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Plymouth striker Klajdi Lolos has been given an ultimatum on his future at Home Park by manager Ryan Lowe.

The 19-year-old had spent time out on loan with Dorchester Town in the Southern Premier League this season and he has now been given a very clear message about his chances of establishing himself at his parent club.

As per Plymouth Herald, Lowe said: “Lolos, we see magic in him. A few people have said ‘Can he do this, can he do that?’

“I have got a lot of time for Lolos because I think he can be a special player and I have told him this. But he is probably in the last chance saloon to kick on and go and show us he can play league football because we feel he can.”

Greek striker Lolos played a handful of first team games for Plymouth earlier in the season, starting one EFL Trophy match and making four substitute appearances in League Two, along with grabbing an assist in the Carabao Cup defeat to Reading last August. [via TransferMarkt]

Plymouth Herald noted that the teenager continued to play for the Pilgrims in the Central League and Premier League Under-23 Cup throughout his loan spell at Dorchester, scoring several times in those fixtures.

He returns to Home Park with his chances of first team football perhaps boosted by the impending releases of Ryan Taylor and Alex Fletcher, both of whose contracts expire at the end of this month, while Ryan Hardie has returned to Blackpool after the culmination of his loan spell.

Lowe will need all the firepower he can get as Argyle take on League One next season and he has thrown down the gauntlet to Lolos, who has no experience at that level.

The Greek youngster probably won’t be leading the line for Plymouth in 2020/21, although he has the opportunity to make a firm case to his manager now that he has been told it is effectively a case of now or never for him at Home Park.

Plymouth fans, how much potential do you think Lolos has? Comment below with your views!

Key information about Selhurst Park

Selhurst Park was built in 1924 and now houses the Premier League outfit Crystal Palace. The stadium is located in the London suburb of Selhurst in the Borough of Croydon and interestingly, one part of the ground incorporates a branch of Sainsbury’s as well.

The stadium’s current capacity stands at 26,047 and it has a pitch that measures 101m by 68m. The surface is covered with Desso GrassMaster’s hybrid turf and has no undersoil heating nor a running track surrounding it.

The record attendance at Selhurst Park was set all the way back in 1979 when 51,801 supporters saw Crystal Palace clinch the Football League Second Division crown by defeating Burnley F.C. 2–0.

A history of Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace have been pursuing a deal for the site that would house their stadium since 1919 and three years later, they finally secured it from the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Company for a reported fee of £2,750. As was the case with many stadiums back in the day, Selhurst Park was designed by Archibald Leitch and officially opened for business on 30 August 1924.

The ground only consisted of the present Main Stand, albeit unfinished at the time, and would host 25,000 fans as they watched Palace lose 0-1 to the visiting Sheffield Wednesday in the first game ever played at Selhurst Park.

Over the next year, the ground would be used for various other events apart from football and Palace’s home games, including two games for the 1948 Summer Olympics. In 1953, first floodlights were installed but were then replaced nine years later. It would then take them until 1969 to start improving the stadium once again.

That year, Palace were promoted to Division One – the highest tier at the time – which kick-started some of the developments. The Arthur Wait Stand was built and the Whitehorse Lane end was refurbished with a second tier of terracing. The fan favourite Holmesdale Road terrace was also split into three different sections due to health & safety reasons.

In 1981, the Main Stand was also improved and redesigned to include seating and that same year, Crystal Palace would also sell the back of the Whitehorse Lane terrace and adjacent land to Sainsbury’s, helping the club out financially in a difficult situation. This would, of course, reduce the size of the terrace significantly.

Some years later, in 1985, Palace got new ‘roommates’ as Charlton Athletic moved in and would remain there until 1991, when they were replaced by Wimbledon FC, who would in turn stay until 2003. In 1986 the chairman Ron Noades purchased the stadium from the club to raise revenue and following the Taylor Report and some redesigns, Selhurst Park became an all-seater in 1993.

The final developments were made the following year when the Holmesdale terrace got replaced by a two-tiered all-seater stand and the Main Stand got a new roof. There were some issues with the ownership of the stadium ever since and in April 2008, a 25-year lease was granted to Crystal Palace at an annual rent of £1.2m.

There were some further plans to renovate the Main Stand, which should be ready for the 2021–22 season.

Tickets to watch Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park

All tickets to watch Crystal Palace play at Selhurst Park can be found on the club’s official website. The prices vary depending on the location in the stands and the age group of the buyer with the most expensive adult ticket costing £58.

Crystal Palace also offer a season ticket scheme, memberships and loyalty points to their supporters.

Related links

https://www.cpfc.co.uk/ – Official website of Crystal Palace

Manchester United have denied reports suggesting that Wolves striker Raul Jimenez is ‘on his way’ to Old Trafford, via Manchester Evening News. 

Portuguese broadcaster RTP claimed that Man United are close to signing the Mexican forward but the club have moved to swiftly deny the claims.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had been seeking to add to his firepower ahead of the 2020/21 Premier League season but these plans seem to have been shelved for the time being.

Jimenez has been in impressive form at Molineux this season, having scored 17 goals and supplied six assists in the English top flight as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side finished seventh in the table, tied with Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur on 59 points.

Senior sources have told the outlet that the reports are widely inaccurate, although Solskjaer is believed to be an admirer of the Mexican, and United had been interested in the 29-year-old after Marcus Rashford suffered a back injury in January.

Jimenez’s contract is set to expire in 2023 and United turned their attentions to Shanghai Shenhua striker Odion Ighalo instead. They recently reached an agreement with his parent club to extend the Nigerian’s stay at Old Trafford until January 2021.

The 82-cap Mexico international has hit double figures for the past few seasons and scored the same amount of goals as Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford in the Premier League this term.

After a dodgy start, Martial has emerged as United’s frontman, scoring 22 goals in 39 starts for Solskjaer’s side, while Rashford can also lead from the front and Greenwood became the first 18-year-old since Michael Owen to score 10 or more goals in a single season in the English top flight.

In short, Solskjaer has a dearth of attacking options at his disposal and he has focused all of his efforts on signing Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund this summer.

Valued at £36m via Transfermarkt, Jimenez would not come cheap as his contract will run out in two years’ time anyway, by which stage he will be 31.

United fans, do you think Ed Woodward will sign Jimenez this summer? Let us know your views by commenting below!

Sunderland target Nathan Baxter has played a trial game for Swindon Town whilst also gaining interest from Championship side Derby County.

The Black Cats lost last season’s first choice ‘keeper Jon McLaughlin this summer after he left due to his contract expiration and moved to Scottish Premiership side Rangers.

Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson is under increasing pressure to turn around the club’s fortunes next season and gain promotion to the Championship and the 52-year-old coach has been linked with three different options to replace McLaughlin.

Alongside interest in Baxter, Wolves and former Aston Villa stopper Matija Sarkic, has been linked with a move to the Stadium of Light of late whilst, Remi Matthews, who is available on a free transfer after leaving Bolton Wanderers is also a target.

Baxter, who is on the books of Chelsea, is set for a summer loan away from Stamford Bridge this summer and has gained interest from a number of sides, including Sunderland and Derby.

The 21-year-old, who will undoubtedly be keen to listen to such interest, is claimed to have appeared for newly promoted League One side Swindon at the weekend with BBC Sport Wiltshire tweeting the Robins’ starting eleven.

Valued at £68,000 by Transfermarkt, Baxter spent last season on loan with Scottish Premiership side Ross County where he made 13 appearances, conceding 25 goals.

Baxter, Matthews or Sarkic would seemingly be a good signing for Sunderland but it does seem that the former is closer to moving elsewhere given that he is already involved at Swindon.

You would have expected their to be an urgency around replacing McLaughlin but little has been happening in terms of that, so far.

Who do you think Sunderland will sign as a new keeper this season? Let us know in the comments section below…

Former Glasgow Rangers striker Kevin Kyle has said that the Gers should look to bring in Martin Boyle from Hibernian if Ryan Kent does leave the club this summer.

23-year-old Kent has been the subject of interest from Leeds United over the past couple of weeks – the Whites have even had a £10m bid rejected for the left-winger. Whilst Steven Gerrard will not want to see one of his star players leave, he will need a contingency plan if the Liverpudlian cannot resist the bright lights of the Premier League.

Kyle believes that the Gers should target Boyle if he does depart. He told Open Goal:

“I think Kent, he could be replaced by a (Martin Boyle, of Hibernian).

“What do you want in a winger? You want somebody to get at the full-backs. Martin Boyle does that week in, week out, so why not? I think he would be a very cheap replacement and I think we would get just as much quality. People might disagree with that.

“I’m not saying he’s at the same level (as Kent). What I’m saying is, we’re in the Scottish game. If Martin Boyle is ripping it up for Hibs against most teams, week in, week out, in the Premier League playing with Rangers, Martin Boyle should be able to do the same. Maybe with a bit more quality because he’s surrounded by a bit more quality. In terms of the league he’s in, Martin Boyle would be able to a job for any of the teams, I would think.”

Boyle would certainly be an interesting choice. He has been a regular scorer or provider of goals during his time with Hibs, managing 36 goals and 36 assists in 193 games for the Edinburgh outfit, whilst he also has two goals in three caps for Australia.

Kent, though, cost the Gers £7m, which they paid as much for his potential as for his current ability. He has started to show just how good he can be this term by scoring three in his first five matches, and the fact that the likes of Leeds are eyeing him shows he has a big future ahead of him.

Valued at £900,000 by Transfermarkt, Boyle would certainly be a cheaper option. Whether he could replace Kent, though, is a different discussion.

Let us know what you think below!

According to Sky Sports, Everton are closing in on the signing of Real Madrid star James Rodriguez.

What’s the word?

The Toffees have been linked with a whole host of players this summer, including the likes of Napoli midfielder Allan, and Watford ace Abdoulaye Doucoure.

But according to Sky Sports, it may be Rodriguez who is first to join Carlo Ancelotti’s side this summer, with an offer already being presented to Madrid.

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The report adds that Everton’s bid is under consideration at the Santiago Bernabeu, and that “it is believed talks between the two clubs are progressing well and an agreement over a deal may be close”. Sky Sports further claim that Rodriguez himself is keen on making the move to Goodison Park, and inclined to put pen to paper on a three-year deal.

Expensive nightmare

The very fact Rodriguez is even being touted with a move to Everton is a testament to the kind of pulling power Ancelotti has brought with him to Goodison Park.

The Toffees don’t have any European football to offer next season, and realistically won’t be challenging for the Premier League title either, so Ancelotti and co will certainly have worked their magic in swaying Rodriguez to join the club.

But whilst on paper it seems like a stunning coup, there are several reasons for Everton to be a bit more cautious about it. Rodriguez is reported to be earning around £200k-a-week at Madrid, which is £80k higher than the Toffees’ two current highest-earners, Bernard and Yerry Mina.

Not only would his wages eat a big chunk out of Everton’s finances, but there’s a real question whether he has the ability to become a success in England. In the measly 14 games he played across all competitions last season, he netted just once and provided only two assists, whilst the campaign before saw him play only 28 times, suffering from knee ligament, calf and adductor problems.

Whilst Ancelotti has gone on record previously to say that he rates him “very highly”, Rodriguez, 29, just may not be the genuine answer for Everton. He may well turn out to be yet another expensive dud that Marcel Brands looks back on with a sense of regret.

Sheffield United have been doing some solid business in the build up to the new Premier League season which starts this weekend, and this week alone, they have made four signings. However their transfer business might not be done following Chris Wilder’s latest comments.

The players to arrive this week have been Ethan Ampadu on loan from Chelsea, as well as the permanent signings of Max Lowe and Jayden Bogle from Derby County and Oliver Burke from West Bromwich Albion.

Speaking following the arrival of Burke this week, Wilder gave a clear hint that another arrival looks to be on the way as he said: ‘We’ve got another one hopefully lined up in the next few days’.

The transfers that the Blades have made so far have been very good as they have added some much-needed depth in the full-back positions and at centre-back, whilst they have found a good Dean Henderson replacement in Aaron Ramsdale.

Burke has also given them some depth in attack, but if the club do get another signing done, it will be a perfect transfer window if it was a striker.

Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick are in their 30’s, whilst Lys Mousset and Oliver McBurnie were joint top goal scorers at the club last season but they only managed six goals each, so to get an extra goalscorer who could maybe hit double figures would be a great addition.

Rhian Brewster appears to be the man that Wilder wants, watch this space on that one.

Blades fans, what are your thoughts on this news? Comment below!

According to The Daily Mirror (27/09 edition, page 70), West Ham are plotting a surprise move for Everton captain Seamus Coleman.

What’s the word?

The Hammers finally got themselves up and running in this new Premier League season with a thumping 4-0 victory over Wolves on Sunday night, and it seems as though David Moyes is keen on building on that with some late moves in the transfer market.

The Daily Mirror claims that Moyes is planning on a reunion with his former charge at Everton, Coleman, who signed him for the club for a reported £60k and played 102 times under his management.

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The report adds that Moyes sees the Irishman as someone who can bring the Hammers some vital experience and leadership, and is hoping Everton will be open to selling the veteran full-back.

More leadership at West Ham

Whilst Coleman is set to turn 32 next month and is arguably past the peak years of his career, he has shown even this season that he can be a reliable performer for a side like Everton – he has captained and played the full 90 minutes in the Toffees’ first three Premier League games, and even picked up an assist in the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace at the weekend.

Speaking after that game, Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti paid his skipper huge praise, saying that his leadership skills and influence are comparable to that of the likes of Paolo Maldini, John Terry and Sergio Ramos, whom he has all managed.

Moyes himself has been very public in his praise of the right-back, opening up on just how much he developed at Goodison Park since arriving rather under the radar. He said back in 2016: “Coleman had been in at Birmingham, Celtic, somewhere else, and nobody took him. We took him and he was £60k. I used to think he was like Forrest Gump. He could run for fun.

“He went to Blackpool on loan and I used to go and watch him. He played outside-right and he wasn’t ready to be a full-back yet. Even though that’s what he was, he hadn’t learnt the art of defending. But boy could he run, he could put folk on the back foot because he was positive.”

The Hammers could add some vital leadership to their back-line by making a move for the £70k-a-week earning Coleman before the end of the transfer window.

Leeds United are reportedly finally set to sanction a loan move for Robbie Gotts.

The midfielder did not move on during deadline day with EFL and Premier League clubs having until October 16th to conclude any domestic deals, but it finally seems as though the youngster has gotten the green light to move on a temporary basis.

Alan Nixon believes that Swindon are the club hoping to land the midfielder, and while this would be a decent opportunity for Gotts to get a taste of senior football, Leeds have made a mistake here.

Huddersfield Town were strongly linked with a move for Gotts earlier in the window, but for some reason, Leeds wouldn’t sanction the move.

Now, it seems as though he’s headed for Swindon, or potentially another League One club in Sunderland who are also keen. But we can’t help but feel that Huddersfield would have been the perfect destination for him.

Not only would he be playing at a higher level in the Championship, but he’d be working under a manager who knows exactly how to get the best out of him with Carlos Corberan having plenty of experience working with Gotts during his tenure as United’s U23s manager.

It was a fruitful partnership as well, with the Whites’ youth outfit picking up the PDL National Title in 2019.

Away from that, Corberan’s relationship with Marcelo Bielsa would have been ideal for if the Leeds manager wanted to keep tabs on his player, with the Argentine already being spotted at a Huddersfield game this season.

We can only hope that if Swindon land Gotts he shines down there alongside fellow United-loanee Jordan Stevens, but it would’ve been interesting to see the midfielder reunite with his former U23s boss.

Celtic may have unearthed a new Virgil van Dijk at Parkhead but this could spell trouble sooner rather than later.

Back in the summer of 2013, Neil Lennon secured the emerging Dutch prospect in a £2.6m move from Groningen with the Hoops chief claiming: “Delighted that we have acquired Virgil van Dijk… a highly talented young player.”

And boy did they sign a good’un. He went onto feature 115 times for the Scottish giants before earning a £13m switch to the Premier League.

Van Dijk soon continued his meteoric rise, becoming the most expensive defender ever when Liverpool splashed out £75m for his signature in late 2017.

This scenario could soon be repeated with the January transfer window soon on the horizon.

Kristoffer Ajer has enjoyed an impressive start to the season at Celtic Park, the 22-year-old has averaged 3.2 aerials won, 2.9 clearances and 1.5 tackles per game, via WhoScored.

His teammate Christopher Jullien believes he’s a “unique talent” who’s “on the rise” whilst assistant manager John Kennedy once dubbed him a “warrior”.

Lennon can count his lucky stars that they managed to keep hold of him despite their exit from the Champions League and amid interest from the Premier League and across Europe.

Ajer was mooted with a move away constantly throughout the summer window with AC Milan a name that frequently popped up. The likes of West Brom, Spurs and even the Premier League champions themselves were also linked with interest.

It certainly feels like another van Dijk situation is brewing here, perhaps even more so after well-earned comparisons between the two.

Speaking to Football Insider, Alex McLeish said: “He’s been an influential player for them. Running from defence, augment the attack and then it leads to a goal – these are inspirational moments and he is an inspirational, influential player for Celtic. He mentions [interest] he’s getting from top Italian teams then it tells you how far Ajer has progressed in the game. Like Virgil van Dijk, he came to Celtic and we all know what happened next.”

Whilst the similarities between van Dijk and Ajer’s playing style has previously been noted by the Herald too.

It’s surely a matter of time before the 6 foot 6 colossus earns a move to bigger and better things, and that should worry Peter Lawwell and co immensely as they’re going to have to open the chequebook to find a viable successor sooner rather than later.

AND in other news, Lennon cost Celtic dearly with key decision during Old Firm embarrassment…