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Crystal Palace are no closer to knowing where Wilfried Zaha will be plying his trade next season as the player has made "no decision" regarding his future yet, claims Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

Crystal Palace transfer news – what's the latest on Wilfried Zaha's contract situation?

It has been a relatively quiet start to the transfer window for Palace this summer, with their only major incoming being Colombian international Jefferson Lerma, who joined from Premier League rivals Bournemouth on a free.

The biggest story for the club this summer has been and will undoubtedly continue to be the contract situation surrounding star player and club legend Zaha.

The Ivorian international's £130,000-a-week contract with the South London side expired on July 1st, and he has since become a free agent, something the Eagles have been trying to rectify over the last few months with big offers to keep the 30-year-old at the club.

The situation has been made all the more complicated after it was revealed that any final decision from the player was being delayed due to his contract with his current agency also expiring at the end of this month, meaning a final decision will likely come in August.

In the meantime, Palace have put their cards on the table and offered the dynamic winger a contract estimated to be worth £200,000-a-week to remain at Selhurst Park.

As a free agent, Zaha has attracted the interest of several clubs outside of the Premier League, with Serie A side Lazio said to hold genuine interest in the exciting attacker.

What has Sheth said about Crystal Palace and Zaha?

Sheth was keen to stress that nothing had been decided on by the player or anyone in his camp and that his new status as a free agent had unsurprisingly piqued the interest of other clubs.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "I've just spoken to someone, just before speaking to you, who's close to the deal for Wilfried Zaha. There is still no decision.

"You mentioned that he got married over the weekend, but there is still no decision.

"He is now officially a free agent after his Crystal Palace contract expired ten days ago. There is interest in him which you would expect to be the case."

Is Wilfried Zaha a Crystal Palace legend?

It is hard to argue against Zaha being counted amongst Crystal Palace's list of legends after his performances for the club over the last decade.

Since making his debut for the Eagles at age 17, back in 2010, Zaha has made 458 appearances for the club, scoring 90 goals and assisting a further 76 along the way.

As a local lad, he is a player that fans have genuinely connected with over the years, with Palace fan and podcast presenter HLTCO describing Zaha as "a club legend in every sense."

As it stands, he is the Palace's third-highest appearance maker of all time, behind only Terry Long and Jim Cannon. His contributions to the side have been recognised by the board, who, earlier this year, commissioned a giant mural of their star player on the side of a house right next to Selhurst Park.

As the days tick down to the new Premier League season, the Palace faithful will be hoping that the new contract offer is enough to keep their "legend" just a little while longer.

Jason Behrendorff finished with 14 wickets for the match – the ninth-best match figures in Sheffield Shield history – as Western Australia won by an innings against Victoria

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Feb-2017
ScorecardFile photo – Jason Behrendorff finished with match figures of 14 for 89•Getty Images

Jason Behrendorff finished with 14 for 89, the ninth-best match figures in Sheffield Shield history, as Western Australia wrapped up an innings victory over Victoria inside two days at the WACA. Behrendorff added five second-innings wickets to his nine from the first innings as Victoria were tumbled out for 130, losing by an innings and 38 runs.Behrendorff was just the second man in the post-war era to collect as many as 14 wickets in a Sheffield Shield game – Terry Alderman was the other, having picked up 14 for 87 in a match against New South Wales in 1981, also at the WACA. It completed a remarkable comeback match for Behrendorff, who was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his left fibula in early December.The second morning began with Western Australia at 4 for 178, and while they were able to add only 107 to their overnight total it was more than enough to ensure they did not have to bat again. Behrendorff began Victoria’s second innings by scything through Travis Dean, Marcus Harris and Marcus Stoinis within his first four overs.Aaron Finch provided some resistance with an unbeaten 65, but the rest of the Victorians struggled, with 17-year-old Cameron Green picking up 3 for 20. Behrendorff returned to claim the final two wickets of the game, to finish with 5 for 52 to add to his 9 for 37 from the first innings, which were the fifth-best innings figures in Shield history.

Newcastle United are interested in signing Rennes midfielder Desire Doue this summer as manager Eddie Howe continues to improve his thriving squad.

What's the latest on Desire Doue to Newcastle?

According to iNews, the teenage prodigy is of interest to the Magpies as they attempt to clinch the services of some of the best young talent in Europe.

Only recently turning 18, Doue has been in scintillating form for his French Ligue 1 outfit this term and looks set for a career lathered in prosperity, with the youngster capable of playing across a range of midfield positions.

Valued at around £12m, the French-Ivorian would continue a discernible trend on Tyneside of investing in youth and could blossom into one of Europe's leading midfielders under Howe's tutelage.

Should Newcastle sign Desire Doue?

Hailed as "very creative" and a "huge talent" by Football Transfers' Robin Bairner, it's been a remarkable start to life on the major stage for this talented young dynamo.

During an emphatic breakout year, Doue scored four goals and supplied one assist from 34 matches – just 13 starts – after plying his trade for Rennes' youth outfits last term.

The France U19 international, who predominantly features as an attacking midfielder but can also flourish deeper as well as in an offensive placement, could be the perfect alternative to Celta Vigo's touted phenom Gabri Veiga, who has caught the eye of a multitude of top European sides this year with his blistering and prolific performances.

The 21-year-old Spaniard has plundered 11 goals and four assists across all competitions this term and earned praise as a "dangerous" asset by reporter Euan McTear.

With United rivalling Premier League opposition Liverpool for the precocious prospect's signature – and Veiga holding a €40m (£34m) release clause – Doue might be the more prudent route to delve down given the disparity in price.

And, as per FBref – which lists Doue as Veiga's most comparable player – the Frenchman already ranks among the top 3% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for non-penalty goals, the top 2% for progressive carries and the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90, hinting that he could be moulded into a prodigious star of every bit the merit of his Spanish peer.

Signing Doue would fortify the youthful exuberance at Newcastle and provide Howe with a starlet to nurture towards prominence over the next several years, and there is no doubt that, given time, he will become a "gamechanger" – as remarked by analytical site Breaking The Lines – for the ambitious English outfit, wreaking havoc from his hulking midfield role.

Manchester United fans are desperate to see Paul Scholes come out of retirement after he scored a fantastic goal in Soccer Aid last night.

Who won Soccer Aid?

The Charity football match took place at Old Trafford on Sunday evening with global superstars such as Usain Bolt, Liam Payne, and Mo Farah involved – while former players like Gary Neville, Francesco Totti, and Jack Wilshere all took part as well.

In the end, The World XI beat England 4-2 but the home nation did actually lead the match at one point and it was all thanks to a throwback moment from Scholes.

Indeed, as captured in the official Twitter footage below, the ball was cleared to the edge of the penalty box with the 48-year-old arriving just in time to lace it into the bottom corner with trademark quality.

Scholesy rolling back the years â¤ï¸Donate to #SoccerAid for @UNICEF_uk👉 https://t.co/5N6Vi0ty0U pic.twitter.com/up2GTArO7k— Soccer Aid (@socceraid) June 11, 2023

It was quite reminiscent of the 2008 Champions League strike against Barcelona – albeit, that effort flew into the top corner and came in a far more important fixture.

Even so, it certainly served as a fine reminder of the technical quality Scholes possessed as a player and it seems that ability hasn’t left him even in retirement.

Unsurprisingly, a number of fans flocked to social media to enjoy the footage. Here are some of the best Twitter reactions…

Some even think he’d still do a job in the current team and is better than some current stars.

The USA Cricket Association has announced over the weekend that it has offered central contracts to four players and intends to offer up to 20 more contracts in the next “two to three months”

Peter Della Penna21-Nov-2016

The USA Cricket Association has announced over the weekend that it has offered central contracts to four players and intends to offer up to 20 more contracts in the next “two to three months”. The declarations were made by USACA president Gladstone Dainty and former USA coach Robin Singh during a series of speeches and presentations made at the USACA T20 National Championship in Florida this weekend.USA captain Steven Taylor, allrounders Timroy Allen and Timil Patel, and Trinbago Knight Riders batsman William Perkins were the first four players offered central contracts by the USACA. Dainty stated in a speech to the players on November 19 that the contracts were worth $48,000. It is not known if any of the players has accepted the offer yet but according to multiple sources, USA’s players were advised by ICC Americas officials last month to decline any offer made by USACA after rumours of potential contract offers had circulated.USACA provisional national squad

Rana Adil, Danial Ahmed, Timroy Allen*, Alex Amsterdam, Fahad Babar, Adil Bhatti, Sam Das, Akeem Dodson, Kushal Ganji, Muhammad Ghous, Elmore Hutchinson, Sheldon Irvin, Naseer Jamali, Nosthush Kenjige, Ali Khan, Carlitos Lopez, Jaskaran Malhotra, Prashanth Nair, Saurabh Netravalkar, Japen Patel, Nisarg Patel, Sagar Patel, Timil Patel, William Perkins, Ryan Persaud, Usman Rafiq, Ravi Ravish, Nicholas Standford, Roy Silva, Jessy Singh, Pranay Suri, Steven Taylor, Ravi Timbawala
*

A battle for control of the selection process for USA national teams is not unprecedented. In 2005, a dispute over USA squad selections between USACA and the Council of League Presidents resulted in USA being kicked out of the Intercontinental Cup and replaced by Cayman Islands. USACA was suspended soon after, the first of three administrative suspensions over the course of the next decade.In September, ICC Americas staff, currently administering USA cricket in a caretaker role, hired former Sri Lanka Test cricketer Pubudu Dassanayake as the new USA coach ahead of WCL Division Four in Los Angeles, which USA won to gain promotion to Division Three. Robin last coached a USA side at 2014 ICC WCL Division Three in Malaysia, when USA finished fifth and were relegated to Division Four, but he is still listed on the USACA web site as their men’s national coach.However, under USACA’s current suspension, the ICC has made clear that it has assumed complete control over USA’s operational affairs including national-team selection. Dassanayake is expected to continue leading USA’s preparation for Division Three in Uganda next year. USACA has until December 15 to ratify a new constitution that has been approved by the ICC. Failure to do so may see a resolution put forth by December 31 leading to USACA’s potential expulsion as an Associate Member at the next ICC Annual Conference in June 2017.In a speech delivered on Sunday, Robin said he had put together a list of players from which 20 would receive USACA contracts in early 2017. Robin emphasised that the contracts were made possible by the $70 million investment deal announced last month between USACA and Philadelphia businessman Jay Pandya, who was subsequently announced as the new owner of the CPL franchise St Lucia Zouks.”We’re going to consider all of these people going forward to give contracts,” Robin said after the list of 29 additional names for consideration was unveiled. “Hopefully in the next year or two, we want to actually give out about 20 professional contracts and we want to make it as clear as possible. We want to make sure people are actually committed to the game. I’ll put out a list of commitments and requirements that I expect, and there’s going to be some very tough lines.”The USACA list of 33 players differs in notable ways from the 30-man national squad announced by ICC Americas evaluators in July. Among those that have been included in the USACA list of potential contract recipients are several players with first-class experience overseas including former India U-19 and Mumbai medium pacer Saurabh Netravalkar, Carlitos Lopez and Roy Silva. The only players who were part of USA’s Division Four and Auty Cup squads from October not included in USACA’s proposed contract list are Srini Santhanam, Hammad Shahid and Abdullah Syed.”In the next three months, we’re going to make sure there are a lot of games played,” Robin said. “It’s not only for the people who are on this list. I will call people outside the box and I think it’s necessary. If people are injured, or not available, or not honest enough, we will remove them from the list because it’s not my money. We are playing with other people’s money here and I think [Pandya] has made a serious commitment to take the game forward in this part of the world, and I think, as cricketers, you owe it to yourself to give yourself the best chance.”

Dom Bess, Somerset’s 19-year-old offspinner, took another five-wicket haul to bundle out Nottinghamshire and edge his side closer to a first-ever Championship title

Paul Edwards at Taunton21-Sep-2016
ScorecardDom Bess celebrates one of his five wickets•Getty ImagesIf you hope to make history, it is probably helpful not to be encumbered by the past.Dom Bess is too young to recall the years when Somerset nearly won things. That pain is for old cricketers. Fresh-faced and engaging, the offspinner only left Blundell’s School last year and does not even have a professional contract as yet. All he has is the present and it is glorious. For Bess is 19-years-old and he may be in the first Somerset team to win the County ChampionshipBowling with a high action and getting plenty of bounce albeit not much turn from this Taunton pitch, Bess took 5 for 43 as Chris Rogers’ team dismissed Nottinghamshire for 138. That gave them a first-innings lead of 227 runs, which they had extended to 332 by the close. It would now be a major surprise if they do not complete their sixth four-day win of the season and thereby earn the 23 points that would throw down a challenge to Middlesex and Yorkshire at Lord’s.For if Somerset win this game, they will, indeed, be the County Champions if Middlesex do not beat Yorkshire or if Yorkshire do not beat Middlesex and score 350 runs in their first innings. The prose of the issue may be strangled by conditionals and connectives but for Somerset votaries the poetry has often come first. This could be a wonderful autumn in the West Country.On this second evening, though, home supporters can look back with fondness on a day when the ball had only to hit the pad for all Somerset to appeal for justice. As Bess and Jack Leach probed Nottinghamshire’s batsmen like tyro barristers, they were joined in their merciless inquisition by most of the spectators in the County Ground. Those mighty entreaties could be heard by drinkers in The Ring of Bells and the good news was passed on to the stylish cafés in Bath Place. Cricket matters so much in this town.Bess’ dream sequence

Dom Bess, Somerset spinner: “The last couple of weeks have been like a dream for me. To suddenly be involved in a team with a real chance of winning the County Championship has been fantastic. I really enjoy bowling in tandem with Jack Leach and he is always talking to me and offering advice.
“Our director of cricket Matt Maynard made it clear our batting collapse at the end of day one was unacceptable, but we remained positive because we were still in a good position in the game. Today my main focus while batting was to not nick off against Jake Ball and to try to spot Imran Tahir’s googly. I think it was a really important stand with Jack and it gave us a real lift
“With the ball it was a case of putting it in the right place as often as possible and I am looking forward to bowling again in the second innings.”

And as ever with Somerset the local pride was mixed with glorious eccentricity. Dom Bess, a Devonian, sounds more like a character out of than the skilful spinner and useful batsman whose 41 runs secured a fourth bonus point for his side in the first hour of the second day. Leach looks more like a Professor of Palaeography than the high-class left-arm spinner whose 3 for 42 left him with 61 Division One wickets this year.If Leach’s skills were not sufficient to earn him a place on England’s tour to Bangladesh – perhaps the selectors thought the trip would clash with the autumn term at Cambridge – they certainly offered too severe a test for Chris Read’s batsmen.Nottinghamshire’s trials had begun in mid-morning when Steven Mullaney drove Lewis Gregory straight to Tom Abell at backward point. Although Jake Libby and Tom Moores negotiated the remaining overs of the session, Bess’s excellent rhythm – he began with five maidens – boded well for Rogers, whose skilful handling of his attack never allowed the batsmen to settle.Five wickets fell in the afternoon session and the balance of the match shifted, probably for good. Moores was caught at slip by Gregory when driving at Bess and the spinner then had Libby caught off bat and pad by Abell at short leg for 42. None of the other Notts batsmen could match the opener’s concentration.Michael Lumb gave Bess a one-handed return catch off the leading edge and Samit Patel was smartly stumped by Ryan Davies off Leach for 12. By now Nottinghamshire’s resistance was crumbling and that process was accelerated when their skipper, Read, was run out for 4, by Max Waller’s smart throw from point. It might have been a tight call but this has been a month in which those such calls have gone Somerset’s way.Having gone into tea on a grim 120 for 6, the visitors lost their last four wickets in a little more than three overs after the resumption. In the modern fashion Somerset chose not to enforce the follow-on but it will now be a major surprise if that tactic does anything but postpone their victory.The significance of such a win may not become clear until perhaps Friday but the excellence of Somerset’s cricket and the memory of James Hildreth’s hundred on the first day will stay with their supporters far longer.One also knows that it will be a disappointment – yes, another one – if they do not win the title now. For even as Bess took his wickets, news from Lord’s was being passed round Taunton and its significance digested and analysed. “I wouldn’t mind but we’ve got to get through three more days of this stuff,” said a Somerset supporter, his addiction both helpless and endearing.And, in any case, he was only reflecting a widely held loyalty. On Friday evening, maybe sooner, the 2016 table will emerge in full clarity rather like the patchwork of the Quantocks emerging from the morning mist. And if Somerset are still best placed to win the title, you may expect the corpses in St James’s churchyard to be rattling their coffins in excitement.

Newcastle United have to sign Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze in the summer transfer window, according to former striker and now pundit Gabby Agbonlahor.

Are Newcastle keen on Eze signing?

The Magpies have enjoyed a season to treasure, qualifying for next year's Champions League and arguably proving to be well ahead of schedule under Eddie Howe. It is now essential that they continue to kick on in the summer, bringing in more top-quality players and ensuring they don't rest on their laurels.

Someone who has recently been linked with a move to St James' Park is Eze, who has enjoyed a fantastic season for Palace, standing out as arguably their best-attacking player. The £30,000-a-week Englishman had scored 10 goals and registered four assists in the Premier League before the final day of action, and while his current deal doesn't expire until the summer of 2025, the Eagles could find it difficult to keep hold of him.

Could Eze be a star at St James' Park?

Speaking to Football Insider, Agbonlahor, who contributes for the BBC, talked up the idea of Newcastle signing Eze this summer, saying he would be a "really good" and "fantastic" signing alongside James Maddison.

"It would be a really good signing. He’s completely different to Conor Gallagher – he’s a million times better. He can run with the ball at speed, change direction with skill, he’s adding goals to his game, can play in the number ten or off the wing – it’s a fantastic signing.

"If I’m Newcastle, I’m going for him and Maddison. You’d then have competition that can take Newcastle to another level. I love Eze and I think there’s going to be a lot of clubs after him."

Eze could be a special signing for Newcastle if they manage to snap him up this summer, with the 24-year-old really feeling like he is heading into his prime as a footballer, following his most productive season yet for Palace.

Eagles teammate Joel Ward has hailed him as "incredible", such is his ability, and he is someone who could provide Newcastle with that extra magical attacking spark, possibly coming in as an upgrade to Allan Saint-Maximin, who has scored just once in 24 Premier League outings this season.

Palace may well demand a huge fee for Eze's services, but you'd expect the funds could be there for Newcastle to splash the cash, and he could be a hugely exciting long-term option.

Mauricio Pochettino could prevent Mateo Kovacic from departing Chelsea when he takes charge of the club, journalist Miguel Delaney has suggested.

What's going on with Chelsea and Kovacic?

The Croatian international has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge, with his £100k-per-week contract coming to an end next season, and Manchester City are rumoured to be eyeing up a move for the 29-year-old.

He has drawn criticism from fans for his performances during Chelsea's struggles in recent weeks and was withdrawn in the first half of their draw against Nottingham Forest with an injury.

However, Pochettino's imminent arrival at the club could change the trajectory of Kovacic's career in west London. Speaking on Sky Sports News, Delaney suggested that Pochettino is an admirer of the midfielder, and that he could play a part in keeping him at the club.

"We already know some of those that he's really keen on including Mason Mount, Reece James, Kovacic he quite likes, Kante obviously and probably feels he can get more out of him, Enzo Fernandez, his compatriot from Argentina," he stated.

Should Chelsea keep Kovacic?

Given that N'Golo Kante is suffering from injury problems, Jorginho departed in January, and Mount could leave, it may be worth keeping the Croatian for his experience.

Kovacic has made 220 appearances for the Blues since his initial loan move from Real Madrid in 2018, and he would be one of the few midfielders remaining from their Champions League triumph if Kante and Mount are no longer at the club or considered starters.

However, if Chelsea do sign another midfielder, with Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo linked, there may be no room for Kovacic in the starting XI, and if a bid comes in for him, it may be worth letting him leave now rather than for free next year.

Chelsea desperately need to sell players in order to comply with financial fair play rules, and given his age and the uncertainty over his contract, Kovacic may be seen as one of the more expendable players in the squad, even if Pochettino wants to keep him.

The Argentine manager will have a tough job on his hands as he attempts to rebuild this Chelsea side, and given his admiration for Kovacic, he may prefer to keep an experienced star, but if a sizeable offer arrives, then he may have to make a begrudging decision to sell him.

Manchester United have internally "discussed" a summer deal for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, according to CBS reporter and journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest on Mac Allister to United?

The Argentine has undoubtedly made a name for himself at The Amex during his 102 appearances since joining back in January 2019, but it was his performances for his nation at the World Cup that seriously caught the attention of Erik Ten Hag and two other potential suitors.

The Seagulls star featured in six out of a possible seven games at the tournament in Qatar late last year whilst netting one goal, as per Transfermarkt, not to mention that he ranked as Lionel Scaloni's overall third best-performing player with a match rating of 7.11, just behind Angel Di Maria in second and Lionel Messi, who obviously topped the list.

Fabrizio Romano recently revealed that the Red Devils, alongside Premier League rivals Liverpool and Chelsea, have all "approached" the 24-year-old's representatives to discover what it would take to complete a deal during the upcoming window, and it sounds like the hierarchy are already laying the groundwork behind-the-scenes.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs revealed that Manchester United have held in-house conversations regarding a potential move for Mac Allister, but reiterated that Brighton won't want to lose him as a result of several of their other players also being targeted. He said:

"I would keep an eye on Liverpool and also potentially Manchester United, they've discussed him internally as well. With Brighton, both European football and different player movements will impact the likelihood of other transfers.

"As I've said, we hear a lot about Moises Caicedo, we hear a lot about Mac Allister, we might hear a fair bit about Kaoru Mitoma, we hear a lot about Evan Ferguson, we hear a lot about Robert Sanchez. Quite clearly, Brighton aren't going to want to throw out a core of star players in the summer window in which they've reached European football."

Should United splash the cash on Mac Allister?

Brighton have reportedly placed a £70m price tag on Mac Allister, and whilst Manchester United will obviously want to try and negotiate the lowest fee possible, they should definitely empty their pockets to secure his services considering the positive impact he would make.

The Santa Rosa native has 12 goal contributions (ten goals and two assists) to his name in 30 appearances across all competitions so far this season and has recorded a total of 63 shots over the current term, which is the second-highest throughout the whole of Roberto De Zerbi's squad, just four behind winger Solly March.

The World Cup winner, who has the wonderful versatility to operate in seven various positions across the pitch, has been dubbed "unplayable" by Argentina reporter Roy Nemer, and he would surely excel even further under the guidance of Ten Hag at Old Trafford.

Manchester United have reportedly been in contact with RB Leipzig's Dani Olmo over a potential summer swoop.

What’s the latest Man United news on Olmo?

Olmo, primarily an attacking midfielder who can also play on the wing, has been on the books with the Bundesliga side since 2020 after arriving from Dinamo Zagreb. He has gone on to make 115 appearances for his current employers, contributing to 44 goals in all competitions.

The 24-year-old is out of contract in just over 12 months' time and was linked with a move to Manchester earlier in the year, with journalist Bundesliga insider Christian Falk claiming that the Red Devils were watching the Spaniard.

Described as an 'outstanding footballer' by former coach Julian Nagelsmann and a player who 'can produce magic' by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Olmo has continued to feature heavily for Leipzig during the current campaign, but an exit could soon be on the cards going off a decent update.

Sport Witness relayed news from SportBild regarding Olmo, where the Red Devils were mentioned. They claimed that a contract renewal appears to be improbable with Leipzig and the report mentions talk of a possible exit worth around €40m (£35m).

The player himself along with his father, who is his agent, are considering a possible move to the Premier League, with Old Trafford a potential destination. The report adds that United have been in contact with the player to learn of his future plans.

Where would Olmo fit in at Old Trafford?

As mentioned, Olmo is an attacking midfielder, so he could provide competition to Bruno Fernandes, who is Erik ten Hag's only option in that area heading into his second season in charge.

Olmo, on £68,000 a week in Germany, has been a solid performer for Leipzig this season, and if he was to replicate his current form at Old Trafford, he would be United's sixth-best performer this season, as per WhoScored. Olmo has even averaged more dribbles per 90 than Fernandes and is fouled more than the Portugal international, so he could bring something different to Old Trafford in the final third while also providing cover out wide.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola also once described Olmo as having an 'incredible work ethic', so he could fit into Ten Hag's counter-pressing style, and it looks as if the midfielder could be keen on heading to England over the coming months, making this one to watch over the coming months after initial contact was made.