West Brom are believed to be "edging closer" to the takeover of the club being completed in the coming weeks, according to an update from reliable journalist John Percy.

West Brom takeover update

The Baggies may be performing well under Carlos Corberan at the moment, sitting fifth in the Championship and right in the playoff mix, but all is not well off the pitch. Supporters have grown increasingly agitated at the reign of current owner Guochuan Lai – he owes money to the club and has overseen a number of relegations from the governing bodies in recent years.

It's fair to say that progress has been slow, and the longer the saga drags on, the more it threatens to have a negative impact on West Brom's chances of returning to the top flight next season between now and May. Thankfully, a hugely positive update has now emerged regarding the current situation at the Hawthorns – one that could give fans even more Christmas cheer.

Taking to X on Tuesday evening, Percy provided an exciting update on the takeover situation at West Brom, saying a deal is now "edging closer" to being struck.

"West Brom are edging closer to a takeover, with majority shareholder Guochuan Lai set to grant exclusivity to a preferred bidder very soon. Three groups are on the shortlist and waiting for the green light to proceed. This HAS to happen."

Meanwhile, in his attached report for The Telegraph, Percy goes on to add that "three consortiums – including one from the United States and one from Nigeria – are in advanced talks" over becoming the new owners of the Baggies.

Lai is "expected to grant exclusivity to the best option within the next 10 days", and the update adds that "West Brom are available for around £30 million, plus the various debts and loans owed which take the overall price closer towards £60 million".

This is fantastic news for anyone of a West Brom persuasion, suggesting that the end is finally in sight and that Lai's time as owner is nearing its conclusion.

Related Timeline set for West Brom takeover as John Percy provides positive update

Good news for Baggies fans, we think…

Posts ByTom Cunningham Nov 29, 2023

The difference that new owners could make cannot be downplayed enough, whether it be in terms of finances for new signings moving forward or simply the general running of the club, ensuring that it is far more stable than under the current regime.

Whether a takeover is completed before Christmas seems questionable, given what a busy time of year this can be, but it certainly looks as though brand-new owners should be in place by January at the latest.

That would potentially mean that more funds will be available in next month's transfer window, which can only benefit Corberan in his quest to take West Brom back into the Premier League, as he continues to thrive as manager.

نجح فريق الرائد في تسجيل هدف التعادل أمام نظيره النصر، خلال المباراة التي تجمع بينهما حالياً ببطولة الدوري السعوي.

ويلتقي النصر مع الرائد، على أرضية ملعب استاد الأول بارك في إطار لقاءات الجولة الأولى من دوري روشن السعودي.

وسجل فريق الرائد هدف التعادل في الدقيقة 49، بأقدام محمد فوزير عن طريق ركلة جزاء نفذها ببراعة وسكنت الشباك.

طالع أيضاً.. فيديو | أحمد عبد القادر يسجل هدفه الأول مع قطر القطري

وأحرز البرتغالي كريستيانو رونالدو الهدف الأول للنصر في الدقيقة 33، بعد عرضية من ساديو ماني قابلها رونالدو برأسية قوية في شباك الرائد. هدف تعادل الرائد مع النصر في الدوري السعودي

 

It's amazing what a successful transfer window can do. One year ago, the 2022 World Cup captivated the footballing world's attention, with players battling under the scorching Qatar sun for glory. For Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, it was a welcome break, a chance to recalibrate and steer his side back on track after a rather abject start to the 2022/23 Premier League campaign.

But fortune did not favour the spluttering Reds and cohesion went out the window, with a malfunctioning engine room spreading instability across the park for the Anfield outfit.

Liverpool finished fifth, which closed a seven-year window within the Champions League, but Klopp got to work and cleared out the deadwood, bringing in the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch to restore the midfield.

Klopp has a plan and while the aforementioned stars are dynamic and multi-functional, there is space in the squad for a tough-tackling titan such as Fulham's Joao Palhinha.

Liverpool transfer news – Joao Palhinha

According to Spanish reports, Liverpool have joined Manchester United in the pursuit of Portugual international Palhinha, who has been immense for Fulham since joining from Sporting Lisbon for £20m in 2022.

Bayern Munich are also expected to return after failing to secure Palhinha's signature on transfer deadline day in August, despite having already wrapped up a medical and agreed a £60m fee.

Now resigned to cashing in on their star man, the Cottagers are understood to be lining up a bid for Fluminense midfielder Andre – also a recent target for Klopp's side – to facilitate Palhinha's departure.

While Andre is a talented prospect, Palhinha, aged 28, would bring the experience and mettle to complete Liverpool's midfield.

Joao Palhinha's Fulham career in numbers

Since arriving on the Premier League scene, Palhinha has established himself as one of the finest holding midfielders in the business, instrumental as Marco Silva's side finished in tenth place last term after promotion from the Championship.

Dubbed a "tackling machine" by teammate Harrison Reed, no player completed more tackles than Palhinha last term; in fact, he topped the charts by a landslide.

Joao Palhinha

147

Moises Caicedo

100

Idrissa Gueye

97

Casemiro

89

Tyler Adams

89

In a similarly resounding vein of form this term, the 23-cap international has made 72 tackles thus far in 2023/24, with Tottenham Hotspur's Yves Bissouma in second with 47.

Fulham raised several question marks after a slow start to the campaign – perhaps understandable after ferocious talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic completed a £50m transfer to Al-Hilal in the summer, having posted 14 goals from just 23 Premier League starts last year.

But recently the side has clicked into gear, winning successive fixtures 5-0 after an enthralling 4-3 defeat against table-toppers Liverpool at Anfield.

Palhinha has been vital, holding the engine room together and making a staggering 15 tackles across the past two games, with reporter Dan Evans hailing the player's "brilliant" level of performance.

Across the current campaign, he is averaging 5.5 tackles, 6.9 ball recoveries, 1.7 interceptions and 1.6 clearances per game, also completing 84% of his passes and winning 58% of his ground duels.

While his distribution could be crisper, there is little doubt that he is one of the most formidable forces in European football, and would offer a skill set unlike anything Klopp's side have to offer right now.

Joao Palhinha's style of play

Palhinha hungers for tackles the way a lion hungers for its prey – it's intrinsic, simply woven into the core of his game, braided into his style and make-up.

Just as Manchester City's world-class striker Erling Haaland feasts upon opposition through his free-scoring brilliance, Palhinha dislodges surging attackers and stamps out transitions with the same air of inevitability.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for tackles, the top 9% for interceptions, the top 16% for blocks, the top 13% for clearances and the top 15% for aerial wins per 90, presenting an evenly spread understanding of the defensive craft.

The £80k-per-week ace's transition-breaking efficiency is just what Liverpool to take the edge in the tense Premier League title race, which is starting to take shape.

Mac Allister, signed from Brighton & Hove Albion for £35m in the summer, has filled in as the No. 6 on Merseyside in the absence of stalwart Fabinho, who departed England for Saudi Arabia in the summer after a stark decline.

But the Argentinian star is naturally fielded in a more creative role, where he excelled for the Seagulls last term and plundered 12 goals and three assists as his erstwhile club qualified for European competition for the first time in its history.

Imagine Joao Palhinha & Alexis Mac Allister

Mac Allister has played 14 of his 18 matches in a Liverpool shirt in the deep-lying midfield role, and while he may favour a more offensive placement, and the Reds support may yearn for a specialist defensive midfielder, it's hard to argue against his effectiveness so far.

Liverpool are in pole position in the English top-flight. With Manchester City not quite looking the same animal at this stage after winning the treble last season, there is a growing and tangible sense that Klopp's second Premier League title could be within reach.

For his part, Mac Allister has completed 88% of his passes across 14 league appearances, as per Sofascore, averaging 2.2 tackles, 6.1 recoveries and 1.2 interceptions per game, though he is emerging on top in just 47% of his contested duels and this is a concern.

Palhinha could unlock the 24-year-old, with the pairing perhaps even capable of forming a double-pivot of sorts, such is the counterbalance of their contrasting skill sets.

The £150k-per-week Liverpool phenom ranks among the top 5% of midfielders for shots taken, the top 18% for shot-creating actions, the top 20% for progressive passes, the top 19% for progressive carries and the top 16% for successful take-ons per 90.

Such metrics underpin his instinct to carry the ball up the pitch, he is a vehicle, and an effective one at that: breezy gait, technical prowess, and thunderous striking power, Mac Allister is both creative and clinical, supplying his peers with selfless passes or intelligently choosing to fire the ball into the net himself, just so.

The stability that could be fortified in Liverpool's centre with Palhinha's acquisition is a scary thought for the rest of the Premier League, with Klopp's side yet to reach their peak – currently leading the race for the crown nonetheless.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo ganhou um problema de última hora para enfrentar o Fluminense neste domingo, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro. A equipe comandada por Eduardo Barroca não poderá contar com Pedro Raul, que está com um desconforto muscular no adutor da coxa esquerda, como informou o Núcleo de Saúde e Performance do clube.

Desta forma, a tendência é que o treinador centralize Matheus Babi, que atuou pelos lados na derrota para o Atlético-GO na rodada passada, ocupando o lugar de Pedro Raul. Consequentemente, uma vaga no sistema ofensivo está em aberto.

Por outro lado, Diego Cavalieri, desfalque nas duas últimas partidas, treinou sem restrições, foi relacionado e é opção para entrar em campo no clássico. Ainda existe uma dúvida se o experiente goleiro começa jogando ou se Diego Loureiro, com boas atuações na ausência do camisa 12, continua em campo.

“O Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas informa, através de seu Núcleo de Saúde e Performance, que o atleta Diego Cavalieri treinou sem restrições e está relacionado para a partida contra o Fluminense, neste domingo, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro. Já o atleta Pedro Raul está fora por conta de um desconforto muscular no adutor da coxa esquerda.”, comunicou o Botafogo.

Na 20ª colocação na classificação, o clássico é essencial para as mínimas pretensões do clube de General Severiano em permanecer na primeira divisão do Campeonato Brasileiro.

RelacionadasBotafogoCampeã pelo Botafogo quando criança, Vivian quer repetir a dose no Brasileiro: ‘Já sabia o peso da camisa’Botafogo23/01/2021BotafogoNegociação entre Botafogo e Cruz Azul tem indefinição e Kanu quer jogar contra o FluminenseBotafogo23/01/2021BotafogoCavalieri está liberado para voltar ao Botafogo contra o Fluminense; Forster treina bem, mas ainda é dúvidaBotafogo22/01/2021

Rory Kleinveldt, the South Africa Test bowler, who also represented Cape Cobras, Hampshire and Northamptonshire, called time on his red-ball career on Thursday.The 35-year-old from Cape Town last played a Test in February 2013, but had been active in the domestic first-class circuit and the county scene in England. His decision came a day after the Cobras’ six-wicket loss against the Warriors in the 4-Day Franchise Series, at Newlands.Kleinveldt announced the news of his retirement from the longest format on Twitter, where, in the wake of tributes from the likes of Dale Steyn, Herchelle Gibbs and Paul Harris, he clarified that it was only “red-ball cricket” that he was quitting.Kleinveldt’s maiden county stint came with Hampshire, in 2008. However, since his last appearance for South Africa, an ODI in July 2013, he plied his trade at Northamptonshire, and made an impact immediately. His 57-wicket season in 2015 in the County Championship, followed by astute bowling in the T20 tournament, led Northants to the T20 finals day that season. A few months later, Kleinveldt confirmed he had no interest in resuming his international career in a letter to Cricket South Africa.In all, Kleinveldt finished with 10 wickets in Test cricket, while also collecting 454 first-class wickets at an average of 27.98.

Lionel Messi is "making every opponent look amateur" in Major League Soccer after joining Inter Miami, according to ex-USMNT star Herculez Gomez.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Messi has fired Inter Miami to top of standingsIn prolific form in MLSTold he's making rivals look 'amateur'WHAT HAPPENED?

Messi has made a superb start to his first full season in Major League Soccer, scoring nine times in just seven games and helping fire The Herons to the top of the Eastern Conference. The Argentine helped secure a first Leagues Cup triumph after arriving from PSG but will be aiming for more silverware in 2024 with Tata Martino's side.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowAdvertisementUSA Today ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Messi's displays at the start of the 2024 MLS season have drawn regular praise from commentators and opponents alike. Former USMNT star Herculez Gomez has joined the list of admirers by explaining just how impressed he has been to see the 36-year-old more than live up to the hype after arriving in the United States.

WHAT GOMEZ SAID

He told ESPN: "He's the best player I've ever seen play Major League Soccer. I don't think it's a secret, I don't think it's debatable. You look at this guy's numbers: he's got 11 goals, nine assists in his last 10 games in all competitions. Nine league goals in the last six games. He's played 24 games in Major League Soccer since he signed with Inter Miami. He's got 22 goals, 11 assists. I'm talking primary assists, not the hockey assists that MLS adds to pad the stats. This guys has been as good as advertised. He's been that player.

"This is his playground and he's making every single player, every single opponent look amateur. It's been that good and when he's not been good there's been a reason for it, it's been injury-related. But when he's healthy, when he's fit, when he's on the pitch, he's unstoppable."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

DID YOU KNOW?

Messi has recorded a goal contribution in his last 10 straight club matches in all competitions for the seventh time in his career and the first since September-December 2018, when he was still on the books at Barcelona.

There was only one winner in the battle between India’s opening bowler and Australia’s opening batsman

Andrew McGlashan18-Jan-2019Aaron Finch is having a season to forget and is now on a run of one half-century in 23 international innings across all formats. He has admitted he needs a break, but at the moment that won’t come until April after the away series against India and Pakistan.His ODI summer ended with a tally of 83 runs in six innings against South Africa and India and it came to an end in a manner that has become very familiar in this one-day series: dismissed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Here’s a recap of a contest that has only gone one way.Bhuvneshwar Kumar v Aaron Finch this series•ESPNcricinfo LtdSydney: b Bhuvneshwar 6Adelaide: b Bhuvneshwar 6Melbourne: lbw Bhuvneshwar 14After this match Finch will be available for Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash. Whether he regains form or not, it won’t be long before battle is rejoined with Bhuvneshwar when Australia travel to India in late February.

Tottenham Hotspur ended a dismal run of form in the Premier League with a convincing 4-1 victory over Newcastle United last weekend, but must now follow this up with a big performance at the City Ground against Nottingham Forest.

Despite losing four times in that period, also drawing against Manchester City, Ange Postecoglou's side have benefitted from an electric start to the campaign and remain just three points off Pep Guardiola's fourth-placed side.

With Forest manager Steve Cooper under fire after his team's own struggles, the hosts will be desperate to secure a statement victory to wipe away the malaise, so Postecoglou will need to get his selection right to prevail.

Tottenham team news vs Forest

Tottenham's mountainous injury list is slowly shrinking, with Pape Matar Sarr and Heung-min Son both starting last weekend after different injury concerns; Richarlison also scored twice from centre-forward after a period of convalescence following groin surgery.

However, James Maddison, Micky van de Ven and Rodrigo Bentancur remain long-term absentees, meaning Spurs' squad remains without three essential components.

While Tottenham's fragile squad precludes heavy rotation, the win over Newcastle highlights the riches that can be reaped from the current crop.

Brennan Johnson's season in numbers

One player who might return to the bench is Brennan Johnson, who has recently come into his own over recent weeks after signing from Forest for £47.5m in the summer.

Perhaps Postecoglou will opt to unleash him on his former stomping ground, but with Richarlison bagging a brace last time out and Son posting a goal and assist apiece back on the left wing, it's unlikely that the Australian will disrupt such freshly braided harmony.

While Johnson has started four Premier League matches in succession, three of such appearances coming from the right, this has been to accommodate the shifting of Dejan Kulusevski to the No. 10 position.

Principally a right-sided winger, Kulusevski has started every league fixture this season and it's unlikely that that will change tonight; the Swede brings so much energy and creativity to the team.

Johnson is very talented and has even been described as a "nightmare" for opposition defenders by content creator HLTCO, but Tottenham will need to control the flow of what will be a fiery encounter against the Tricky Trees, and Kulusevski should move back out wide.

This would allow space in the centre for Giovani Lo Celso to reclaim a starting spot, with his skill set perfect to solve the task ahead.

Why Giovani Lo Celso must start vs Forest

Lo Celso was an outcast at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before bagging twice in as many games for the Lilywhites in recent weeks, having spent the past 18 months on loan with Villarreal.

The 48-cap Argentina international signed for Spurs from Real Betis for a staggering £55m fee back in 2019, but he's never quite acclimatised to the Premier League and was even branded a "flop" by The Athletic's Jack Pitt-Brooke.

The £70k-per-week ace has proved his worth in Maddison's absence this season though, scoring against Aston Villa and then Manchester City, starting three of the past four league clashes.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Passing

Finishing

Ball retention

Crossing

Defensive contribution

Aerial duels

Dribbling

*Sourced via WhoScored

Hailed as a "master of the last pass" by reporter Milena Gimon, Lo Celso ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, passes attempted and progressive passes, and the top 7% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

This fantastic control and creativity in the centre of the park could be crucial for Postecoglou's squad in Nottingham, especially when buttressed by Yves Bissouma and Sarr in the engine room.

With so much at stake, Postecoglou must enforce the alteration, providing his team with the requisite control to subdue the cacophonous City Ground support and ensure that Tottenham take all the goods back to London.

Tottenham Hotspur return to action this week following the November international break, and Ange Postecoglou will be determined to bounce back after successive defeats in the Premier League.

Despite finishing eighth last term, Spurs have been electric under the Australian's guidance and have fought for top spot against the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal over the opening phase of the campaign, despite losing Harry Kane to Bayern Munich at the end of the summer transfer window.

But calamity struck against Chelsea earlier this month to derail the resounding start, with a 4-1 home defeat inflicted after two dismissals and detrimental injuries to influential signings – Micky van de Ven and James Maddison – presaging a tough task in navigating through the winter period.

Wolverhampton Wanderers' dramatic turnaround in the smouldering embers of the last outing in the English top-flight has indeed cast doubt over the reliability of the squad options, and, as such, it's paramount that reinforcements are secured in January.

Tottenham transfer news – Malick Thiaw

According to a recent report from the Daily Mail, Tottenham are indeed set to prioritise the central defence this winter as Van de Ven faces an extensive spell on the sidelines.

With Eric Dier deemed under-par and set for release in June, the process is only accelerated and AC Milan's Malick Thiaw has been earmarked as a top target.

The report claims that Spurs will maintain their strategy of signing young, talented prospects to grow into first-class Premier League stars, and Thiaw, aged 22, fits the bill.

Valued at €30m (£26m) by CIES Football Observatory, the German defender is aggressive and combative and while he is noted to have inferior pace to Van de Ven, he is robust and touted for big things.

Malick Thiaw's style of play

Thiaw signed for AC Milan from Schalke for just €7m (£6m) plus bonuses in August 2022, following the German side's promotion to the Bundesliga.

As per Sofascore, he was instrumental in securing an instantaneous return to the top flight for his beleaguered outfit, winning 61% of his duels and averaging 2.6 tackles and 3.4 clearances per game.

Since arriving in Serie A, he has only nurtured his talents and now looks like a player capable of cementing a place as one of Europe's standouts in the future, having been described as "solid as a rock" by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

#

Player

Club

1

Ibrahima Konate

Liverpool

2

Marc Guehi

Crystal Palace

3

Sinaly Diomande

Lyon

4

Raphael Varane

Manchester United

5

Kevin Danso

RC Lens

*Sourced via FBref

As per FBref, Thiaw ranks among the top 18% of central defenders throughout Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 19% for tackles per 90, showcasing his natural crispness and tenacity in his defensive application.

Last season, his first in Italy, Thiaw made 20 league appearances and impressed with his ball-playing skills and precision in the tackle, completing 88% of his passes and winning a noteworthy 62% of his duels, also averaging 3.3 clearances each outing.

Given Postecoglou's implementation of a possession-based, energetic and intense system, he really does look like he would slot right in.

As the graph above portrays, he boasts qualities similar to some of the Premier League's most prominent defenders, with the £17k-per-week machine's likeness to Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi likely a defining factor behind Postecoglou's interest.

It's unlikely that the Rossoneri would be willing to let their man go cheaply at the season's midpoint – especially considering the fact that they are currently attempting to close the distance on league leaders Inter Milan and second-placed Juventus.

But should Spurs present an enticing offer, then who knows what could happen…

Why Tottenham should sign Malick Thiaw

To be honest, there are probably easier avenues to delve down this winter but this is actually a testament to Thiaw's ability and the lengths that the Lilywhites are willing to go to to snap him up.

Guehi has been persistently linked with a move to north London over recent months, with 'a well-placed source' revealing that Tottenham wanted to complete a transfer in the summer – as per Football Insider.

It is understood that the Selhurst Park side have set a £60m asking price for their colossus, and while Spurs would love to add him to the fold, such a value just isn't realistic for the January window, especially considering that more than one signing will likely to on the agenda.

Signing for the Eagles from Chelsea for £18m two years ago, Guehi has developed into one of the Premier League's most exciting centre-backs, with Spurs matched in their intrigue by the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and the Blues – who seemingly regret their decision to offload the 23-year-old.

Guehi ranks among the top 12% of positional peers for successful take-ons per 90, evidencing his physicality and corroborating claims from former England U21 teammate Josef Bursik that he is an "absolute tank".

Given that the 6 foot 4 Thiaw has been dubbed a 'rock' and boasts similarities to Guehi, it seems like the German's signature might be the one to go for, given his Palace counterpart appears to be unattainable.

And with Postecoglou having attempted to secure his signing at Celtic in 2022, to no avail, it's understandable that Spurs might be prioritising his name, as he is a clear favourite and is viewed as someone who naturally fits the manager's system.

While Tottenham's preferred defensive axis of Van de Ven and Romero is as impressive as any throughout the Premier League scene, there is no denying that the thinness of the squad is threatening to ravage the potential of the 2023/24 season.

Look at Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal. Do these sides boast just two players capable of cementing a starting spot in the respective squads? Spurs need depth, and Postecoglou will move to sign players fit to enhance the fold in January.

Thiaw fits the profile age-wise, has previously been scouted by Postecoglou and bears a semblance in style to Guehi – such elements can be stirred and melded to form a wonderful concoction, tailor-made for a key role in this exciting Tottenham revolution.

Crystal Palace let a 1-0 lead slip at the hands of Luton Town on Saturday afternoon and gave the hosts only their second win of the season.

An issue that has plagued Palace for several years – putting the ball in the back of the net – reared its ugly head at Kenilworth Road once again.

Whilst Michael Olise capped his return to the side with a goal, the Eagles failed to build on their lead, despite registering eight shots on target compared to their opponent's three.

In the Premier League this term, only Burnley, Fulham, Sheffield United and Luton have scored less than Palace's total of 13, which is a glowing indication of where Roy Hodgson needs to target in the January transfer window.

Although Odsonne Edouard has plundered five in 12 matches, only one of those has come in his last seven appearances, so signing a striker should be on the high list of priorities, and links to Ajax striker Chuba Akpom suggest it is.

Crystal Palace transfer news – Chuba Akpom

According to TEAMtalk, Palace and Fulham are among several clubs who have enquired about the availability of the Englishman ahead of January.

Akpom, who scored 28 goals in the Championship for Middlesbrough last season to win the Player of the Year award, has started just one game since his arrival in the Dutch capital.

Whilst opportunities have been at a premium for the prolific striker, he has still claimed five goals across his four consecutive appearances in November.

The report states that Akpom is open to a Premier League move and Ajax are ready to sanction a loan deal for the player.

Edouard binned for "outrageous" target in Crystal Palace's dream XI after January

Several exciting names have been linked with a move to Selhurst Park in the winter…

By
Tom Griffin

Nov 26, 2023

If that is the case, Palace should be racing to the front of the queue to capture the 28-year-old, who would provide an upgrade on their current forward options, including Edouard.

The statistics that show Akpom is an upgrade on Edouard

Edouard has somewhat only discovered his goalscoring touch at Selhurst Park this term.

The Frenchman arrived from Celtic in the summer of 2021 and was expected to become their latest talismanic forward.

Despite joining the club on the back of an impressive 87 goals in 179 appearances for the Scottish giants, Edouard would find the challenge of stepping up to the Premier League difficult and his goal record speaks volumes of his struggles.

To put it into perspective, the 25-year-old is currently only one goal from matching his best tally of seven, achieved last season, and we're only four months into this campaign.

On the other hand, Akpom's scoring has gone in the other direction, from achieving a career-high of 11 goals in a single season to plundering 29 last term, the Englishman is threatening to deliver on the potential that his formative years promised.

This upturn in form is also reflected across several of his attacking metrics, eclipsing Edouard across the board, aside from his threat in the air.

Chuba Akpom vs Odsonne Edouard per 90 statistics in the past year
Statistic	Chuba Akpom	Odsonne Edouard
Non-penalty goals	0.83	0.31
Non-penalty xG	0.54	0.28
Shots total	2.74	2.41
Pass completion	81.2%	68.2%
Progressive carries	2.63	1.58
Aerials won	1.69	1.84
All stats via FBref

Dubbed by former striker Clinton Morrison as a "real threat", Akpom has certainly delivered on that praise, wreaking havoc against opposition defences with the volume of shots he's taking, his ability to drive forward at speed and provide a clinical edge in the final third, unlike Edouard.

If Palace were able to acquire the £27k per-week marksman on loan in January, who is valued at €11.9m (£10m), as per Football Transfers, he would be a low-risk move with potentially high rewards as the Eagles look to add more firepower to their armoury.