transfermarkt rated the Englishman’s market value listed at £9m, whereas it now stands at a massive £27m, showing a whopping increase of 200%.

Labelled as an “absolute tank” by Josef Bursik, as well as being a “massive” player on the pitch, Guehi has certainly been a successful signing for Palace and Vieira before even completing his debut campaign with the Eagles.

Moving forward, with his young age and the promise he’s shown on the pitch at Selhurst Park, the centre-back could go on to be a long-term figure for the south London club and for England if he can keep playing consistently and delivering solid performances.

In other news: “There is a feeling..” – CPFC dealt big injury setback that will leave Vieira worried