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      Crystal Palace drop Said Benrahma interest with Roy Hodgson chasing a striker instead of £25m Brentford star

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      SAID BENRAHMA’S hopes of a dream Premier League move could be dashed again – as Crystal Palace prioritise bringing in a new striker.
      Palace have been tracking the Brentford playmaker as Roy Hodgson continues to revitalise his squad in the first few weeks of the season.

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      Crystal Palace have cooled their interest in Said Benrahma

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      Roy Hodgson has prioritised bringing in an out and out striker

      And the Bees would sell for around £25million.
      Palace are set to coin around £11m from the sale of Alexander Sorloth to RB Leipzig but boss Hodgson believes bringing in another goalscorer is his most pressing need.
      That could be a major blow to Benrahma, 25.

      The Algerian has already seen hopes of joining West Ham dashed because the Hammers have limited funds and need to strengthen in defence.
      Aston Villa were also linked but they turned down the chance to sign him after splashing out in other areas – including Arsenal goalkeeper Emi Martinez.
      Hodgson said: “Any interest we do have would be totally dependent on the price because it is not necessarily the priority area.
      “We still really are more interested in improving the area up front and to get another front player into the club so that is the top priority.

      “It would be nice to get another wide midfield player into the club too because it would make us a lot stronger.

      “But how much funds there will be available for that player I couldn’t possibly tell you because it is all tied up with how much money we need for that centre forward.”
      Belgian side Club Brugge are also keen on Christian Benteke and could land the flop striker for £10m.
      Wages would be a problem but the Belgians found a way around that obstacle when they signed Simon Mignolet from Liverpool.
      Elsewhere, Palace are keen to send young Scottish midfielder Scott Banks to League One Rochdale on loan for the season.

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      Neil Warnock tests positive for coronavirus and will self-isolate and MISS Middlesbrough clash with Bournemouth

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      MIDDLESBROUGH have confirmed boss Neil Warnock has tested positive for coronavirus.
      The 71-year-old will now miss their Championship clash at home to Bournemouth on Saturday.

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      Neil Warnock has tested positive for coronavirusCredit: Rex Features

      The North East side revealed the news this morning.
      A club statement read: “The club can confirm that our manager Neil Warnock has returned a positive test for Covid-19 and will be spending a period in isolation in accordance with guidelines.
      “Neil is in good spirits and we look forward to welcoming him back after his period in isolation.”

      Warnock returned to Teesside on Monday from his home in Cornwall for the Carabao Cup clash with Barnsley.
      But the veteran boss was absent from the dug-out for Boro’s 2-0 defeat, instead leaving assistants Kevin Blackwell and Ronnie Jepson in charge.
      SunSport understands that was due to Warnock feeling unwell, with Jepson saying afterwards the manager had decided to watch the game from a different vantage point from inside the ground.
      Now it has emerged he has tested positive and will be forced to miss out for at least another game on Saturday against the Cherries.

      Boro’s next match after that is also in the league away to QPR the following Saturday.
      Despite Warnock’s absence, the Bournemouth fixture will have fans in attendance.
      The EFL and government have given the green light for 1,000 spectators to attend as part of the Covid-19 pilot programme.

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      The 71-year-old will miss Saturday’s Championship clash with BournemouthCredit: PA:Press Association

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      David Brooks set to stay at Bournemouth this summer with £50m transfer demands putting off Man Utd and Leicester

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      DAVID BROOKS is set to stay at Bournemouth this summer.
      The Welshman had been linked to Leicester and Manchester United.

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      David Brooks is on course to stay at Bournemouth with no club set to meet the £50m asking priceCredit: Rex Features

      But the Cherries value the midfielder at more than £50million and do not want to sell.
      Brooks, 23, was on United’s radar last summer but missed most of the season with an ankle injury that required TWO surgeries.
      That long-term problem is likely to scare off any potential suitors from making a massive offer that Jason Tindall’s recently-relegated side could not turn down.

      Brooks came on as a late sub in Saturday’s 3-2 win over Blackburn and played the full 90 of Tuesday’s epic penalty-shootout triumph over Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
      One player Bournemouth are planning on selling is Josh King – but they are yet to receive ANY bids for the striker.
      King, who is still in Norway as he recovers from a knock picked up on international duty, only has one year left on his contract.
      The Cherries do not want to see a repeat of the Ryan Fraser’s situation last term with a player running down his deal and risk losing him for nothing.

      Aston Villa were interested but made no firm offer – before signing Ollie Watkins from Brentford, with Lyon’s Bertrand Traore expected to follow.

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      The Cherries are preparing for life without Josh King who is hopeful of a return to Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      King is understood to be hoping old club Manchester United rekindle the interest that saw them bid for the 28-year-old in January, before they loaned Odion Ighalo.
      As for incomings on the south coast, Tindall is keen on Preston’s Ben Davies who is out of contract next summer.
      But SunSport understands the centre-back, 25, is more likely to sign a pre-contract agreement with Celtic in January.

      David Brooks enjoys the company of fellow Bournemouth players as he works out in training More

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      Aston Villa eye transfer for Brentford star Rico Henry with Dean Smith keen on new full-back amid West Ham interest

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      ASTON VILLA are tracking Rico Henry as boss Dean Smith weighs up whether to make a late bid to sign the Brentford defender.
      Henry, 23, emerged as one of the best full-backs outside of the top flight last season with a series of impressive displays before Brentford ultimately fell just short of promotion from the Championship.

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      Rico Henry has made 89 appearances for BrentfordCredit: Alamy Live News

      A number of Premier League clubs have shown interest in the left-back over the summer but found the Bees reluctant to do a deal for the player.
      But Smith, who worked with Henry while he was Walsall manager, is considering making an attempt to persuade Brentford to sell the defender before the window closes next month.
      West Ham had also been tracking the player as they search for a new left-back but have been forced to put their interest on hold while they try to prioritise bringing a new centre-back in with finances tight.

      It wouldn’t be the first time that Smith, 49, has reunited with Henry.
      After bagging the Brentford job in 2015, Smith brought Henry with him a year later – paying £1.5million to secure the then-teenager.
      Henry has since made 89 appearances for the Bees, despite having missed over a year with a knee injury.
      The injury occurred in September 2017, keeping the talented left-back out until November of the following season.

      But the England Under-20 international has bounced back impressively, becoming a regular in Thomas Frank’s promotion-pushing side.

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      Henry featured as Brentford lost 1-0 to Birmingham on SaturdayCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      He started the Bees’ season-opener on Saturday as his side slumped to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Birmingham.
      Henry would compete with Neil Taylor and Matt Targett for the left-back berth in Smith’s Villa side.
      The former started last night as the Villans overcame an early scare to beat Burton Albion 3-1 in the League Cup.

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      Benik Afobe joining Trabzonspor from Stoke as ex-Arsenal striker looks to relaunch career with transfer to Turkish club

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      BENIK AFOBE is joining Turkish club Trabzonspor for a season.
      The Stoke striker confirmed to SunSport that he has joined the Super Lig club in a move that will be officially announced later.

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      Benik Afobe appeared in Stoke’s Carabao Cup tie with Blackpool but is now set for an exit

      Former Arsenal and Bournemouth striker Afobe, 27, was left out of Michael O’Neill’s squad for the opening-day draw against Millwall.
      And he is set to put pen to paper on a deal that will keep him in the Turkish city of Trabzon until next spring.
      Afobe – who Stoke bought from Bournemouth for £12million in the summer of 2018 – was on loan last season at Bristol City.
      But after scoring three goals in five games, the striker injured his ACL and did not return to action until after the coronavirus lockdown.

      He managed another three starts and five sub appearances for City and also started Stoke’s 0-0 Carabao Cup draw with Blackpool that they won on penalties.
      It is a far cry from Afobe’s success earlier in his career, helping loan clubs Reading, MK Dons and Wolves to promotion.

      The 2014-15 season remains the 27-year-old’s best in English football, notching 32 times in a year split between Milton Keynes and Wolverhampton.

      It has been a traumatic year for the former Arsenal kid, whose two-year-old daughter Amora died of the rare kidney condition nephrotic syndrome.
      But Afobe – who says he has never felt in better shape physically – is hoping to relaunch his career in Turkey.

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      Said Benrahma set to join Crystal Palace as Eagles win £20m transfer race for Brentford forward

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      SAID BENRAHMA is ready to join Crystal Palace as they look set to win the £20million race for the Brentford flier.
      The Eagles have waited weeks for the right moment to go in for the Algerian wide-man and are keen to avoid an auction.

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      Crystal Palace have jumped ahead of Aston Villa and West Ham in the race to sign £20million-rated Said Benrahma

      Now Palace have stepped in after main rivals Aston Villa and West Ham turned down the chance of snapping up the exciting and unpredictable winger.
      Benrahma, 25, wants to play in the Premier League and is also happy to stay in the London area.
      So Palace could be able to pull off their latest coup shortly, having already signed fellow Championship star Eberechi Eze from QPR. 
      The move will give boss Roy Hodgson another attacking option and more width, but also puts the pressure on Andros Townsend.

      The former England cap could even be squeezed out if the right offer comes in as Palace do their own changing of the guard.

      Belgian side Club Brugge are also keen on Christian Benteke and could land the flop striker for £10m.
      Wages would be a problem but the Belgians found a way around that obstacle when they signed Simon Mignolet from Liverpool.
      Elsewhere, Palace are keen to send young Scottish midfielder Scott Banks to League One Rochdale on loan for the season.

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      Arsenal ready to spend £10m on transfer for Brentford stopper David Raya with Emiliano Martinez set for exit

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      ARSENAL are ready to up their bid for Brentford keeper David Raya.
      The Gunners will go as high as £10million for the Spaniard, who would be Bernd Leno’s back-up.

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      David Raya could be set to replace Emi Martinez at ArsenalCredit: PA:Empics Sport

      Brentford may sell as Raya — who turns 25 on Tuesday — is keen on the chance of Prem football.
      His arrival would also allow Arsenal to clear Emiliano Martinez’s move to Aston Villa.
      The Bees plan to look at Charlton’s Dillon Phillips as a replacement.
      Martinez was left out of Mikel Arteta’s squad for Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Fulham as he closes in on a move to Aston Villa.
      The stopper, 28, was heading to Birmingham to undergo his medical.
      And if he passes, as expected, his signing will be announced by Villa imminently in a £20million deal.
      The Argentinian has agreed a long-term contract believed to be worth around £60,000-a-week to join Dean Smith’s team.

      Martinez was a revelation between the sticks for the Gunners last season.

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      He was brought into Arteta’s side after the restart when Bernd Leno suffered a long-term injury.
      The stopper went on the star as the North Londoners won the FA Cup in August.
      And he kept his place ahead of Leno for the recent penalty shoot-out victory over Liverpool.

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