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The Championship is becoming a common hunting ground for Premier League clubs in search of a bargain deal, and Crystal Palace could have their next target already lined up.

With the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Dan James and Said Benrahma all making successful step-ups from the second tier in recent years, the Eagles followed suit and took a punt on Michael Olise.

Patrick Vieira’s charges splashed out £8m to secure the youngster’s services back in June after he bagged seven goals and provided a further 12 assists in 44 league appearances for former side Reading.

At the time, the fee appeared to be a relatively modest one for a player who had just been named the EFL Young Player of the Year after an outstanding breakout campaign, and it’s proved to be exactly that in the opening weeks of 2021/22.

In just 139 minutes of top-flight action, Olise has scored one goal and set up two more, playing a pivotal part in draws against Leicester City and Arsenal, as well as the victory over Manchester City last time out.

And now, the Eagles could be about to repeat the same trick after being linked with a move for Nottingham Forest’s highly-rated forward Brennan Johnson.

A report in Football League World claims that the capital club are one of several Premier League sides tracking the 20-year-old’s current situation as he approaches the final 18 months of his current contract.

Famed for his incredible dribbling skills, finishing ability and versatility, Johnson is an ideal fit for Vieira’s new-look Palace side on paper, and his performances on the pitch are equally as eye-catching.

After making a fast start to life under Forest boss Steve Cooper in recent weeks, the Wales international earned several plaudits from impressed onlookers, including retired striker Glenn Murray.

“For me, Brennan, he just looks special. He just looks a cut above, and he’s destined for the top,” Murray told Sky Sports (as relayed by Nottingham Forest News).

“Yes, he’s not getting everything right at the moment, but he looks at the top-level easily. I expect a really big future from him.”

Whether Johnson is ready to make the step up to the Premier League at this stage in his career after playing League One football as recently as last term, only time will tell, but the £2,500-per-week gem could certainly be a risk worth taking for Palace.

And, in other news…Parish could discover CPFC’s new Ian Wright by signing 22 y/o with “blistering pace”

On Friday night, Scotland secured a place in the World Cup 2022 play-offs, and not for the first time, Billy Gilmour was one of the headline stars of the show, impressing as he won eight of his 10 duels and recorded three shots against Moldova.

The 20-year-old has been hailed as the next big thing for Chelsea and his country for a few years now, and he has proved that in a Scotland shirt he is good enough to start and compete at the highest level internationally after impressive performances at Euro 2020.

Despite being key to Scotland’s most recent successes, the youngster still doesn’t make it regularly into the Norwich side, where he is currently on loan from Chelsea.

Farke snubbed Gilmour at Norwich

Recently-sacked Norwich coach Daniel Farke was questioned time and again as to why he didn’t include Gilmour in his set-up for the struggling Canaries, but the German defended his decisions, saying: “We are not here to develop players for other clubs”.

After Gilmour was snubbed for the sixth time in the victory over Brentford last weekend, Farke was dismissed from his duties as Norwich City head coach, and the club now look to find a new manager to direct them out of a tight relegation battle.

The 20-year-old has shone for the Canaries when given the chance, showing his well-rounded midfield qualities by posting the squad’s third-highest tackling average (2.3 per game) and the second-highest passing accuracy (86.1%) when players who haven’t started a game are disregarded, as per WhoScored.

Gilmour has many admirers

Many voices in football have spoken out on the seemingly unfair treatment of Gilmour at Norwich, with Scotland team-mates and former Premier League managers singing the praises of the youngster.

Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn hailed the 20-year-old as a “world class player”, adding: “He’s going through a rough patch at Norwich and is frustrated not to be playing. But when he’s in the Scotland jersey, he’s always at the top of his game.”

Former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp also chimed in on the isolation of Gilmour at Norwich, telling talkSPORT: “I saw the kid play when he first got in the Chelsea team, I saw him play in the Euros against England, you’d think if you take him at Norwich you’d have half built your team around him.”

Dean Smith is tipped to be named as the new Norwich City manager in the coming days and it will be interesting to see how he utilises Gilmour if indeed he is given the job.

With the Canaries, taking just one win from 11 league games, you would think that channelling the energy and confidence that Gilmour displays in the Scotland team would be a top priority for Norwich moving forward as they look to steady the ship and get out of danger in the Premier League. 

If he is given the chance to replicate his international form at club level, he might yet inspire the Canaries to an escape from another instant relegation.

In other news: Smith may already have his next Grealish in Norwich’s £19.8m-rated “god-given” talent

Ryan Watson, the former Scotland captain, has rejected a full-time contract in favour of employment outside cricket.

Cricinfo staff11-Nov-2009Ryan Watson, the former Scotland captain, has rejected a full-time contract in favour of employment outside cricket. In an 18-man squad announced on Wednesday, Majid Haq replaced Watson as one of three players to be offered a full-time 12-month deal. Four more players were given six-month contracts.Though no captain was announced, Gavin Hamilton, the former England all-rounder, took up the position when Watson resigned in May after his team’s failure to qualify for the 2011 World Cup.In addition to the national squad there will also be three regional squads and an academy party. These players will have separate training sessions and, with the national squad and academy players, form the basis for the regional and Scotland Lions games that will take place in 2010.Chairman of selectors Iain Kennedy said: “We have made a significant change by having the regional and academy squads selected to feed into our national squad. This will allow far more contact time between coaches and players at a local level, which will hopefully accelerate the development of the talented players we have just below national level.”The new squad arrangement continues the restructuring of Scottish cricket following the announcement that the country’s three-division structure is being replaced with a 14-club Premiership and a 16-team second-tier Championship.Scotland have a packed schedule in 2010 and Kennedy feels that the squad may yet be expanded. “2010 will be a challenging year, with lots of cricket to be played in all three formats of the game, and I am sure there will be many opportunities for players to force their way into the national team.”The season begins with an Intercontinental Cup fixture in Kenya in late January, followed in February by the qualification tournament for the World Twenty20. Scotland also play an ODI against England in June and will compete in the new English domestic ECB40 competition later in the year.Head coach Peter Steindl said: “Our young squad has some major challenges to look forward to in the year ahead. These 18 players will form the core of our team, with players from the regional and academy squads pushing them hard for their places in the national team.Scotland squad (* indicates 12-month full-time contracted player + indicates six-month contracted player) Richie Berrington+, Kyle Coetzer, Gordon Drummond, Gordon Goudie*, Majid Haq*, Gavin Hamilton, Moneeb Iqbal, Ross Lyons+, Neil McCallum, Dewald Nel*, Navdeep Poonia, Callum MacLeod, Glenn Rogers, Qasim Sheikh+, Simon Smith+, Jan Stander, Ryan Watson, Fraser Watts.

With the international break now firmly in the rear view mirror, Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa will be desperately hoping to pick up some much-needed momentum when his side take on Spurs on Sunday afternoon.

The Whites picked up four points from a possible six in their last two Premier League games before the internationals and will look to kick on when they make the trip to north London to face Antonio Conte’s side.

Bielsa was given a significant injury boost earlier in the week when Junior Firpo was declared fit, and he should be thrust straight into the starting line-up for the clash against Spurs.

While Firpo may not have been a regular starter at former club Barcelona last season – he played just 18 times in all competitions – he is the kind of attacking left-back who seems to be a perfect fit for Bielsa’s Leeds.

He was once tipped for big things by French defender Eric Abidal, who told Diario Sport (via Tribuna): “He’s a player with a lot of potential. He could be one of the best left-backs in the world. I always tell him that he must work hard and be aware of the (style of) play. He’s going to get better, for sure. It’s always difficult to get started at Barca.”

Speaking to The Yorkshire Evening Post, player analyst Josh Hobbs said of the flying full-back: “Going forwards, he’s a good dribbler – particularly when he gets up to speed and he can steam past players. He likes to play a pass into midfield and then sprint down the line to receive in behind and get into the box.

“His delivery in wide areas is usually a fizzed low cross, which is dangerous as often if the player at the front post misses it, can be met by somebody running centrally or to the back post.”

The £12.5m-rated machine is exactly what Leeds need to help break down Spurs and get their attacking play firing on all cylinders.

His pace and power down the left flank could cause problems for Conte’s back three and give the Whites a potent attacking threat which could really terrify Spurs if they’re not on their game.

Meanwhile, Leeds have been handed a transfer update on this star…

Sir Vivian Richards has called on Chris Gayle to put the West Indies contract dispute firmly behind him and lead his team in a manner befitting the region’s legacy

Andrew Miller10-Nov-2009Sir Vivian Richards has called on Chris Gayle to put the West Indies contract dispute firmly behind him and lead his team in a manner befitting the region’s legacy, as the team prepares to arrive in Australia on the eve of a Test campaign that will test the fragile peace that was brokered during meetings between the WICB and the players’ association last month.The team touches down in Australia on Wednesday, and Richards was cautiously optimistic that the reunited squad would put their recent troubles to one side. “The way it looks at the moment, it does suggest that there is a ceasefire,” he told Cricinfo. “But we all know what ceasefires are like. Let’s hope this is not a ceasefire like you get in the Middle East.”Gayle was a controversial choice as captain for the Australia tour, given his integral role in the stand-off with the board, and Daren Ganga was mentioned as a possible replacement following his inspirational leadership of Trinidad & Tobago in the recent Champions League.But there is no questioning Gayle’s status as the leading batsman in the Caribbean, and his absence was keenly felt earlier this year, as a second-string West Indies side slumped to an embarrassing home series defeat against Bangladesh, before being knocked out in the first round of the ICC Champions Trophy.””I think Daren Ganga is a good captain who thinks on his feet, and he’d have been quite appropriate, so presently the jury is out,” said Richards. “Gayle has got to go and show a different sort of attitude when he goes to Australia. He’s got to show that he wants to represent his people and represent them well, and not only them, but also the legacy that he’s representing. Let’s hope he has learned his lessons.”Gayle has been the subject of controversy throughout a torrid year, particularly during the unscheduled tour of England in May, when he arrived in the country barely 24 hours before the first Test at Lord’s, and went on to say in a newspaper interview that he “wouldn’t be so sad” if Test cricket died out. But having announced his availability for the Australia tour, Richards said he was prepared to take the captain’s declarations of full commitment at face value.

The way it looks at the moment, it does suggest that there is a ceasefire. But we all know what ceasefires are like. Let’s hope this is not a ceasefire like you get in the Middle East.Sir Viv Richards on the contracts dispute

“I take it on board when he says he feels pretty strong, even though he may not show the so-called enthusiasm,” said Richards. “Some people do things differently, and he’s one of those individuals who’s pretty laid back. But I still like to believe he wants to see West Indies cricket do well, and it’s up to him. He’s in the seat now to make that happen.”Even with a fully unified squad, the challenge that awaits West Indies would be arguably the toughest in the world game, and Richards – who made five Test tours of the country in the course of his illustrious career – knows from personal experience just what lies ahead.”An Australia tour can make or break a team,” he said. “They are like that. They are a pretty competitive bunch of folks. Over the years, I’ve always loved competing against the Aussies, because you knew they weren’t going to give you half-measures, they were going to give you their all. You knew to what capacity you were going to have to raise your level. And that, to me, was always interesting.”The Aussies were always ready and available verbally, whether with ball in hand or not. And I appreciated that aggressive stuff because I am a competitor myself, and these were the things that made me think. I hope that Gayle and the guys can deal with that, especially coming back from the dispute. Let’s hope that he [recognises] the job he has to do now, and makes sure that he gels that team, and hopefully, if this ceasefire lasts, builds a team that can be competitive in the future.”Few people give West Indies a realistic chance of putting up a fight against Australia – Brian Lara, who led their last tour to the country in 2005-06, predicted recently that they would receive a “hiding” – but it is not all doom and gloom in the Caribbean, thanks to the exploits of Trinidad & Tobago, who captured the imaginations with their enterprising performances in last month’s Champions League in India, in which they finished as runners-up.”The way things have played out in the media, a lot of people would think there’s nothing happening in the Caribbean,” said Richards. “But they have given us the light, and shown the world that our club structure is as good as any club structure around the world. Even though they didn’t win the tournament, to me, the message was already sent that West Indies cricket is still very much alive.”Nevertheless, Richards did not believe that Trinidad’s success as an individual island would lead to further ructions within the fabric of West Indies cricket. “I don’t think we have very far to go where those matters are concerned,” he said. “Barbados tried that once [in 1967] when they took on the Rest of the World, because of the number of players they had in the West Indies team at the time, and they took a hiding. They are going to need more volume, there are so many people around the Caribbean with so much talent. They must be given an opportunity. That’s the format that we have and that’s how I’d like it to remain.”Sir Vivian Richards is an ambassador for the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority

Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa could fix his side’s summer howler by signing Chelsea starlet Billy Gilmour on loan.

What’s the story?

The Whites were linked with a number of midfielders in the transfer window, including Huddersfield Town’s Lewis O’Brien, but failed to get a deal done for any of them.

Now, amid speculation suggesting that Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is considering recalling Gilmour from his loan spell at Norwich City, Kevin Phillips has touted Bielsa’s side as the perfect destination for the Scotland international.

He said: “He should go back out on loan to somewhere like Leeds. Bielsa plays good football, they aren’t rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, and he will probably get more game time.

“Leeds play more of the type of football Gilmour is suited to, so it would be a great move for him. We’ve seen Bielsa get the best out of some youngsters and there’s no reason why he couldn’t do that with Gilmour.”

Forget Forshaw

While Andrea Radrizzani pointed towards Adam Forshaw as the man Leeds could turn to as their midfield saviour, the Whites simply cannot afford to rely upon someone who has spent so long out with injury and could, by all means, break down again.

In Gilmour, they could get someone with some Premier League experience already and has been widely lauded by a number of people for the amount of potential he has.

Aston Villa and Scotland compatriot John McGinn hailed his fellow midfielder as a “world-class player”, and added: “He’s going through a rough patch at Norwich and is frustrated not to be playing. But when he’s in the Scotland jersey, he’s always at the top of his game.”

And, speaking after Scotland’s 0-0 draw with England earlier this year, Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness said: “He’s a fabulous little football player and when you factor in that last season he only made five starts in the Premier League for Chelsea, he’s not played a lot of football and he came into what was a hothouse of a game – high tempo, loads of pressing – and he managed to stay there.

“He’s just got that all round awareness of where people are all of the time and his first touch is generally away from the man who is marking him. He creates space for himself.”

The Whites’ inability to sign a new midfielder in the summer transfer window left them desperately short in that department, and early season injuries to the likes of Kalvin Phillips just went to expose that glaring lack of depth.

The £13.5m-rated Gilmour can be the ideal midfield cover Victor Orta looks to sign in January were he to become available.

Meanwhile, Leeds are battling to sign this striker…

James Anderson was the focus of attention as England wound up their four days of practice at East London, but Ryan Sidebottom was the most impressive bowler on show

Cricinfo staff12-Dec-2009England XI 317 for 5 (Strauss 100 ret, Pietersen 71) drew with South Africa Invitational XI 263 (Wiese 80, Pietersen 64, Sidebottom 5-42)
ScorecardJames Anderson struck with his tenth delivery of the match, but was made to toil thereafter•PA PhotosJames Anderson was the focus of attention as England wound up their four days of practice at East London, but Ryan Sidebottom was the most impressive bowler on show as he took 5 for 42 against the South African Invitational XI to make a late bid for Test selection. Anderson, who is battling a unknown injury to his right knee, got through 15 overs in his first bowl since the fourth ODI although he managed just a single wicket.Charl Pietersen (64) and David Wiese (80) ensured England didn’t have things all their own way with a seventh-wicket stand of 119 after the home side had fallen to 101 for 5. Sidebottom took two wickets in his first spell and return after tea to mop up the tail as the final four wickets fell for one run. Although there were still more than 24 overs remaining when the innings ended, England didn’t bother batting again and the match was called off.The result, clearly, was academic, but the South African resistance was nevertheless timely for an England bowling attack that was in need of a competitive workout ahead of next week’s first Test at Centurion. After their successful morning, they were limited to a solitary scalp during a hard afternoon session – that of Yaseen Vallie, who was bowled by Graeme Swann for 56.The most significant aspects of the day’s play were the performances of Anderson, who took a major step towards proving his fitness for Centurion, and Sidebottom, who shrugged off his recent side strain with impressive results to put pressure on Graham Onions for a place in the Test side.Anderson had not bowled competitively since claiming 5 for 23 at Port Elizabeth to set up England’s one-day series win two weeks ago. He showed few signs of injury, however, as he struck with his tenth delivery of the morning to remove Andrea Agathagelou for 2. By tea, he had bowled 15 rust-removing overs, claiming 1 for 58.Sidebottom has been a peripheral figure for England throughout 2009, and has not played a Test since the tour of the Caribbean in March. He enhanced his prospects with an effective morning’s work, bowling the opener Divan van Wyk for 22, before inducing a nick from Sammy-Joe Avontuur that flew through to Matt Prior behind the stumps.Luke Wright, who is widely tipped to make his Test debut as England’s allrounder next week, had a hand in each of the other two wickets to fall before lunch. First he found Mangaliso Mosehli’s edge to give Prior his second catch of the morning, before catching Wendell Bossenger at mid-on to give Stuart Broad his one wicket of the session.But after the break, the South African batsmen began to find their feet. Vallie converted his lunchtime 34 from 38 balls into a well-deserved half-century, whereupon Pietersen and Wiese repelled everything that England could throw at them on a slow and unresponsive surface.However, once Sidebottom removed Pietersen after tea the end was swift as Wright also claimed a second scalp. After all the rain in recent weeks, England will leave East London content with their work although questions still remain to be answered in the next three days.

Aston Villa are interested in a move to bring Pau Torres to Villa Park in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report from Spain (via Birmingham Live), which claims that Steven Gerrard is hoping to secure a deal for the Villarreal centre-back in the upcoming winter market after falling in love with the 24-year-old’s style of play.

The report continues to state that, despite the Spain international having been linked with the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid in recent days, should Aston Villa be willing to stump up the €50m (£42m) for the defender, a switch to Villa Park could well be a real possibility in January.

Lange must move

With Tyrone Mings being heavily linked with a move away from Villa in January, and with Axel Tuanzebe looking likely to return to Manchester United upon the completion of his season-long loan deal at the end of the current campaign, the heart of defence is perhaps an area of the pitch in which Gerrard will look to strengthen this winter.

And, considering just how impressive Torres has been for Villarreal in recent seasons, the 6 foot 4 centre-back would very much appear to be a fantastic signing for Johan Lange to get over the line in the January transfer window.

Indeed, over his 10 LaLiga appearances so far this season, the £45m-rated man has helped his side keep four clean sheets, scored one goal and created one big chance for his teammates, as well as making an average of 0.4 interceptions, 0.9 tackles, 65.2 passes and winning 4.1 duels per game.

These returns have seen the defender who Javi Calleja claimed has “no limits” in the game average a SofaScore match rating of 7.11, ranking him as Unai Emery’s fourth-best performer in the top flight of Spanish football.

However, it is not only domestically that the 24-year-old has impressed, as, over his four appearances in the Champions League, the £54k-per-week centre-back has helped his side keep one clean sheet, in addition to making an average of 0.5 interceptions, one tackle, 47.3 passes and winning 3.5 duels per fixture.

These metrics have seen the Spaniard average a SofaScore match rating of 7.03, ranking him as El Submarino Amarillo’s joint seventh-best player in Europe’s most prestigious club competition.

As such, it is clear for all to see that the addition of Torres to an Aston Villa defence that has already shipped 20 goals over 12 league games this season would be a very smart move by Lange, and, considering his reported affection for the defender, one that would undoubtedly please the club’s new 41-year-old manager.

In other news: Preece drops Villa transfer claim on £22.5m-rated “proper player”, he’d be a huge coup

Phillip Hughes, the 21-year-old opener, is back for his sixth Test afterSimon Katich failed a fitness test on his injured right elbow

Peter English at the SCG02-Jan-2010Phillip Hughes, the 21-year-old opener, is back for his sixth Test afterSimon Katich failed a fitness test on his injured right elbow. Katich wasstruck during the opening game against Pakistan by Mohammad Aamer and wasgiven until the final morning to prove he was right, but the New SouthWales captain was unable to recover in time.”Simon Katich batted for 20 minutes in the indoor nets today,” thephysiotherapist Alex Kountouris said. “Simon was still very sore thismorning after the net. It was decided he should be replaced.”Katich, 34, was limited in his range of shots and will miss his first gamesince returning from a three-year break in 2008. He was the team’s leadingrun-scorer in 2009 with 1,111 and had developed a strong combination withShane Watson, who replaced Hughes during the Ashes tour.Despite Katich’s strong form, it’s a difficult time to miss a game withWaston in great form in his past seven Tests and Hughes desperate to makea lasting impressing following his stumbles in England. Hughes struggledwith the short ball during the Ashes and was roughed up by Andrew Flintoffin his two Tests, so will be keen to show he has recovered his touch.In his second Test in South Africa he scored centuries in both innings toconfirm his promise and the selectors will be pleased to see him in theside to inject some youth ahead of next year’s Ashes. It will be Hughes’first Test in Australia and he will play on his home ground, although thedecision was so late it will be a rush for his family and friends to gethere from the northern New South Wales town of Macksville.

Celtic have been dealt a huge injury blow ahead of their upcoming Premiership clash.

What’s the latest?

In recent comments cited by Football Scotland, Ange Postecoglou revealed that Anthony Ralston looks set to spend a significant amount of time on the sidelines after picking up an ankle injury in the 1-0 win over Hearts on Thursday.

Speaking about the condition of the right-back, the 56-year-old said: “We will get a round-up from the medical people. Tony felt something in his ankle which is disappointing because he’s been outstanding for us.”

In further comments cited by 67hailhail, Postecoglou continued: “Tony’s probably the one that’s most concerning certainly because for him to come off I’d assume it’s something significant.”

Postecoglou will be gutted

Considering just how crucial a player Ralston has been for Celtic so far this season, the news that he could be ruled out for a substantial amount of time, including Sunday’s fixture against Dundee United, is sure to have left Postecoglou gutted.

Indeed, over his 13 Premiership appearances, the £270k-rated defender has been in exceptional form, helping his side to keep five clean sheets, scoring three goals, registering five assists and creating a whopping nine big chances, as well as averaging 1.8 key passes and 2.1 tackles and winning 7.1 duels per game.

These returns have seen the 23-year-old average a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.72, not only ranking him as Celtic’s second-best performer in the league from those who remain in the Hoops’ first-team squad, but also as the third-best player in the entire Premiership.

As such, the absence of the Scotland international will undoubtedly come as a huge blow to Postecoglou and his side, who will be looking to continue their impressive run of recent league form with yet another victory against Dundee United on Sunday.

In other news – 117 touches: Celtic “colossus” who made 95 passes proved Ange right vs Hearts