They sit 12th in the Premier League, level on points with 13th placed Crystal Palace, who lost 2-1 to Everton over the weekend. They are set to battle Spurs for a highly-rated Championship midfielder.

Tottenham and Palace set to bid for Jobe Bellingham

Jobe Bellingham – who is the brother of England and Real Madrid star Jude – has impressed in the Championship this season for Sunderland, making 29 appearances, with four goals and three assists. He has helped Regis Le Bris’ side to fourth in the league after 33 games.

In the January transfer window, reports emerged linking Bellingham to several Premier League clubs including Tottenham, Palace and Arsenal, suggesting that the trio could make a move for him in the summer transfer window. Former Tottenham scout Mick Brown believes that Sunderland will listen to offers for the 19-year-old, and that if a big enough bid is made, the likes of Spurs could sign him in summer.

He told Football Insider: “I think Sunderland would let him go if they got a good price for him. Especially if they don’t get promoted this season, they’re going to listen to offers.

“Crystal Palace and Tottenham have had scouts watching him this season so they’ll be two of the teams in the running if he is going to leave. So it’ll be up to them to assess whether he’s ready to make that jump. From a Sunderland point of view, knowing the way the owners want to operate, I think if they get a huge bid for him then they’ll let him go.”

Sunderland are believed to value Bellingham at around the £30m mark, but come the end of the season, the Black Cats could place a much bigger price tag on him – should they get promoted.

How would Bellingham fit at Tottenham or Palace?

Spurs’ mantra when signing players over the past few years, is to develop them into first team stars, Bellingham could be the latest such player. In midfield, Postecoglou currently plays the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, James Maddison and Yves Bissouma. Bellingham would have a lot of competition initially, but he could gradually work his way into the team.

He can play both as a more attacking midfielder and a defensive one, which could be very beneficial for a Tottenham side who have struggled for depth this season due to their injury problems.

Meanwhile, if he was to join Crystal Palace, it would be easier for Bellingham to get into the first team, as he would be competing with the likes of Will Hughes, Jefferson Lerma, Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada.

Not only could Bellingham get into the team immediately, but he could also become the main star midfielder as Adam Wharton has recently been subject to reports linking him with a move to Tottenham. If Wharton was to leave Selhurst Park, they would need to find a replacement which could come in the form of Bellingham.

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Eagles boss reflected on a “very positive” month of transfer business at Selhurst Park

Happy manager: Oliver Glasner is confident Crystal Palace have made two key signings

Oliver Glasner has hailed Crystal Palace’s “very positive” January transfer business.

The Eagles signed teenage winger Romain Esse from Millwall for £14.5million including add-ons as well as agreeing a six-month loan for Chelsea left wing-back Ben Chilwell.

They were also looking to add a centre-back after a season-ending knee injury to Chadi Riad and Trevoh Chalobah’s return to Chelsea left them short in the position, but were unable to tie down a target.

“It was a very positive transfer window for us,” said Glasner, whose side visit Doncaster Rovers in the FA Cup fourth round on Monday night.

“We defined the targets, positions and profiles very early — far before the transfer window. We started working on it. Like always, you have two wishes. To sign them on January 1 and they start training with us on January 2 — but I’m really convinced we found the right players for us.

“With Romain, he’s a young, highly talented player. With Ben, he’s much more experienced and knows the Premier League.

“We loaned Jeffrey Schlupp to Celtic and we lost a very experienced Premier League player and a very important player in the changing room. Schluppy was highly respected by everyone in the dressing room and club because of his career and personality. I think we did a good job.”

Romain Esse celebrating scoring for Crystal Palace against Brentford

Romain Esse scored on his debut off the bench against Brentford

Getty Images

Centre-back Chris Richards and forward Eddie Nketiah are doubts for the trip to Doncaster, who sit third in League Two.

“Chris Richards is sick,” Glasner revealed, “so he hasn’t trained until now. I hope that he will be back with us tomorrow [Saturday], but I don’t know if he can train yet. So there is a question there.

“Unfortunately, Eddie Nketiah got injured in the training, twisting his ankle, so there is a big question mark over whether he will be available.”

Eberechi Eze will be rested and will not feature. Meanwhile, Adam Wharton and Ben Chilwell are available but may not both start.

Chilwell is awaiting his Palace debut, while Wharton made his first appearance since groin surgery in last weekend’s 2-0 win at Manchester United but is still awaiting a first start since regaining fitness.

Glasner explained: “Both are ready to start, but I don’t want to plan that both have to be subbed off at half time.

“I have to think more in detail about it, but when you ask me now, my feeling tells me that it is not a good idea to start both at the same time when both are not available for 90 minutes.”

Asked whether Esse, who scored a debut goal off the bench in the recent 2-1 defeat to Brentford, will make his first start, the manager replied: “It’s possible, yes. But there are many things to consider. It’s different during a [busy] week, maybe then you have to manage the minutes.”

Crystal Palace have lined up two talented Championship centre halves to replace Marc Guehi should he leave the club in the summer. Guehi, 24, was subject to a £70million bid from Tottenham last week.

Palace rejected the proposal and were eager to keep him at Selhurst Park until at least the summer. But with Guehi’s contract entering the final 18 months, the Eagles might have to cash in at the end of the season.

I was compared to Lionel Messi by Mauricio Pochettino – now Spurs reunion is on the cards

There is an expectation that the former Chelsea defender is going to leave Palace but his destination is uncertain. Tottenham could come back in after their deadline day offer was turned down, while Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle have been linked with a move for Guehi.

In the case that Guehi is sold, Palace have lined up a couple of replacements. According to The Sun, Burnley’s Maxime Esteve and Middlesbrough’s Rav van den Berg are the two names that have been identified.

Esteve, 22, has been excellent for Burnley this season. The Clarets have the best defensive record in the English Football League this season, having conceded a staggering nine goals in 31 Championship matches this season – and Esteve has been a massive part of that success.

Van den Berg, 20, has caught the eye at Boro this season. The Dutch talent has started in each of their last six Championship matches and established himself as a key performer at the back.

First-choice target Strahinja Pavlovic doesn’t look like he is going to be moving to Palace, however. They have been priced out a deal to sign the Serbian, with AC Milan demanding for £35m.

I was compared to Lionel Messi by Mauricio Pochettino – now Spurs reunion is on the cards

Palace have enjoyed an up-turn in performances and results in recent weeks, with last weekend’s 2-0 win at Manchester United marking a fourth clean sheet in their last five matches. The Eagles are aiming to continue that run when they travel to League Two side Doncaster Rovers in the FA Cup on Monday.

Speaking ahead of their trip to South Yorkshire, Palace boss Oliver Glasner said: “We’re looking to Doncaster. Always in a Cup competition, or the same in the league, it makes no sense thinking about the end – you have to make several steps to lift the trophy in the Cup.

“You could see the Stockport game. We played at home, and then we had a good start, but it was not so easy to create chances and score goals. Now, we play away at Doncaster. We watch them and we have a respect for them.”

Crystal Palace have reportedly turned their attention to the EFL Championship, in search for a successor to club captain Marc Guehi, with Burnley’s Maxime Esteve and Middlesborough’s Rav van den Berg on the radar, according to Alan Nixon.

The Englishman impressed at Euros 2024 last year, and has been the subject of interest from numerous clubs in the upper echelons of the Premier League. Palace have done what they can to retain Guehi for the 2024/25 campaign, but his contract has now ticked into its final 18 months and losing him may be inevitable.

Palace Identify Guehi Replacements in Championship

The Eagles have been unable to land European targets

Marc Guehi in action for Crystal Palace

As per Nixon, via his Patreon, Crystal Palace will “focus on the Championship” in their pursuit for Guehi’s successor. He wrote:

“Palace were quoted out of AC Milan’s Stahinja Pavlovic with the Italians wanting £35 million for coach Oliver Glasner’s first choice.

“So instead Palace will focus on the Championship for the long term successor for Guehi.

“Both [Esteve and Van den Berg] would be in Palace’s price range, especially if they fail to win promotion and are the current favourites for the job.”

Esteve, 22, previously made 16 Premier League appearances for Burnley last season before the side suffered relegation, though his displays have improved significantly in the second-tier. The Frenchman, dubbed “unbelievable”, has been key to the Clarets’ impenetrable defense this term, which has amassed a league-leading 22 clean sheets.

Meanwhile, Van den Berg, 20, has also caught the eye this term with his performances, despite having missed portions of the season due to injury.

Maxime Esteve vs Rav van den Berg – 2024/25 Statistics comparisons

Daily Mail journalist Sami Mokbel revealed in a report to X (formerly Twitter) that Palace had made an inquiry regarding Pavlovic’s availability, though AC Milan were in no rush to part ways with the Serbian.

It is believed Oliver Glasner was personally keen on adding Pavlovic to his defensive options, but a deal now looks to be off the cards. The Austrian tactician was also said to be a “huge admirer” of Union Berlin defender Danilo Doekhi, as per Peter O’Rourke, but Crystal Palace were unable to complete deals for either in the winter transfer window.

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Oliver Glasner issued a concerning injury update as Crystal Palace’s list of unavailable players balloons ahead of their FA Cup fourth round visit to Doncaster on Monday.

Glasner confirmed ahead of Palace’s game against Manchester United last week that Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure had suffered season ending injuries.

Now the squad may become thinner still, due to multiple injuries in training calling several players’ availability into question.

Eberechi Eze has been ruled out of Monday’s squad with a foot injury, while Eddie Nketiah has been revealed as a doubt due to an ankle injury.

“Unfortunately, Nketiah was injured yesterday in training,” said Glasner. “He twisted his ankle, so there is a big question if he is available.

“Eze won’t be available, he won’t train this week because the pain in his foot has to settle down.

“Chris Richards is sick, so he did not train until now. I hope that he will be back with us tomorrow, but I don’t know if he can train, so he is a question.

“Joel Ward is still out. Nathaniel Clyne got a knock yesterday so he could not train today, he is a small question for Monday.

“With Franca, the original plan was to give him minutes with the Under-21s, but now, when Eze is not available, maybe Nketiah is not available, he could be in the squad for Monday night. We will decide on Sunday.

“Adam Wharton looks very sharp in training. He did excellently at the end of the Manchester United game and he looks very stable now, so he is available.”

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As the January transfer window comes to a close, Barcelona have reportedly already set their sights on signing an in-form Crystal Palace star when the summer arrives

Crystal Palace transfer news

The Eagles have done well to keep hold of their own star men in the last month whilst also welcoming additions themselves to hand Oliver Glasner a welcomed boost.

Having commenced the January transfer window by welcoming a young talent in Romain Esse – who scored on his debut against Brentford recently – Palace ended their window by welcoming an experienced defender in the form of Ben Chilwell.

The Chelsea defender comes in at the same time that those at Selhurst Park were reportedly forced to reject an offer of as much as £70m from Tottenham Hotspur for Marc Guehi.

After Chilwell: Crystal Palace now pushing for dream Chalobah replacement

Rejecting the offer with such little time remaining to find a viable replacement, Guehi may not be the only star man who Crystal Palace face a battle to keep when the summer arrives.

According to reports in Spain, Barcelona are now plotting a move to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta this summer and see the forward as a less complicated option on the spending front as well as one who could replace Robert Lewandowski.

Whether Crystal Palace agree with that verdict on the economical front remains to be seen, however, given that they remained unmoved by Spurs’ late big-money attempts to lure Guehi away from South London.

Should they remain just as stubborn in the face of Barcelona’s chase of Mateta, then Palace may yet keep hold of their star striker this summer.

“Amazing” Mateta is more important than ever

If Barcelona come calling this summer, then Palace should do everything in their power to turn the Spaniards down amid Metata’s growing importance. The 27-year-old is at the peak of his powers and last summer’s move to sign Eddie Nketiah seemingly only spurred him on to make the starting role his own and prove that he is the best option for Glasner at Selhurst Park.

After scoring twice in a 2-0 victory over Manchester United last time out, Mateta was at the centre of his Glasner’s praise. The Austrian told reporters: “We don’t always talk because he knows what we demand of him. With his two goals today, he is amazing in the box.

“He has the feeling that a number nine must have in the box. He makes so many runs where he doesn’t get the ball. You need to suffer as a striker because you make so many runs where you don’t get the ball. He gets the reward and it decides the game for us.”

With six goals in his last five Premier League games, Mateta is once again the man of the moment for Crystal Palace.