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Celtic could be offered cash plus loanee Diego Laxalt on a permanent basis in a deal for striker Odsonne Edouard this summer.

That’s according to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, cited by Sports Witness, who claim that Milan view Edouard as a possible option to challenge Zlatan Ibrahimovic next season.

No Laxalt option for Celtic

Laxalt, on £57,000-a-week, has made 25 appearances for the Hoops during his season-long loan, scoring once.

There’s no option to make a move permanent for the left-back, however, it seems as if the Italian giants could test Celtic’s resolve with a cash bid for Edouard involving the Uruguay international.

Transfer Tavern take

Edouard, on £19,000-a-week in Glasgow, will have just 12 months left on his Celtic contract in the summer.

The Frenchman reportedly wants to quit the club this summer, regardless of who comes in as Neil Lennon’s successor, so it would be interesting to see how much cash Milan would be willing to offer alongside Laxalt.

Going off Transfermarkt valuations, Edouard is worth £13.5m, whereas Laxalt’s market value sits at £3.6m. Based on that, could Milan offer around £10m? Only time will tell.

In other news: Premier League club tracking Hoops starlet, find out who it is here. 

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Barry Fry has warned that Crystal Palace could scare off the likes of Frank Lampard and Eddie Howe in any potential manager search due to their current squad.

As things stand, current manager Roy Hodgson is set to leave the club at the end of the season, with his contract up in the summer, meaning the Eagles could be on the lookout for a new man for the dugout.

Lampard and Howe, two men with Premier League experience, are both available. Fry, however, believes Palace will struggle to attract either without promising backing in the transfer market.

Speaking exclusively to FFC about who could replace Hodgson in the Selhurst Park dugout, Peterborough’s director of football said:

“They’re [Lampard and Howe] two very, very bright managers and in the future, they’ll have a big impact on our game at some club or another. It depends if they [Palace] talk to Frank and map out their vision for the future.

“Again, I don’t think they will convince those two up-and-coming lads to go in there without the backing, you know, signing half a dozen real quality players.”

Given the job he has done at Palace, it may come as a surprise to some that Hodgson has not put pen to paper on a new deal. The Englishman has guided the Eagles to 11th, 12th and 14th-placed finishes, maintaining the south London club’s status as a Premier League outfit.

If it actually is time to move on, though, then Lampard and Howe are certainly two options Palace could consider should they decide to move for a manager who is currently without a club.

Numerous fans of West Ham United have been reacting to a post on Twitter in which Declan Rice looked back on the Hammers’ weekend draw with Arsenal.

Despite having raced into a 3-0 first half lead against Mikel Arteta’s side on Sunday, own goals from both Tomas Soucek and Craig Dawson, as well as an 82nd-minute Alexandre Lacazette strike, saw West Ham take just one point from the fixture, with the match ending 3-3.

Following the result, Rice took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the stalemate, claiming that it was a “disappointing end to such a bright performance”, before turning his attention to the remainder of West Ham’s Premier League campaign, calling for fans to “stay positive” and reassuring them that he and his team will “keep giving our all for the end goal”.

However, in reaction to Rice’s post on Twitter, plenty of West Ham fans flocked to have their say on the matter, with many appearing to ignore the England international’s advice on staying positive as they lambasted West Ham’s capitulation against the Gunners.

So, what exactly did these West Ham United fans have to say in reaction to Declan Rice’s post on Twitter?

“Playing well Dec but have a word with Moyes and get him to actually analyse a game before it happens. All this sitting in just invites pressure and hasn’t worked for quite a few games now. Need results against Chelsea and Leicester now.”

@westhamhour

“Embarrassing but 3 points against Wolves.”

@willearle_

“You need to get into the game more and settle it down somehow when we can’t get the ball, like the last 60 minutes. Not sure what the answer is just yet but it needs a discussion with David Moyes. We need you on the ball, not being bypassed. Games can’t keep going like this.”

@wasntme23

“Not good enough.”

@con_whu

“Need to keep more offence and stop trying to protect a slim lead – never works for us.”

@ClaretnBlueLife

“Very. Let’s hope we can step up in the remaining games.”

@Deal770M

“I’m gutted Dec.”

@WHUFC_Dan78

“Don’t let us bottle this I beg man.”

@finley_mclellan

“Rubbish.”

@Drj751

In other news: these West Ham fans flocked to a claim from ExWHUEmployee – find out more here!

Dean Windass has exclusively told Football FanCast that Jamie Vardy is suffering without James Maddison, but has still tipped Leicester to finish second.

Vardy has scored 14 goals in all competitions this season, but hasn’t found the net since Maddison suffered a hip problem against Aston Villa last month.

Leicester themselves have picked up just four points from their three Premier League games since winning at Villa Park, and were dumped out of the Europa League by Slavia Prague.

Their injury problems went from bad to worse when both Jonny Evans and Harvey Barnes were forced off against Arsenal earlier this month – with the latter expected to be ruled out for at least six weeks following knee surgery.

But Windass believes that Leicester, who lie in third just one point below Manchester United, will avoid a repeat of last season when they collapsed post-lockdown to finish fifth.

He told Football FanCast:

“We’re talking about Vardy, Maddison and Barnes. Two out of the three are injured. Yes, Iheanacho scored a wonderful goal against Burnley, but is he going to get you another six or seven goals? I’m not so sure. Maddison is a big miss for Vardy.

“I always had a midfield player or a winger that if they didn’t play, I didn’t get as many chances, and I think that Jamie Vardy will be thinking, ‘come on Maddo, get fit please, quickly’. Nine times out of ten, Vardy’s goals come from Maddison.

“But it’s a definite that they’ll get in the top-four, I actually think they’ll get in the top-two.”

Maddison and Vardy have struck up an excellent partnership since the former joined from Norwich almost three years ago, and as Windass says, the striker isn’t the same without Maddison behind him.

The pair have combined on a number occasions in recent years, and the quicker Maddison returns, the better Leicester’s chances are of finishing in the top-four.

Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell believes the Gunners could “gazump” Leicester City in their attempts to sign Celtic star Odsonne Edouard this summer.

Reports from the Daily Mail last week claimed the Foxes were closing in on a £15m deal for the French forward, who made it clear he wanted to reunite with former Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers.

Edouard, who has netted 20 goals this season, is out of contract at Parkhead next summer which has resulted in his valuation dropping over the last 12 months.

Arsenal to ‘make a bigger offer’ for Edouard?

Talking exclusively to Football Insider, Campbell was asked if he feels Arsenal would show an interest in Edouard at £15m, answering with his views on a potential ‘bigger offer’.

“Edouard knows Brendan Rodgers but let’s watch this space.

“If Arsenal are looking at him then they will gazump Leicester and make a bigger offer. Leicester have got a few quid, don’t get me wrong but if Arsenal are interested it’s a different story.

“If Mikel Arteta is interested in bringing the age of the forward line down by a few years then they have got to start battling for Edouard. They will have to put something down on the table for him.”

Transfer Tavern take

It appears as if a summer exit for Edouard is inevitable and with Campbell tipping Arsenal to ‘make a bigger offer’, that could well play into the Hoops’ hands.

A bidding war between the two Premier League clubs could materialise, should both sides be extremely keen to sign the 23-year-old.

That may then see the Hoops receiving a fee closer to their £25m valuation from during the January window, which would be a massive boost to help kickstart Dominic McKay’s reign – that is a lot of money the new Bhoys chief could reinvest into the squad.

In other news: A manager has confirmed his player has been spending time with the Hoops, find out more here.

Many Liverpool fans reacted to reports in Italy that the Reds were taking a strong interest in Udinese midfielder Rodrigo De Paul.

The 26-year-old was linked with a move to Anfield last month but those whispers have re-emerged in the Italian press, with Tutto Udinese revealing that the Reds are considering a serious approach for the Serie A skipper.

De Paul has scored five goals and provided one assist in 21 starts during the 2020/21 campaign, with his team having won just six out of 22 matches.

The Argentina international has received huge praise in Southern Europe in recent months for his performances – particularly from Watford director Cristiano Giareta who described him as a “leader” and “among the strongest players in the world.”

Of course, this will all depend on what happens regarding Georginio Wijnaldum’s contract conundrum, with his existing deal due to expire in the summer. Nevertheless, this did not stop the fans below from getting carried away with the news.

De Paul links excited these fans

“Like this player! I can tell Liverpool fans he’s the Argentinian Jack Grealish”

Credit: @Shush_ya_clown

“This kid is a baller”

Credit: @JoeeBach

“I’d take him. From what I’ve heard he’s class. The only reason Udinese aren’t in a relegation battle.”

Credit: @kilevile

“This is exactly what we need.”

Credit: @theKloppEnd2

“Get it done”

Credit: @LFCX19X6

“Exactly what’s needed in the midfield”

Credit: @kop6_

In other news, Jurgen Klopp joins four-horse race for ‘unplayable’ 139-goal star in blockbuster deal – report.

Many Wolves fans were delighted with forward Pedro Neto during their Premier League encounter against Leicester City on Sunday.

The 20-year-old started on the left-hand side of a front three including Adama Traore and new signing Willian Jose – an attractive proposition on paper.

Neto didn’t take long to settle himself into the game and was giving his opposite number Ricardo Pereira all sorts of problems, and had the ability to open doors for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.

The Portuguese attacker is not a player that lacks ambition. Neto previously told Sky Sports that he wants to become the best player in the world, and has plenty of time to achieve that

Unsurprisingly, supporters flocked to social media to hail Neto’s performance, with some left open-mouthed by his technical ability and skill.

Fans drool over Neto

“Genuinely how good is Neto! Unbelievable talent”

Credit: @DunnyBets

“Pedro Neto is so good, isn’t he? Like he’s ridiculously good”

Credit: @MrPauloGoodman

“Unreal by Pedro Neto. Tekkers.”

Credit: @WWFCFancast

“Pedro Neto is very, very, very good, isn’t he?”

Credit: @markgeveritt

“Absolutely amazing quality Neto”

Credit: @SpeesrA

“Pedro Neto. That’s it, that’s the tweet.”

Credit: @ellawwfc

In other news, Elite European giants monitoring in-form Wolves loanee for summer move.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former footballer and current pundit Carlton Palmer has spoken about Liverpool’s chances of signing PSG striker Kylian Mbappe.

The Reds have been linked with a move for the French wonderkid, with rumours intensifying as a result of Liverpool’s Nike deal they signed earlier this year.

The young striker has established himself as one of the brightest young talents in European football in recent years, having moved to PSG from AS Monaco in a £165.7 million deal in 2018 after spending the previous season on loan.

Now rated at £162 million, Mbappe has been prolific in his time with Les Parisiens, with 103 goals and 59 assists to his name, in just 140 appearances for the club.

He has also been in sensational form this season, having contributed 11 goals and five assists in 11 appearances in Ligue 1, resulting in a superb average rating of 8.06.

Here’s what Palmer had to say about Liverpool’s chances of signing Mbappe when speaking exclusively to Football FanCast…

“Why not? The Premier League is the most marketable league in the world. If you’re a top player, at some point you want to have played in the Premier League. So, why not?”

Palmer seems to suggest that Mbappe will want to Premier League at some point in the future, so why shouldn’t that be with the Reds?

After all, PSG have won seven out of eight of the last league titles, so it could definitely be argued that the French league isn’t much challenge for the prolific forward, and he must try his hand in another top league if he wants to be appreciated as one of the best players in world football.

Of course, Mbappe has already won the World Cup with France but is yet to taste European success with PSG, so if they are unable to win the Champions League again this season, it would perhaps not be a surprise to see him depart the club.

Whilst it would cost Liverpool a huge amount of money to sign the striker, he could be a top striker with the Merseyside club for the next 10-15 years and would perhaps take the Reds to another level, so maybe we will see Liverpool try and sign Mbappe at some point in the near future.

And, in other news… Klopp must sanction January exit for LFC liability with “a taste for the big games”

The Athletic’s Leeds United correspondent Phil Hay has shed some light on the behind-the-scenes view on Adam Forshaw at Elland Road.

This comes as Forshaw has been sidelined with a hip injury since September 2019.

What is Hay’s update on the behind-the-scenes view at Leeds United on Forshaw?

In the comments section of an article that the Leeds United reporter recently wrote for The Athletic about Leeds goalkeeper Kiko Casilla, one reader shared that they think Leeds have got a ‘major problem’, in that they have no ‘proper cover’ for holding midfielder Kalvin Phillips.

Hay replied to that reader to share that Whites boss Marcelo Bielsa is of the belief that Forshaw could perform that role if he were fit, saying: ‘I know he feels that a fit Forshaw could play there.’

However, with the 29-year-old having been out of action for over a year now, the journalist went on to say that ‘no one at the club can be sure of what comes next for him.’

Transfer Tavern take

It may be fair to say that this update certainly isn’t a positive one for the £2.88m-rated midfielder, as it seems like there’s a lot of behind-the-scenes uncertainty over his Elland Road future at present.

However, this also mightn’t come as a massive surprise, given that he has been out of action for so long.

In December, Bielsa indicated that the 29-year-old is yet to even return to training, so it seems like he’s still a while away from getting back to competitive action with the first-team.

With just over a year remaining on his Leeds contract and knowing that those behind-the-scenes at the Yorkshire clubs are unsure about what comes next for him, it may be fair to say that Forshaw’s days at Leeds could be numbered unless he can get himself fit and firing once again.

In other news, details have emerged on Bielsa’s plan for Robbie Gotts.

Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes has been voted the GMS Fans’ Premier League Player of the Month for November.

In a poll run by fan engagement experts Snack Media, the midfielder took an impressive 43% of the vote after scoring four goals from 14 shots and playing an instrumental role in United’s run of three consecutive wins in November.

Liverpool’s Diogo Jota, who scored twice last month, was in second place with 21%.

In the last of five votes carried out over seven days via Snack’s digital and social networks, the United star’s talismanic performances clearly resonated most with the Premier League audience.

The full list of contenders from the final shortlist polled as follows:

Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) – 43%

Diogo Jota (Liverpool) – 21%

Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur) – 11%

Aaron Cresswell (West Ham) – 10%

Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton Wanderers) – 8%

Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) – 7%

The Premier League vote for December’s POTM award opens at 3pm on Friday 8th January. To vote go to: https://www.footballfancast.com/fan-awards