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Despite ending the season without the stress of a relegation fight, Crystal Palace are heading into the summer transfer window in a shroud of uncertainty.

The primary cause of this uncertainty is the future of club legend and talisman Wilfried Zaha.

The Ivorian international's contract with the South London club expires next month, and there seems to be no indication that he will sign the new £200,000 a week contract he's been offered, per The Athletic.

However, there is some good news in the shape of a potential replacement, Matheus Franca.

What's the latest on Matheus Franca?

According to Matt Woosnam of The Athletic, the 19-year-old forward from Brazilian outfit Flamengo is a 'distinct possibility as a replacement' for club legend.

The club has been monitoring the young striker for most of the season, and from what they have seen so far, they are 'keen.'

So keen, in fact, that Douglas Freedman, the club's sporting director, has travelled to Brazil to watch the exciting prospect, per Woosnam.

The Eagles might want to act quickly if they want to get this deal done as according to transfers expert, Fabrizio Romano, Newcastle United already offered €16m (£14m) for the youngster in January.

However, the new price to secure the services of the "quality" Brazilian, as once hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is reportedly higher at €20m (£17m)

Would Matheus Franca be a good signing for Crystal Palace?

Despite being only 19-years-old, Franca has already played 27 games of senior football in his home country.

According to WhoScored, across those 27 games, he has averaged a rating of 6.62.

That may not be the most impressive rating, but it is important to remember that he is still an incredibly raw talent and should only improve as he gets more experience.

His underlying numbers, however, are quite impressive and paint a picture of an all-action pressing forward.

According to FBref, the young attacker sits in the top 1% for successful take-ons, interceptions and progressive passes received per 90 compared to players in his position within their definition of the 'next best eight' leagues in world football.

He also sits in the top 3% for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90.

If we compare his expected non-penalty goals and assists per 90 to the man he could replace, Zaha, he looks even better coming in at 0.45 compared to the Palace man's 0.30.

Whilst it is important to remember that there is a smaller sample size for the Rio de Janeiro-born forward, and he plays in a weaker league, it does show promise.

Should South London's biggest club get this deal done, it could prove to be an excellent decision a few years down the line.

However, if there is an expectation that the 6-foot prospect can come straight into the Premier League and replace one of the club's greatest-ever players, disappointment might follow.

Everton are plotting a surprise summer swoop to sign Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, according to reports.

Is Harry Maguire leaving Man United?

The Red Devils centre-back first made the move to Old Trafford from at the time Premier League rivals Leicester City back in 2019 and he’s since gone on to record a total of 175 appearances, not to mention that he even became such an integral member of the squad that he was handed the captain’s armband.

The England international still has another two years to run on his contract, but last season he fell significantly out of favour under Erik Ten Hag, having made just eight starts in the top-flight, so could be looking to secure a move elsewhere to a club where he knows he will receive sufficient game time.

Following the departures of Conor Coady and Yerry Mina at the heart of the defence, Sean Dyche will need to enter the market for backline reinforcements during the upcoming window to get his number of options back up, and the 30-year-old appears to have been highlighted as an ideal target at Goodison Park.

Are Everton signing Maguire?

According to Football Transfers, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are all “interested” in striking a deal for Maguire ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Man United have put the defender “up for sale” and it’s believed that the veteran himself also “wants to leave”.

The M16 outfit have been planning his exit for “several months” and have placed a £35m price tag on his head, a fee which they are “determined to receive” in order to make a sale worthwhile.

The 6 foot 4 colossus is hoping to leave the building in search of “regular” football to make sure that he is able to maintain his place on the international stage and remain in Gareth Southgate’s thoughts for England’s upcoming Euro 2024 tournament.

Should Farhad Moshiri move for Maguire?

Everton might have thought that with Maguire sharing the same agent, Triple S Sports, as James Garner, that they may have had a chance of using a familiar representative to reach an agreement, but the centre-back had a horrid last season so Farhad Moshiri should steer well clear of a summer swoop.

The World Cup participant ranked as Ten Hag’s 18th worst-performing defensive player out of 25 squad members during the previous term, averaging just 0.5 tackles per top-flight game, not to mention that he had no impact at the opposite end of the pitch having posted zero goals or assists across all competitions.

United’s “terrible” captain, as slammed by journalist Josh Bunting, also earns £190k-per-week so is likely to have extreme salary demands which the Toffees couldn’t afford – Jordan Pickford is only on £125k-per-week and he is the highest earner on Merseyside, via Capology.

Maguire has previously been booed by his own supporters during one of the Red Devils’ pre-season tours for his poor level of performances and this toxicity being created with the fanbase is something that the boss could do without, so he certainly isn’t a player that should be being targeted in the weeks and months ahead.

Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes this summer and he could be the man to replace Fabinho in Jurgen Klopp's midfield.

Could Liverpool sign Bruno Guimaraes?

According to Goal, the Reds have already opened talks over a potential summer deal for the former Lyon man but could be forced to pay £87m to prise him away from St James' Park, with Barcelona also said to be keen.

Eddie Howe's side hold all the cards with Guimaraes as he is contracted at Newcastle until 2026 and the report suggests that a new contract could soon be on the table for the 25-year-old after his impressive performances helped the Toon qualify for Champions League football ahead of Liverpool this season.

The Brazilian midfielder currently earns £120k-per-week at St James' Park but the report from Goal suggests that Newcastle are willing to offer him a new deal to make him one of the best-paid players in the Premier League, so it could be difficult for Liverpool to prise him away.

The news comes at a time when Liverpool are also thought to be closing in on the signing of Mac Allister.

Would Guimaraes be a good signing for Liverpool?

Guimaraes has been a revelation since signing for Newcastle in January 2022, helping transform the club from relegation candidates into a Champions League outfit.

This campaign saw him make 32 appearances in the top flight for the Toon, notching four goals and five assists with a superb 7.21 average rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Howe was full of praise for the young midfielder after he scored a brace in a win against Leicester City last season.

He said: "I thought he was magnificent in every aspect, especially out of possession because we struggled to get control of the ball today for any large periods of the game, so our defensive shape had to be very good and in part due to our three midfielders in there, it was very good.

"He's an incredibly passionate individual – I love that about him. He cares deeply whether we win or whether we lose and again, I love that about him because you need players that wear their heart on their sleeve and are prepared to give you everything on the pitch."

No player in Liverpool's squad would achieve as high a rating as Guimaraes, while it was also a significantly better campaign than Fabinho's, as the former Monaco man endured a worrying decline which notably saw him described as an "old man" by journalist Graeme Bailey

While Fabinho proved himself to be one of the best in the business during Liverpool's dominant period under Klopp a few years ago, his performances this season suggest that a long-term heir is necessary at Anfield.

If we compare his stats with that of Guimaraes, then there is only one winner, as the Newcastle star averaged more tackles (2.4 vs 1.8), key passes (1.3 vs 0.5) and dribbles (1.4 vs 0.2) per game than Fabinho in the Premier League this term.

This suggests that he can do the job defensively while also contributing creatively, and he could be a great player for Klopp to have at Anfield should Liverpool complete a deal for Guimaraes this summer.

Celtic had a rampant start to the 2021 summer transfer window but Ange Postecoglou hasn’t exactly been busy at Parkhead yet this time around.

What’s the word?

The Hoops have been looking into completing permanent deals for Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota during the off-season but a new exciting transfer rumour has emerged.

It concerns Schalke youngster Rabbi Matondo who could be moving to Scotland this summer.

That’s according to Wales Online who suggest that Celtic and their Old Firm rivals have now opened talks with the German side regarding a move.

Matondo joined them from Manchester City but spent last term on loan at Cercle Brugge.

Cercle are understood to be keen on keeping the winger at the club, while their own rivals in Club Brugge are believed to be interested too.

Transfermarkt values the player at £3.6m.

The next Sane?

Does an exciting young winger with ties to Manchester City and Schalke remind you of anyone? Well, look no further than a certain Leroy Sane, someone who took the opposite career path to Matondo.

While the German wide man, who signed for Bayern Munich for £54.8m, started his career at Schalke, he went on to enjoy a hugely successful stint with the current Premier League champions.

It was at City where Matondo learnt his trade before joining Sane’s former employers where he even spoke of the Germany international’s talent.

Upon signing for the recently-promoted Bundesliga outfit, he said: “Mesut Özil, Ivan Rakitic & Leroy Sane all took big steps in their careers here.”

Matondo’s career hasn’t quite taken off in the same way as the aforementioned trio, scoring just twice in 32 games for Schalke, but his stint on loan in Belgium last term was particularly impressive, with the winger bagging ten goals and registering two assists in all competitions.

With that in mind, it’s hardly a surprise to see him praised relentlessly, with Ryan Giggs previously hailing his “electrifying pace.”

That attribute is also synonymous with Sane, someone who uses his speed and trickery to make himself a real nuisance for defenders.

With 1.7 dribbles per game to his name throughout 2021/22, the 21-year-old is evidently also particularly dangerous in possession of the ball while his 32 career goals make him deadly inside the penalty area too.

With all of that said, it’s clear that Matondo would be a very exciting addition should he make the switch to Parkhead over the summer.

Celtic have some captivating options in their forward line already but the Wales international would surely complete the set.

AND in other news, Ange can land his own Denayer as Celtic eye £7k-p/w gem who has “fire in his belly”…

Leeds United chiefs have ‘discussed’ signing Blackburn Rovers striker Ben Brereton Diaz this summer, according to The Daily Mail.

The Lowdown: 22 goals

Brereton Diaz, described as the ‘face of Pepsi’ in Chile due to massive marketing campaigns following his international success, enjoyed a fine 2021/22 campaign in the Championship. The 23-year-old played on the left and through the middle, ending the season with 22 goals in 37 league games.

Tony Mowbray has hailed the forward as an ‘extraordinary talent’, and it seems as if the South American is still on Leeds’ radar following links during the January window.

The Latest: Whites talks

The Daily Mail’s Simon Jones shared a Leeds transfer update on Tuesday afternoon, mainly focusing on the club’s interest in FC Salzburg right-back Rasmus Kristensen.

However, the journalist also leaked inside talks regarding Brereton Diaz, stating that Leeds officials, presumably Victor Orta, have held discussions about signing the forward in recent months, as well as Lewis O’Brien from Huddersfield.

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The Verdict: Forward required

A striker is certainly needed for Jesse Marsch’s first full season in charge, with the American relying on Joe Gelhardt for the final games of the recent season.

Star forward Patrick Bamford was limited to just seven league stats due to a number of injuries, so Brereton Diaz could be a shrewd signing following an impressive campaign.

Phil Hay has stated that the Whites would prefer a forward with Premier League experience, something Brereton Diaz doesn’t have, but following his best season in front of goal and offering great versatility, he may well be a smart alternative.

In other news: After Kristensen: Radz & 49ers now ready to write Leeds cheque for ‘really exciting’ midfielder. 

Sporting CP midfielder Joao Palhinha is definitely on Wolves’ ‘shortlist’ of potential summer signings, according to reliable journalist Tim Spiers.

The Lowdown: Constant Palhinha links

The 26-year-old has been constantly linked with a move to Molineux in the summer transfer window, as Wanderers likely have to plan for life without Ruben Neves.

Palhinha has emerged as one of Sporting’s most influential players, not only catching the eye in their midfield but also winning 12 caps for Portugal to date.

Wolves’ interest doesn’t appear to be going away but it looks as though they will have to battle to get their man.

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The Latest: Spiers drops fresh claim

Taking to Twitter, Spiers confirmed that Wanderers want to sign Palhinha:

“Wolves maintain an interest in Joao Palhinha (as do a lot of clubs) and he’s on their midfield shortlist for the summer.”

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The Verdict: Snap him up, Wanderers

Palhinha really does look like the perfect option to come in as Neves’ replacement, with the pair not dissimilar in style, in terms of their deep-lying midfield brilliance.

The Wolves target enjoyed an 87.8% pass completion rate in the Primeira Liga in 2021/22, compared to Neves’ 84% in the Premier League, and he also averaged three tackles per game. Manager Ruben Amorim has called him a ‘special’ player in the past.

The fact that there is interest elsewhere could be a stumbling block – Tottenham have been linked and can offer Champions League football – but Bruno Lage must do all he can to snap up his compatriot if he believes he is the man to replace Neves.

In other news, one Wolves player has been backed to thrive next season. Find out who it is here.

Rangers are reportedly eyeing up a move to bring one young talent to Ibrox during the upcoming summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to Wales Online, the Gers are among the clubs who are plotting a swoop to land 16-year-old winger Japhet Matondo ahead of the 2022/23 campaign as Ross Wilson looks to make moves in the market.

The report claims that the Glasgow giants, along with Leeds United and Premiership arch-rivals Celtic, are monitoring the teenager’s progress as they consider attempts to snap him up from English Championship outfit Cardiff.

It is stated that the player is going to wait until his current club offers him a new contract before deciding whether or not he wants to ditch Wales for Scotland.

Gio van Bronckhorst will be buzzing

The Rangers head coach will be buzzing with this news for multiple reasons.

Firstly, it shows that the club are working hard to identify players who can improve the development teams. Instead of focusing solely on first-team arrivals and leaving the Glasgow catchment area to bring in youth players, Wilson is trying to snap up prospects from elsewhere.

This could save Rangers millions in the future, as any young player who can make the breakthrough at senior level will prevent the club from needing to make a signing in that position. For example, Alex Lowry’s emergence in the first-team could mean that Wilson does not need to go out and spend money on a transfer fee and wages for another central midfielder.

Journalist Mark Hendry dubbed Matondo a “teen talent” and he has been called up by Wales at under-16 and under-17 level in recent years, with the Wales Online article also claiming that he is ‘highly rated’ at Cardiff.

If he can reach a similar to his brother Rabbi, who has won nine caps for Wales, then he will be a useful player for Rangers to have in the future. Japhet’s 21-year-old sibling has scored nine goals in 23 starts for Cercle Brugge in the Belgian Pro League this term and, from his time at Schalke 04, has also played 30 Bundesliga games by the age of 21.

Japhet may now follow in his brother’s footsteps by leaving Cardiff to try his luck elsewhere in a bid to make it at first-team level. The 16-year-old has clearly caught the eye of the Glasgow giants with his performances at youth level, and his current club rate him highly, which suggests that there is potential there for Rangers to mould if they can land him.

This is why Van Bronckhorst will be buzzing with the Light Blues’ interest in Matondo and will be hoping that he is in a position to offer the youngster first-team chances at Ibrox in the years to come.

AND in other news, Van Bronckhorst eyeing Rangers swoop for “phenomenal” £1m destroyer, supporters would love him…

Wolves could allow Ruben Neves to leave the club if a £50m offer is tabled this summer, according to transfer expert Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Neves exit likely

The future of the Portuguese midfield maestro has been a big talking point of late, with Barcelona among the clubs linked with snapping him up.

It feels as though Neves is more likely to leave Wolves than stay put, and the 25-year-old may simply feel that he has come as far as he can at Molineux.

Wanderers will only entertain big-money offers for the Premier League midfielder in order to use those funds on replacing him with a similarly top-class player.

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The Latest: Jones drops £50m Neves claim

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones provided an update on the matter, saying that a bid in the region of £40m to £50m for Neves could be accepted by Wolves, despite reports of a £70m price tag. He claimed:

“I think £70million is unrealistic for Ruben Neves and Wolves will know that, but I can see it settling out at £40million to £50million.

“Manchester United will definitely be in the conversation. They will be linked with him again.”

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The Verdict: Time to say goodbye?

The idea of Neves leaving Wolves is a depressing one – he has been lauded as an ‘amazing’ player by team-mate Jose Sa – but it is a scenario for which the Old Gold faithful should be prepared.

The lure of playing for a club of Barcelona’s size and stature is too great to turn down for many players and that could be no different for the 25-year-old, as he looks to play in the Champions League.

It is imperative that Wolves fill the void that Neves will leave once he goes, spending the money wisely on an adequate replacement. Wanderers-linked Joao Palhinha could be one such candidate to pick up wherever his fellow countryman leaves off.

In other news, a new player is now reportedly a Wolves transfer target. Find out who it is here.

A major Rangers decision has been made on Glasgow gem Glen Kamara ahead of the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, Ibrox sources have revealed that Ross Wilson is now set to field offers for the Finland international over the coming months.

The report claims that the two sides have come to an agreement which will see the 26-year-old leave the club ahead of next season if the right bid comes in.

He is under contract until 2025 and Football Insider claimed that his former club Arsenal attempted to sign him in the summer of 2021, but it remains to be seen who will be in for him this time around.

Van Bronckhorst will be infuriated

This update will surely leave Light Blues manager Gio van Bronckhorst infuriated, as he will no doubt want to keep his best players heading into next season.

The Gers will be competing in the Champions League later this year if they beat Eintracht Frankfurt in the final of the Europa League next week. This means that the club may be competing at the top level in Europe next term, so the Dutch head coach will surely want the best squad possible to avoid being outclassed by the best teams on the continent.

Kamara is one of the players that he will surely want to keep, as the 26-year-old has proven his quality across multiple competitions for Rangers this season.

In the Premiership, the Finland midfielder has played 31 times for the Gers and averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.01. He has completed an impressive 91% of his attempted passes in the top flight and created 1.3 chances per game, often being able to showcase his ability on the ball.

Kamara has the quality to recycle possession efficiently and rarely gifts the ball back to the opposition. This allows him to dictate the pace of matches and assert control of the game.

Meanwhile, he has played 13 times in the club’s extraordinary Europa League run, which shows that Van Bronckhorst has relied upon him in the competition. He put in a sensational display in the semi-final second leg against Leipzig, scoring one of the Gers’ three goals that night to secure a place in the final as he proved that he can step up for the big occasion.

Therefore, Van Bronckhorst will be fuming by the prospect of Kamara being sold ahead of the 2022/23 campaign and will be hoping that a move fails to materialise.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Kent: Van Bronckhorst can form scary Rangers duo by signing this gem “who never gives up”…

Wolves reportedly lead the race to sign Sporting CP midfielder Joao Palhinha this summer, having been linked with him in the recent past.

The Lowdown: Palhinha linked with move

Bruno Lage faces the potential blow of losing Ruben Neves at the end of the season, with the Portuguese maestro tipped to complete a move to Barcelona or another of Europe’s elite clubs.

One player who has been linked with arriving at Molineux instead is Palhinha, who has grown into an influential figure in Sporting’s midfield.

The 26-year-old has made 25 Primeira Liga appearances this season, as well as starting six Champions League matches before his side’s defeat to Manchester City.

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The Latest: Wolves in pole position

Now, a fresh update has emerged regarding Palhinha’s future, with Record [via Sport Witness] claiming that Wolves are the front-runners to sign him.

He is described as a ‘preferential target’ for Lage’s side and they are readying an offer for him, with Atletico Madrid also credited with showing interest.

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The Verdict: Strong midfield contender

Palhinha looks the ideal replacement for Neves in many ways, assuming the current Wolves hero moves onto pastures new at the end of the season.

At 26, he is at a good age to come in and provide immediate quality and experience, and he has enjoyed an 87.9% pass completion rate in the league this season, which is actually superior to Neves’ tally (83.8%).

Palhinha may feel he has outgrown the Primeira Liga and is ready to test himself in the Premier League and he and Wolves look a perfect fit, with their Portuguese core an added bonus.

In other news, one Wolves player has been linked with a summer exit. Find out who it is here.