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Wolverhampton Wanderers could be 'under pressure' to sell one of their most experienced assets as their frustrating transfer window rolls on at Molineux, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Wolverhampton Wanderers?

The Old Gold have already sold off several key first-team players this summer due to Financial Fair Play restrictions imposed at Molineux, including the likes of Ruben Neves, Conor Coady, Nathan Collins and Raul Jimenez, as per Transfermarkt.

According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, Portugal international Daniel Podence may be another casualty this window and is being courted by Scottish Premiership champions Celtic in a deal that could cost £12 million.

Gabon international Mario Lemina is garnering attention from Premier League giants Liverpool alongside Saudi Arabian clubs and it is believed that a departure for the 29-year-old cannot be ruled out before the close of play in the market, as per Foot Mercato.

TEAMtalk understand that Wolves are exploring a move for Nice goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel in the event that experienced stopper Jose Sa leaves the club this summer.

Sa may be sold on to 'balance the books' at Molineux and Schmeichel is being eyed up as a 'ready-made replacement' to come in and provide stability as O'Neil's last line of defence.

Nice Matin via Sport Witness report that Chelsea are also keen on making a surprise move for the Denmark international to provide competition for Robert Sanchez at Stamford Bridge.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Jones believes that Wolves could be 'under pressure' to sell £25k-a-week earner Sa due to their financial situation.

Jones stated: "The Schmeichel transfer only makes sense, obviously, if Jose Sa leaves. While I'd not imagine that's something they ideally want to entertain, we know they are under pressure to sell.

"There have been a couple of formal enquiries about taking him, so it's not impossible it could come through."

What now for Wolverhampton Wanderers?

Wolves have been linked to several players this summer as the Old Gold look to add to their squad pool before the window closes. Republic of Ireland international Matt Doherty and backup goalkeeper Tom King have been the only new arrivals at Molineux so far, both joining on free transfers.

Journalist Rudy Galetti recently told GIVEMESPORT that Wolves are keen on doing a double deal for Stuttgart defender Konstantinos Mavropanos and West Ham United striker Michail Antonio.

TEAMtalk back up the notion that Wolves are looking to bring Antonio to Molineux and claim that West Ham would be open to selling the Jamaica international if they can identify a suitable replacement to take his place at the London Stadium.

The same outlet also claim that Wolves are keen to try and prize Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill away from Turf Moor; however, Crystal Palace, Everton, Leeds United, Leicester City and Middlesbrough are all in the race to snap up the 27-year-old.

Brownhill has just one year left on his deal at Burnley and Vincent Kompany is conscious of the prospect of losing the Warrington-born ace on a free transfer.

SLC, however, believes it can have a conversation with the players and convince them to tour the country

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Oct-2017Sri Lanka’s players have indicated strong reluctance to travel to Lahore for the third T20I against Pakistan, by signing a letter that requests the match be moved to a neutral venue. SLC officials, however, are likely to attempt to convince the players to tour. The board will discuss the issue further at its executive committee meeting on Monday.Though the players have not definitively ruled out traveling to Lahore, the mood in the dressing room is one of firm objection. “I don’t think the players will change their stance,” a cricketer, who was among the 40 contracted players who signed the letter, said. Not only were Suranga Lakmal and Chamara Kapugedera physically present on the bus that was attacked in Lahore in 2009, the other players are aware of the trauma suffered by those on board. The current players also believe the 2009 team suffered a singular attack in the world of sport, and are unwilling to be among the first teams to return to Pakistan.SLC CEO Ashley de Silva said player security remained the board’s primary concern, and that “a decision will be made at the ex-co meeting taking into account all the security information”. But other officials, such as president Thilanga Sumathipala, appear very keen on the team traveling to Pakistan. The board is expected to make an appeal to the players over the next few days. The country’s sports ministry is also keen to send a team.Both parties have tread softly so far, out of a desire not to incense the other: the players have stopped short of issuing a categorical refusal; the board has at no stage indicated there would be punishments for players who decline to travel.But for the other major party in the equation – the PCB – a refusal from Sri Lanka’s main players would amount to a setback, given the progress they had recently made in bringing back international cricket to the country. SLC officials were quick to point out that not only have Sri Lanka’s players been promised the same level of security afforded to the World XI team in September, but that the ICC was also content to now send its match officials to Pakistan.If the majority of players are unconvinced by SLC’s overtures, however, the board may consider sending a second-string team comprised of those who are willing to travel. Thisara Perera, who played in the World XI series, is understood to be favourable towards traveling to Lahore again.The chances of a full-strength Sri Lanka team playing in Lahore, however, have diminished with the signing of this letter. For the administrators of both boards, who had all spoken with optimism about this match going ahead, that is something of a problem.

Journalist Simon Jones has delivered a promising update on Tottenham Hotspur and their pursuit of Nottingham Forest winger Brennan Johnson.

Who will Spurs sign next?

Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou has received some backing by chairman Daniel Levy, undoubtedly, as the north London club seal deals for goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, young centre-back Ashley Phillips, defender Micky van de Ven, playmaker James Maddison, winger Manor Solomon and striker Alejo Veliz.

The new league season is upon Tottenham supporters, who may be eager to witness more of Spurs' new-look, attacking style, as implemented by Postecoglou in pre-season.

Spurs already appear to be adopting a more expansive and entertaining brand of football, especially when compared to more dogmatic previous managers like Antonio Conte, Jose Mourinho and Nuno Espirito Santo.

Postecoglou, though is especially eager to see more signings come through the door and has dropped multiple hints that a new centre-back is on the agenda.

“It's not done yet," said Postecoglou last weekend.

"We need bolstering in that central defensive area. We need defenders who can work in an aggressive formation, defend well & behind them. We'll be looking to bring in a couple in that area in the coming days."

While he later backtracked on that message in midweek, saying a new centre-back signing will depend on outgoings, the desire for more transfers is certainly present.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Tottenham have also been linked with a new midfielder, if Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg departs, and a possible addition further forward.

Johnson, who starred under Forest boss Steve Cooper last season as they dodged relegation to The Championship, is apparently a target for the wide area.

A lot of his pull is reportedly centered around the fact he is homegrown, and would succeed Harry Kane in that regard if the Englishman does in fact depart for Bayern Munich.

The 22-year-old, though, could cost Tottenham in the region of £50 million according to some reliable media sources.

Now, according to The Daily Mail and their reporter Jones, a promising update has come to light on Spurs and their possible move for Johnson.

Indeed, as per their information, the Lilywhites have seemingly entered pole position to sign the Wales international over the likes of Brentford.

The Mail and Jones expand on this by saying Tottenham are "considered favourites" for Johnson, and while nothing is added beyond that, it would appear Postecoglou's side are in the driving seat.

How good is Brennan Johnson?

Johnson racked up eight goals and three assists in the top flight last season, all while featuring among Forest's top two for attempts at goal and key passes made per 90 (WhoScored).

Cooper, speaking to the press last season, was effusive in his praise for the attacking ace.

“He’s a fantastic player, we know he’s got qualities and is a great finisher." said Cooper.

Meanwhile, pundit and Man United legend Roy Keane heralded Johnson's form ahead of an FA Cup clash with Arsenal in early January 2022.

"No doubt a lot of teams are looking at him and we'll see if Forest can hold on to him," said Keane on ITV (via Nottinghamshire Live)

"It will be interested to see what he's like against a tricky team. He's got a bit of pace and he's tricky.

"He's got an assist in him and he's really talented. Sometimes you need to go out on loan."

Ishan Kishan and Aniket Choudhary were left out of the squad that levelled the two-match series in South Africa last month

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Sep-2017Rishabh Pant has been picked in India A’s 14-man squad and Karun Nair named captain for the two four-day games against New Zealand A starting September 23 in Vijayawada. Pant replaces his former India Under-19 team-mate Ishan Kishan, who kept wicket in the two four-day games in South Africa, which India A levelled, last month.Priyank Panchal, the Gujarat opener and the previous Ranji Trophy season’s highest run-scorer, returned to the side after missing the tour of South Africa because of dengue. Vijay Shankar, the Tamil Nadu allrounder, picked in Panchal’s place for that tour, was left out.Panchal made back-to-back centuries in the Duleep Trophy opener, and is likely to open the batting with R Samarth, the only other specialist opener in the squad. Abhinav Mukund, who was initially picked for the South Africa tour, only to miss out after being called up for the Test tour of Sri Lanka, has been left out.K Gowtham, the Karnataka offspinner, drafted in as a late replacement for Jayant Yadav, who missed the four-day games in South Africa because of his father’s death, retained his place. Gowtham was India A’s second-highest wicket-taker (seven) in two matches, behind Shahbaz Nadeem (11).The selectors also pruned the squad from 15 to 14, leaving out left-arm fast bowler Aniket Choudhary. Shardul Thakur, left out of the ODI squad for the first three matches against Australia, is likely to speahead the pace attack.The first game will clash with the Duleep Trophy final, scheduled from September 25 to 29 in Lucknow. It is likely that a majority of the India A players could miss that game.The Duleep Trophy, originally scrapped from the 2017-18 domestic calendar, was a last-minute addition to the domestic calendar following a letter from Sourav Ganguly, head of BCCI’s technical committee, to the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators.India A Squad for two four-day games: Priyank Panchal, R Samarth, Sudip Chatterjee, Shreyas Iyer, Ankit Bawne, Karun Nair (capt), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shahbaz Nadeem, K Gowtham, Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Ankit Rajpoot

Tottenham Hotspur remain interested in a longstanding target of theirs, despite advancing deals elsewhere…

Are Tottenham Hotspur signing Edmond Tapsoba?

Whilst the north London transfer sphere has been dominated by reports of Micky van de Ven's imminent signing, it could be forgotten how desperate Ange Postecoglou was to sign Edmond Tapsoba for a period.

However, journalist Paul Brown continues to suggest that such interest has not ceased, but merely taken a back seat given the frustrating nature of the deal.

He told GIVEMESPORT:

"I still think Tottenham will buy a defender. Tapsoba is probably in the top three they're looking at. I'm not sure if they've decided which of these guys they like the most yet, but I think Tapsoba is very high on their list.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

"It's not going to take a lot to get this deal done. So, once a decision is made about which ones to bring in first, I think you'll see it happen. It wouldn't surprise me if Tapsoba is the one."

Given the €45m (£39m) they were reportedly set to offer earlier this week, they still seemingly remain firmly in the race for his services.

How good is Edmond Tapsoba?

Their longstanding interest in the 24-year-old stalwart is well-founded, given how imperious he has been since moving to Germany.

Just last term saw him excel in the Bundesliga yet again, as he continues to announce himself as one of the division's finest central defenders.

In acquiring him, it could avenge chairman Daniel Levy's past transfer failure from earlier in the window, as they reportedly battled with Aston Villa to sign Pau Torres from Villarreal.

The Spaniard had announced himself as one of Europe's top ball-playing centre-backs in his homeland, with his performances for the Yellow Submarine exemplary.

In fact, when compared to others in his role across the continent, he ranked in the top 4% for progressive passes per 90, and the top 1% for progressive carries per 90, via FBref.

However, in the end, the pull of Unai Emery proved too much, and he chose Villa Park over north London. A hammer blow for Spurs, and a damning indictment of their recent failures.

Postecoglou likely received a hefty wake-up call from such a disaster, which he could avenge by signing Tapsoba.

After all, the Burkina Faso star does rank similarly against the same group as Torres, sitting in the top 5% for progressive passes per 90, the top 8% for progressive carries per 90, and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90, via FBref.

Not only this but last season in the Bundesliga, he maintained a 6.86 average rating, buoyed by 1.1 interceptions, 1.5 tackles and three clearances per game, via Sofascore.

Only two Spurs players recorded more clearances last term in the Premier League.

It was no surprise to see him lauded by journalist Antonio Mango, who outlined his key attributes before branding him a "monster," adding:

"Comfortable on the ball. Big, strong. Quick. Position good with a very good footballing IQ."

To instead sign the hulking titan over their previous transfer target would mark little drop in quality, and given these two sides will likely battle once again for similar spots, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.

However, at the very least Postecoglou will be safe in the knowledge that despite failing to secure his initial target, his alternative would be arguably just as good.

Two half-century partnerships at either end of the Yorkshire innings set up a resounding Kia Super League win by 28 runs over Lancashire at Headingley

ECB Reporters Network11-Aug-2017Two half-century partnerships at either end of the Yorkshire innings set up a resounding Kia Super League win by 28 runs over Lancashire at Headingley. The Diamonds made the perfect start to this summer’s campaign, posting 162 for 4 and comfortably defending it as the Thunder responded with 134 for 7.Alice Davidson-Richards enjoyed an excellent day with a brisk 22 at the death and then 3 for 20 from four overs of medium pace.Yorkshire captain Lauren Winfield led from the front with 44•Getty ImagesHome captain Lauren Winfield, who lost the toss, top-scored with 44 off 43 balls and shared 72 in 11.3 overs for the first wicket with Sri Lanka’s Chamari Atapattu. But it was another England World Cup winner in Katherine Brunt who really boosted the total with a damaging 31.She hit sixes straight and over long-on in a 16-ball assault, sharing 52 in just 4.1 overs for the fourth wicket with Davidson-Richards after the score had fallen to 100 for 3 at the end of the 15th.Lancashire were missing England pair Kate Cross through injury and Sarah Taylor due to a family wedding, and the visitors dropped three catches, including Winfield on 6 and Brunt on 2. Brunt and England Academy’s Davidson-Richards hit the lion’s share of 74 off the last six overs.Davidson-Richards then struck in each of her first three overs to squeeze Lancashire’s chase. Her first two wickets helped leave them 71 for 3 in the 12th over. She bowled Eve Jones with her first ball in the 10th over and had Jess Jonassen caught at deep cover with her ninth ball.When legspinner Katie Levick picked up her second wicket, that of dangerous New Zealander Amy Satterthwaite caught at long-on in the 13th for 28, Yorkshire had the game all but wrapped up at 78 for 4.Levick had made the initial breakthrough to get Emma Lamb caught at backward point, and later bowled Thunder captain Danielle Hazell to finish with 3 for 30. Davidson-Richards then had Natalie Brown stumped as Lancashire fell to 97 for 6. They could not recover.Both these two sides play Surrey Stars in their next match – Yorkshire at The Oval on Sunday evening and Lancashire at Old Trafford on Wednesday afternoon.

Everton will hope to sign a new striker before the 2023/24 Premier League season kicks off in two weeks' time, and Salernitana's Boulaye Dia is being pursued.

Arnaut Danjuma has already been signed on a season-long loan deal from Villarreal, but the clinical Senegalese striker could complete the frontline as Sean Dyche looks to navigate away from the pit of the English top flight this season.

Everton have spent the past two campaigns battling against relegation and only survived the drop on the final game of the term this year, with Abdoulaye Doucoure's thumping finish enough to beat AFC Bournemouth and send Leicester City sinking into the second tier.

The lack of goal threat was the crux of the problem; Dominic Calvert-Lewin's injury issues were compounded by Neal Maupay's inept efforts – as the pair scored just three goals between them across all fronts – and the Toffees' manager is looking to address the issue and ensure the forthcoming campaign offers brighter fortunes.

Are Everton signing Boulaye Dia?

According to Tutto Salernitana – via Sport Witness – Everton have scheduled a fresh round of talks with the Serie A outfit to discuss the possibility of Dia's transfer to Merseyside.

The Blues are reluctant to pay the player's €25m (£21m) release clause and have instead opted to offer Maupay in the negotiations, with the Frenchman admired by the Salernitana hierarchy.

Should Everton sign Boulaye Dia?

Dia scored 16 goals and supplied six assists from 33 appearances in the league last year, integral for his team and praised as "absolutely fantastic" by pundit Marlon Harewood.

The 25-cap international ranks among the top 16% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals and the top 14% for assists per 90, also ranking among the top 17% for pass completion, as per FBref and boasts the dynamic skill set and fluidity that was missing at Goodison Park last season.

Salernitana only tied up a permanent deal for the 26-year-old Villarreal striker last month, completing the deal for a reported €12m (£10m) after he excelled on loan, with journalist Josh Bunting claiming that the sharpshooter is a real "handful".

Dia would link up with his international teammate Idrissa Gana Gueye at Everton, and could prove to be an astute addition and another move on the money when targetting Senegalese players, with Gueye having now racked up 142 appearances across two spells with the side.

Dubbed a "machine" by Thomas Tuchel when plying his trade for Paris Saint-Germain, Gueye still retains that intensity and industrious nature to this day, ranking among the top 4% of midfielders for tackles, the top 2% for interceptions and the top 10% for blocks per 90.

Dia could emulate the energy of his compatriot and pump life back into the Everton attack, with his tag as a 'handful' reference to his work rate and tenacity.

He would certainly bring something different to Dyche's team, and given that Salernitana are ostensibly interested in Maupay in a cash-plus-player transaction, it could be a move to suit all parties and ensure that the woes of the past few seasons at Goodison Park fall into distant memory.

Nottinghamshire’s seam bowler Luke Fletcher has been ruled out for the rest of the season after being struck on the head in his followthrough in a T20 Blast fixture

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jul-2017Nottinghamshire’s seam bowler Luke Fletcher has been ruled out for the rest of the season after being struck on the head in his followthrough in a T20 Blast fixture at Edgbaston on Saturday.Fletcher was assessed and treated at the ground before being quickly transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham for further investigations. Although he was discharged on Sunday, he returned to hospital to undergo further tests on Tuesday.”Following consultation with doctors, Luke has been ruled out for the rest of the 2017 season to allow adequate time to recover and complete a monitored care plan to ensure he has a safe return to play,” said Mick Newell, Nottinghamshire’s director of cricket.”Whilst we are all obviously very disappointed, Luke’s health is of paramount importance and comes first. We will continue to give him every support as he undergoes his recovery.”The incident occurred in the fourth over of Birmingham’s run-chase at Edgbaston. Fletcher’s first ball of the night was driven ferociously straight back by Sam Hain and struck him on the head in his followthrough.The umpire signalled instantly for medical assistance, and it was clear from the reaction of the players that they felt the incident was potentially very serious. Fletcher was concussed, but he did not lose consciousness and he was able to walk from the field aided by a physio with a towel over his head.He was attended to by paramedics in the dressing-room, and was taken to a Nottingham hospital for further examination. His team-mate, Jake Ball, later tweeted a picture of Fletcher, wearing an oxygen mask but with his thumbs up, adding: “Horrible injury to @fletcherluke but looks like he’s doing well off to hospital #legend”Play was suspended for half an hour, but eventually resumed with Birmingham stealing a six-wicket victory with a single on the final ball.One of the most popular players in county cricket, Fletcher was given the warmest of ovations from the 9,000 crowd and, typically, waved in acknowledgement. But with the players visibly concerned, the decision was taken to temporarily halt the game.He later tweeted from hospital that it was time for some paracetamol.

An update has emerged on Celtic as they attempt to add another central defender to their squad ahead of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign…

What's the latest Celtic transfer news?

According to Football Scotland reporter Mark Hendry, Legia Warsaw centre-back Maik Nawrocki has arrived in the UK to complete his medical with the Hoops.

The journalist has claimed that the Polish battler is now in the process of doing all of his tests and going over his contract ahead of joining up with Brendan Rodgers' squad.

This comes after Hendry reported on Friday that the Scottish giants were closing in on a deal to sign the 22-year-old talent for a fee of around £4m.

What is Maik Nawrocki's preferred foot?

The Poland U21 international does not have a preferred foot as he is able to use both effectively, which means that Rodgers could deploy him on the right or the left of a central defensive pairing.

He could turn out to be the long-term heir to Carl Starfelt on the left side as the Warsaw enforcer is six years younger than the Swedish defender and would come in as a player with potential.

This means that Nawrocki has far more time on his hand to develop in order to be a fantastic player for Celtic for many more years to come, whereas the 28-year-old is already in the peak years of his career and may not have much more growth left to go through.

The Polish titan caught the eye with his performances in the Ekstraklasa last season. He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.00 across 25 matches and made 2.5 tackles and interceptions combined per game, which was more than any current Hoops central defender managed across the Scottish Premiership campaign.

Nawrocki also showcased his ability to deliver excellent displays in Europe with his 2021/22 outings for Legia in the Europa League. The 6 foot 1 tank averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.20 across four clashes and made 2.8 tackles and interceptions per appearance, whilst he also won an outstanding 78% of his duels.

These statistics suggest that the potential is there for the talented youngster to be a dominant, due to his phenomenal success rate in his individual battles, colossus at the back for Celtic if Rodgers is able to help him translate that form into regular performances at Premiership level.

Starfelt, who has never averaged a Sofascore rating higher than 7.00 in any European competition, won 67% of his league duels for the Bhoys last term but was too prone to mistakes.

The Sweden international made three errors leading to shots or goals for the opposition and conceded two penalties across 28 Premiership games. Meanwhile, Nawrocki did not give away a single penalty and only made one mistake leading to a shot or goal for the other team in his 25 league matches for Legia

Therefore, the £4m-rated brute could be a dream long-term heir to Starfelt if he can develop to a point where his dominant Europa League form becomes a consistent feature of his play, whilst also being a reliable defender who does not make blunders on a regular basis.

Crystal Palace’s midfield is the subject of a major overhaul. Club servants James McArthur and Luka Milivojevic have announced their departures from Selhurst Park, while Cheick Doucoure is being eyed by Liverpool, who are on the verge of losing Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Arabia.

Upon the expiration of his contract at Bournemouth, Jefferson Lerma was signed by the Eagles to kickstart the rebuild, but they’re still in need of more depth.

One name who is constantly linked with a move to the English capital is Matheus Franca, who has been tipped to perform better for Palace than Albert Sambi Lokonga did last season.

What’s the latest on Matheus Franca to Crystal Palace?

Speaking to Football FanCast, reporter Dean Jones was asked if Franca could be considered an upgrade on Lokonga.

He said: “I’d say he’s a step up on Lokonga. I think Lokonga's found it difficult to assert himself in the Premier League so far. We don't know, maybe Franca will too, but I think that having someone with a freshness into the league will certainly help as well, and I'd actually be quite confident with him being a success.”

This follows a report published by Fabrizio Romano in his CaughtOffside column, which suggested that Palace are stepping up their pursuit of the 19-year-old by preparing to launch an opening bid.

The piece also details that Palace are ahead of Chelsea in the pecking order for Franca as the Blues are no longer monitoring the situation.

It is understood that Palace view the Brazilian as a possible replacement for Wilfried Zaha, and could cost in excess of £22m.

Would Matheus Franca be an upgrade on Sambi Lokonga?

After only making two Premier League starts in the first half of last season for Arsenal, Lokonga sealed a loan move to Palace in January in search of more regular game time.

It appeared the ideal move as the 23-year-old would get the opportunity to learn under the guidance of Gunners Invincible, Patrick Vieira. However, the move materialised as a big disappointment, as Palace failed to win any of the six Premier League games that Lokonga started.

Eventually, the Eagles’ form deteriorated to such a degree that Vieira was dismissed and replaced by Roy Hodgson. However, the veteran coach was uninspired by the Belgian as he was an unused substitute in eight of the final ten games.

Whilst operating from midfield in the Premier League, the former Anderlecht man has failed to impose any dominance, as shown by his disappointing rank within the lowest 29% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for progressive carries, successful take-ons, tackles and blocks per 90.

The end of this underwhelming loan spell has opened the door for a more dynamic and effervescent option in Franca.

Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig has hailed the youngster as “one of the most exciting teenagers in Brazil” and – as Jones phrased it earlier – his ‘freshness’ could be hugely beneficial to the Palace side.

This could come from influence in attacking proceedings, as since making his senior debut for Flamengo, he has notched 19 goals in 59 outings.

Fabio Matias, his former coach, is also among those to sing his praises, adding: “He has many important aspects to his game. In addition to technical and tactical ability, he has a very good understanding of the game. That makes him stand out because he interprets spaces well.”

These are traits that Lokonga struggled to display, as he averaged just 0.1 key passes and 0.1 dribbles per game for Palace – lower figures than the likes of Joel Ward, Marc Guehi and Nathaniel Clyne.

All things considered, Franca could yet possess the profile and potential to be a huge success in south London for Steve Parish.