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Podcaster Dan Cook has been left excited as Crystal Palace transfer target Calum Adamson may turn down a contract at his current club.

What’s the latest on Calum Adamson to Palace?

According to the Daily Record, a collection of Premier League teams are keen on signing the teenage midfielder and the Eagles have been “watching” him over the past few months.

In what may well come as a big boost to the club’s hopes of recruiting Adamson, the report also notes that he has yet to commit his future to Rangers despite being offered new terms.

Amid this latest development, while speaking on the HLTCO podcast, Cook suggested that this could “bode well” for Palace amid their transfer interest.

He explained: “He is someone who has been offered a professional deal at Ibrox but is the subject of a fair few clubs showing an interest in him from south of the border in the Premier League, and Crystal Palace can be named amongst that number.

“He is a promising midfielder. It’s fair to say he is currently impressing with the Scotland Under-16s. They are out in Cyprus as I record this.

“And despite the fact that Rangers have offered him professional terms, he’s to all intents and purposes hedging his bets at the moment.

“Maybe that does bode well for us in terms of getting him to put pen to paper on a contract at Crystal Palace.”

Could Palace land Calum Adamson amid his Rangers contract doubt?

It seems as though the club and sporting director Dougie Freedman are adopting an interesting approach to youth recruitment at Palace as the likes of Dylan Reid from St Mirren and Franco Umeh from Cork City have recently been signed.

Clearly, they are seeking out talent a little closer to home as opposed to sending all their scouts across the globe and it seems as though Rangers’ teenage talent Adamson is next up on their list.

Of course, it sounds as though there is still a fair way to go before this deal is complete. After all, he may opt to remain in Scotland or he could also head elsewhere with a number of English teams beyond Palace also said to be keeping tabs on the situation.

Still, it’s certainly promising that he is considering his options and so perhaps the midfielder will end up in south London after all.

Chelsea’s appointment of Graham Potter in the managerial role has not gone to plan, with the west London outfit currently tenth in the Premier League, level on points with Aston Villa, and facing a dizzying task in mounting a late charge toward Champions League qualification.

Indeed, Chelsea’s most recent match in the Premier League, a 2-0 defeat at the hands of heated rivals Tottenham Hotspur, left the Lilywhites perched a remarkable 13 points above their neighbours in fourth place, and given Potter’s record in charge of the Blues leaves him with a points-per-match (PPM) average of just 1.31, it certainly does not seem likely that a late surge will materialise, subsequently narrowing the currently towering gulf.

Bearing this in mind, there might just be fruit for owner Todd Boehly in his reported interest in signing a new man to lead from the dugout, with former Spain and FC Barcelona boss Luis Enrique earmarked as a replacement.

According to reports from Spain earlier this month, Enrique is indeed attracting attention from the Blues hierarchy, with the 52-year-old currently unemployed after resigning from his post as the head of the Spanish national team after falling to Morocco at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

What impact would Enrique’s appointment have on Reece James?

Enrique enjoyed heaps of success with Barcelona, and given his pedigree, the “headstrong” – as hailed by ESPN’s David Cartlidge – boss could be the perfect remedy to cure Chelsea’s current woes.

And with his prospective appointment, he could start to nurture and develop Chelsea’s expansive pool of talent to a new level, with thriving right-back Reece James perhaps benefitting more than most.

Hailed as ‘the complete full-back’ by one tactical analysis, James has become an integral component to his outfit over the past several seasons, scoring 11 goals and providing 20 assists from 139 appearances for Chelsea, notably winning the 2020/21 Champions League; the profound impact on his squad has been illuminated by recent reports that he is being prepared for the future captaincy role at the club, donning the armband against Tottenham on Sunday after Thiago Silva went off injured.

And considering James ranks among the top 9% of full-backs in Europe’s top divisions for goals, 7% for assists, 4% for progressive passes, 7% for successful take-ons and 7% for shot-creating actions per 90, he clearly boasts the acumen to solidify himself as one of Europe’s superlative forces in his position.

That said, he boasts just two goal involvements in the top flight this term from 11 matches, a far cry from the five goals and nine assists he managed last season.

Thus, the £250k-per-week phenom is far from his best but he could be re-born under Enrique, potentially even growing into a player of the illustrious Dani Alves’ mould, who the Spaniard managed over several seasons for La Blaugrana.

Indeed, Alves made 94 displays under the manager, recording an impressive 20 direct contributions and playing a starring role in the momentous and historic treble of 2014/15.

Lauded as one of the most renowned and revered full-backs of his generation, Alves’ offensive impetus and winning mentality are arresting elements to his game that could quite easily be attributed to James’ own, and as he continues to grow into his skin there is no reason why he cannot emulate an icon who played some of his best years thanks to Enrique’s winning formula.

Even Potter’s most stout supporters could not be incredulous if the former Seagulls boss was to be relinquished from his duties at the helm of the Chelsea ship, with no respite in sight from the woes that pile ever heavier with each passing match week.

With a manager of Enrique’s ilk waiting in the wings, Boehly might just swallow his pride and appoint a man who would be the club’s third permanent boss of the term.

A shock report from Turkey has claimed that Alex Iwobi ‘wants to leave’ Everton, as he is ‘unhappy’ at the club, and Fenerbahce could sign him ‘shortly’.

The Lowdown: New contract?

It was only reported in February that Everton were ‘pressing ahead’ to tie Iwobi down to a new contract, with his current deal set to expire in 2024.

However, shock reports have emerged that he now wants to leave, and he could make an out-of-window move to Turkey, with their mid-season transfer window still open.

The Latest: Could leave ‘shortly’…

As per Turkish news outlet A Spor, Iwobi is ‘unhappy’ at Goodison Park, and ‘wants to leave’.

Fenerbahce could sign him ‘shortly’ on loan with an option to buy, and the Merseyside club are ‘working hard’ to get a deal done before their deadline day on Sunday.

Sean Dyche has actually responded to the rumours, claiming he believes an exit is ‘unlikely’.

The Verdict: Big shock

It would be a big shock if the report is true and Iwobi is set to leave over the next couple of days.

The Nigeria international has really stepped up this season, with his former manager Frank Lampard hailing his development as ‘brilliant’.

His form has continued under Dyche, as he is currently the highest assister in the squad, while he has also averaged more key passes per match in the Premier League than any of his team-mates (WhoScored).

The Toffees now have a huge decision to make, as they will not want to keep an unhappy player, and being the joint highest earner on £120,000-per-week, they have to weigh up whether it is worth letting Iwobi go that they currently find themselves in a relegation battle.

A number of Manchester United supporters have been reacting to an Old Trafford update regarding a record-breaking season for ticket sales. 

The Lowdown: 2.3m+ sales

The Red Devils confirmed via their website on Saturday evening that a new record has been set for men’s games at Old Trafford this season.

More than 2.3m tickets have been sold for home fixtures, more than the previous record set during the 2016/17 season. All 19 Premier League home fixtures as well as the 13 domestic or European cup games have contributed to that number, with the scope for more to sell should Erik ten Hag’s side progress in the Europa League.

The Latest: Fans react

United shared the good news on their official Twitter page which led to plenty of positive interaction from supporters, with one labelling the update as ‘amazing’.

“Ten hag effect” – @awolowoayomide5

“Amazing” – @TheAyubAhmad

“Yeeeesss” – @tarainvestment

“Ten Hag making us believe again” – @MenjivarDave

“This is why Man Utd is the biggest club in England” – @r7cgoat

“In Ten Hag we trust!” – @magicfuel

The Verdict: Good to see

Ten Hag’s side going far in all cup competitions alongside a number of home draws has played a key part in the record-breaking campaign, and it’s safe to say he has brought the feel-good factor back to Old Trafford.

The Carabao Cup triumph was the first piece of silverware the club have won in six years and there is still potential for the club to lift more with the Red Devils going well in the Europa League and FA Cup.

Hopefully, the club will be able to sell more tickets for a Europa League quarter-final and then semi-final, and supporters may also be hoping to hear more on a potential takeover before the campaign comes to an end.

West Bromwich Albion return to Championship action tonight as they face a dogged trip to relegation-threatened Cardiff City.

The Baggies have enjoyed a fine return to form of late, having put aside their disappointing defeats to Birmingham City and Watford to win three of their last four, including an impressive victory over promotion-chasing Middlesbrough.

Their resurgence has left them just three points from the playoff spots, and tonight marks a fine opportunity to bridge that gap further with a trip to a struggling outfit.

Despite their league position however, the Bluebirds have also enjoyed a bout of good form themselves, having won three of their last five matches. Their home form is far more impressive than when they hit the road, having lost four fewer games. Carlos Corberan will be wary of this, as he seeks to set up his team to continue their fine defensive showings to thwart their run of five away losses on the run in all competitions.

With a recall for Tom Rogic touted as he returned from injury last week, Grady Diangana has now been sidelined for the rest of the season as he awaits surgery on his foot.

This throws the potential team selection into the air, with the Spanish boss seeking to rectify their troubles on the road without overworking his squad.

How will West Brom line up against Cardiff City?

Here is how Football FanCast expects Corberan to line his side up on Wednesday, with two changes from the side that started against the Terriers.

After another clean sheet last time out, Josh Griffiths is unlikely to lose his spot in between the sticks as he sits behind an unchanged back four.

Darnell Furlong and Conor Townsend will occupy the full-back spots, flanking a centre-back pairing that blends experience with a youthful vigour that has made them so solid. Dara O'Shea and Erik Pieters are unlikely to be parted at the heart of defence.

The first change could see Jayson Molumby drop out as the team is slightly rotated, allowing Tom Rogic to start after his cameo at the weekend. He will partner Okay Yokuslu at the base of a midfield three, spearheaded by last week's match-winner John Swift.

Despite impressing in his makeshift role, the second and final change is expected to see Marc Albrighton return for Adam Reach on the wing. The £45k-per-week loanee had made an impressive start to life at the Hawthorns, having previously been labelled an "unsung hero" by journalist John Bennett.

Given the lack of options, it would be unsurprising to see Jed Wallace and Daryl Dike also retain their spots on the wing and up front respectively. Their scoring exploits could prove crucial in sneaking a vital win tonight.

Sky Sports have provided a major update on the Manchester United takeover saga following Wednesday’s deadline for second bids.

The Lowdown: Jassim and Ratcliffe

Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have appeared to be the front runners to take over from the Glazers in recent weeks, with both parties holding Old Trafford talks last week.

The pair were set to submit second offers for the club this week, with Fabrizio Romano one of many reporters to state that those bids were made ahead of the 9pm deadline. However, it looks as if that was not the case, with Sky Sports sharing an update late on Wednesday evening.

The Latest: Sky Sports update

Sky Sports shared some ‘huge’ developments regarding a United takeover after the 9pm deadline on Wednesday. Chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol said that both Jassim and Ratcliffe’s bids were not completed in time and have asked for an extension from the Raine Group in New York, describing it as ‘incredible’.

‘This is incredible what we’re about to talk about now. I’ve seen lots of things but I don’t think I’ve seen anything like this.

‘We’ve been telling you that Sheikh Jassim had made a world record bid for Manchester United. I’m now being told by a very, very senior source that the bid has not been received yet. It needed to be sent to the Raine Group in New York, and I’m being told that bid has not been received yet.

‘I’m also being told that Sheikh Jassim’s delegation have asked Raine for an extension and Raine have agreed to accommodate that request. ‘And what’s more, the same goes for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS. Now my understanding is, from being told by someone very senior that said to me ‘why would we lie to you’, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, the bid has not gone in.’

The Verdict: Crazy

It does seem extremely bizarre that both Jassim and Ratcliffe missed the deadline and have asked for an extension, but it appears as if a takeover involving one of the two isn’t out of the question just yet after their request for an extension was approved – Romano says ‘bids will still go in’.

However, both parties will need to be on the money going forward when it comes to new deadlines, especially as several other groups interested in buying a smaller percentage of United did meet the initial Wednesday deadline.

Jassim and Ratcliffe’s improved offers are set to be world-record bids, worth around £5billion, so it could be an extremely important few days.

Everton produced an epic comeback in their Premier League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last night and Sean Dyche will be thrilled that his perseverance with Ellis Simms finally paid off in the dying moments of the game.

The Toffees academy graduate has had a rollercoaster season after becoming a key player whilst on loan with Sunderland in the Championship over the first half of the season with his impressive displays ultimately leading to his recall to Goodison Park in January, although his opportunities remained limited until the appointment of the former Burnley boss.

Over Dyche's eight games in charge of the Merseysiders, Simms has featured four times and his faith in the striker finally paid off in west London as the youngster earned his team a crucial point with a goal scored in the 89th minute of action.

Indeed, there is still plenty of work to be done for both Everton to survive in the Premier League this season and Simms to become a prolific presence in front of goal but the draw with Chelsea will surely instil some belief and confidence going into the remaining ten league fixtures.

If Dyche does manage to retain the Toffees' top-flight status it could be a great opportunity to give more academy graduates opportunities to prove their worth in the senior team and Tom Cannon could be the perfect addition to the attacking threat when he returns from his loan with Preston North End.

How is Tom Cannon doing on loan?

Cannon made the move to the Championship club back in the January transfer window and is earning the important first-team football needed to give a better insight into his capabilities.

Over 12 appearances so far, the 20-year-old ace – hailed a "bright spark" by journalist Tom Sandells – has scored three goals, registered one assist and created two big chances, as well as averaging 1.2 successful dribbles, two shots on goal and winning four duels per game, proving that he is a huge attacking presence on the pitch.

It seems that Cannon has captured a lot of attention during his short time in the Championship with Hull City manager Liam Rosenior hailing the forward when the club came up against PNE last month:

"I thought Tom Cannon was outstanding, one of the best we've played against by far."

The former Everton U18s and U21s striker penned a new three-year deal in August 2022 after tallying up 97 appearances, 51 goals and 14 assists in the youth set-up, as well as earning three senior appearances in the first team before his temporary move to Lancashire at the turn of the year.

With that being said, the future is looking bright for Cannon and if he can continue to produce a solid output on loan over the remainder of the season, it would put him in good stead to follow in the footsteps of the aforementioned Simms.

Finance expert Kieran Maguire has been reacting to a Manchester United takeover update involving Thomas Zilliacus.

What’s the latest on a Manchester United takeover?

Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe are seemingly the real frontrunners when it comes to a possible full takeover from the Glazers, with the pair eventually submitting revised bids after an extension last week.

They don’t appear to be alone in the race, though, with Zilliacus also stating that he has made an offer. The Finnish entrepreneur wanted to buy half of the club with the other half bought by fans, who will be part of club decision-making.

However, Zilliacus then proposed that himself, Ratcliffe and Jassim join forces for a deal, although the businessman is not thought to be being entirely ‘accurate’ with what he is announcing.

Maguire, who contributes for Sky Sports, was talking to Football Insider regarding Zilliacus and a reported Old Trafford bid which would involve supporters. He feels as if it has been done to ‘get publicity’, describing it as ‘bizarre’.

“This is an easy win to try and get publicity. The credibility of the offer has to be brought into question. The nature of the bid doesn’t make sense.

“What we would find if it did happen, is that people would follow the herd when it came to major decisions. So I’m not taking this proposal particularly seriously – United fans have had the opportunity to buy shares in the club for many years and they chose not to do so. So why Zilliacus believes they would suddenly choose to do so under this model is bizarre."

What happens now at Old Trafford?

Jassim, Ratcliffe and potentially Zilliacus, should his offer prove to be accurate, will now be waiting to hear back from the Glazers on their stance over a possible sale.

Reports have suggested that Avram Glazer is against a full sale, whereas Joel Glazer could be persuaded, with the other four siblings, rumoured to be in favour of selling at a big profit. A £6bn figure has been floated around as the potential asking price, and with the potential sale of the NFL team Washington Commanders being valued at $6bn, Sky Sports have suggested this could push up the price tag at Old Trafford.

Manchester United are eyeing up a swoop for World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister this summer as Erik ten Hag continues his rebuild.

What’s the latest on Alexis Mac Allister to Manchester United?

According to Argentinian reporter Cesar Luis Merlo, United are fighting it out with Liverpool and Arsenal in order to lure the Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder to Old Trafford during the summer transfer window.

Merlo claims that two of the clubs are ‘already negotiating’ with the player, although he doesn’t state which teams that is.

The south coast side were looking at £50m in order for any team to prise Mac Allister away from the club during the January window and come the end of the season, this figure may have increased.

Could Manchester United sign Alexis Mac Allister?

Ten Hag is still a few signings short of completing a team which can compete for the Premier League title and Mac Allister would certainly improve the team that’s for sure.

With the Dutchman also looking to ship out some deadwood and underperformers during the summer, the Argentinian could be a big upgrade on Scott McTominay.

Indeed, this season, the 24-year-old has registered more goals (eight to none), shots per game (2.35 to 0.78), tackles won (30 to 18) and has a higher pass success rate than the Scot (86.7% to 81.9%), proving he has been much more effective across all areas of the pitch.

Ten Hag would love to add another midfielder who can pose a significant goal threat and Mac Allister ranks in the top 5% across Europe’s big five leagues for goals, total shots and penalty kicks made, meaning United would be signing one of the finest goalscoring midfielders in the continent if they lured him to the club.

His experience at the highest level is also a big plus for the Dutchman. Reporter Roy Nemer lauded the midfielder as being “unplayable” during the 2022 World Cup final that Argentina won, and he was incredible throughout the duration of the competition.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.05/10 across six matches, scoring once, creating two big chances and making 1.3 key passes per match along with taking 1.2 shots per game, displaying his attacking qualities on the grandest stage of all.

McTominay has started just nine Premier League matches for United this season, making 20 appearances overall, and it looks as though his career at the Red Devils could be coming to an end.

In Mac Allister they will have a player who is a big upgrade on the 26-year-old and one who can further strengthen United’s midfield.

Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha's injury absence is a "massive blow" ahead of the Eagles' vital Premier League clash this weekend, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Is Zaha out of Leeds v Palace clash?

Roy Hodgson made a dream start to life back at Selhurst Park last weekend, securing a priceless 2-1 victory at home to Leicester City. It was a win that gave Palace some much-needed breathing space in the relegation battle, although there is still work to do.

With nine matches to go, the south Londoners are 12th in the Premier League table but still only three points above the drop zone, highlighting how tight things are currently. On Sunday afternoon, they make the trip to fellow relegation strugglers Leeds United in what is a huge game for both sides.

Unfortunately, one player who will be unavailable for the game is Zaha, who has been ruled out for several weeks with a groin injury. It is a major setback for Hodgson, given the Ivorian's talismanic nature for Palace down the years, having been their most reliable source of goals in the top flight for the last three seasons.

How big a miss will Zaha be?

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones bemoaned the situation surrounding the winger, admitting it is a huge blow for the Eagles ahead of such a pivotal run of fixtures:

"It's a massive shame because Zaha has always been used as that difference-maker by Roy Hodgson and he really admires him. He knows how to utilise him as well, so he'll be disappointed."

There is no question that Zaha being out for what could be a big chunk of the remainder of the season is a massive negative for Palace, considering he has arguably been the best player to grace the club over the past decade. The 30-year-old has scored 89 goals and registered 76 assists in 455 appearances for the Eagles down the years, so often proving to be their match-winner in important games.

This season, Zaha has six goals to his name in the league and has continued to be an important figure, and the hope is that others will now step up to the plate in his absence.

The likes of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise stand out in that respect, with the young pair possessing the ability to be the difference-makers when it really matters, as the latter showed when he scored a last-gasp free-kick to equalise at home to Manchester United earlier in the season.

Points are even more precious now, and with the Eagles yet to win in the league without Zaha featuring this term, they will have to break new ground to keep their survival charge going.