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Joel Ward has been an excellent performer for Crystal Palace over the years, and his goal at Craven Cottage on Saturday was a moment he deserved, podcaster Dan Cook has claimed.

How did Ward play against Fulham?

The 33-year-old scored his first goal of the season as Palace came from behind to snatch a point, bundling in a late equaliser from a free kick.

The right-back has been a consistent performer over the years, having made 334 appearances for the club, but goals are a rare occurrence, with just six strikes in this time.

Speaking on the HLTCO podcast, Cook lauded Ward as a club hero following his goal, and praised what was a special moment for the veteran.

"Ward is not ever someone that you could expect to put in a 10 out of 10 performance as a modern full-back, he's not going to bomb on, put crosses into the box or affect the game from an attacking perspective week after week. But from a defensive perspective, he's always a seven out of 10," he stated.

"I mean this categorically, I have never seen Joel Ward have a stinker of a game. He is Mr. Consistent. He's just part of the furniture really at Crystal Palace and one of those players who is not really appreciated by those outside of our fan base.

"From my perspective individually, it was just fantastic to see Ward score."

Should Crystal Palace keep Ward?

The defender is out of contract at the end of the season, and with it currently unclear what direction Palace will go in when looking for a new manager, it remains to be seen whether the Englishman will extend his stay.

If Ward is keen on an extension then it's a no-brainer for Palace to keep Ward for another season, whilst also exploring the market for younger full-backs who can eventually be his successor.

Ward has been a consistent figure in the Crystal Palace team, apart from a spell where Aaron Wan-Bissaka broke through and earned himself a big-money move to Manchester United.

He was able to rack up 25 accurate passes on the weekend and also registered two shots on goal despite only having 43 touches of the ball (via SofaScore).

Palace should be in the market for a defender who can initially rotate with Ward, as the veteran may not be able to start for an entire season, but given his experience and his long affiliation with the club, keeping him in the dressing room could be important as the club prepares to make changes off the pitch.

Roy Hodgson has had a successful spell as interim boss, but there still remain questions over whether he should continue in his role or if Palace should look to start a different project.

Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy by extension hold the most serious interest in signing Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

What’s the latest Spurs transfer news?

Spurs have a plethora of issues to resolve before the summer transfer window opens for business, namely who they will be their permanent manager and Antonio Conte’s full time replacement.

Ryan Mason has been placed in temporary charge until the end of this Premier League campaign with Europa League qualification still very realistic.

In the meantime, Levy has been scouring the market for appointments, as well as looking out for a new sporting director to replace the departed Fabio Paratici.

On top of all this, Spurs must think about a long-term successor to goalkeeping mainstay Hugo Lloris, who is entering the final 12 months of his contract alongside star striker Harry Kane.

Tottenham have been repeatedly linked to signing Lloris’ replacement this summer, with Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret thought to be attracting serious interest.

As well as Meret, it is believed the likes of Mike Maignan (AC Milan) are in Spurs’ thinking, with a report by journalist Gaston Edul saying another shot-stopper is on the agenda.

According to the TYC Sports correspondent, writing on Twitter, Villa’s Martinez is a very serious target for Spurs and Levy with the north Londoners having a move “in the pipeline”.

Martinez, who helped Argentina to World Cup victory at the end of last year, could be on the move and Tottenham are very likely to go a ‘step further’ for his signature over rival clubs.

Edul explained:

What could Martinez bring to Spurs?

The 30-year-old has been praised for his form at Villa Park over the last 12 months, with defender Matty Cash summing up his quality perfectly.

Cash, speaking to the media (via The Shropshire Star), said:

“He (Martinez) normally buzzes off clean sheets. The first thing he said to me in the dressing room was: ‘I’m gutted we conceded’. He’s unbelievable. One of the best goalkeepers in the world. To have him there is really good for us. He has made so many big saves for us.”

To replace a figure as important as Lloris, this could be exactly the type of character needed at Tottenham, both in terms of goalkeeping contribution and elite mentality.

Members of the media have also called him “world class” for his exploits at international level.

Manchester United are now the "front runners" to sign PSG right-back

Achraf Hakimi this summer, according to Football Insider.

Will Manchester United sign a right-back?

The Red Devils looked almost certain to be in the market for a right-back earlier this season, with Sky Sports revealing the club were open to offers for Aaron Wan-Bissaka almost as soon as Erik ten Hag arrived at the club.

The Dutchman clearly preferred Diogo Dalot in that position, and although the former Crystal Palace starlet has forced his way back in during recent weeks, the manager may well stick to his guns and hunt for a more comfortable ball-playing full-back this summer.

Reports in March claimed Old Trafford chiefs could actually attempt so swap Dalot for Netherlands star Denzel Dumfries, and now it seems Hakimi is on the transfer shortlist as well.

According to FI, United have moved ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign Hakimi due to the fact that the Blues will not be able to offer Champions League football. Both teams are "prepared to move for the 24-year-old defender at the end of the season after Paris Saint-Germain made it clear that they are open to offers", but it is the M16 outfit who are currently out in front and willing to meet his £60m price tag.

Would Hakimi be a good signing for Man United?

The Morocco international, currently earning £172k-p/w in Paris, certainly has what it takes to inject a bit more end product than has been provided by Dalot and Wan-Bissaka, racking up nine direct goal involvements in 36 appearances in all competitions this season.

For comparison, Aaron Wan-Bissaka only has 13 goal contributions during his whole career at Old Trafford.

According to FBRef, he ranks highly across Europe's top leagues in terms of important attacking metrics like assists, progressive passes, carries and succesful take-ons, drawing praise as a world-class player from legendary full-back Dani Alves.

The defender has however recently been the subject of a bizarre story involving his personal life, with everyone from UFC superstars to controversial social media personality Andrew Tate praising his actions in an apparent divorce settlement, while other rumours swirl suggesting the entire saga has been fabricated.

Still, assuming that cloud over his personal life is nothing serious enough to affect his actions on the pitch, Hakimi looks like he would be an excellent signing to really kick-start Ten Hag's new era at Manchester United.

West Ham United fans may not remember Havard Nordtveit fondly but the Norway international did make the club a significant profit, and his career since leaving the club suggests that the Hammers did phenomenally well to sell him for £8m.

How did Havard Nordtveit perform at West Ham?

West Ham confirmed the signing of the centre-back in May 2016, as he agreed to join on a free transfer ahead of his contract expiry at Borussia Monchengladbach.

Considering he had contributed four goals and one assist in 31 Bundesliga appearances the season prior, averaging a strong 6.96 rating from WhoScored for his performances, it was easy to see why the Hammers were anxious to bring him in, especially without a transfer fee.

Nordtveit arrived with plenty of experience of playing at the top level with both Norway and Monchengladbach, having helped Die Fohlen to a fourth-place finish in the Bundesliga in the 2015/16 campaign, while also featuring regularly for them in the Champions League stages.

Unfortunately, his time at West Ham proved to be far less successful, as he averaged a shocking 6.46 rating from WhoScored across just 16 Premier League appearances in the 2016/17 season, which unsurprisingly saw him moved on in the summer.

When discussing some of the worst players to ever feature for the Hammers in 2022, journalist Alan Rzepa went as far as to suggest that Nordtveit was "considerably worse than Diop," who also failed to win many fans with his performances in his last few seasons at the London Stadium.

Where is Havard Nordtveit now?

West Ham somehow managed to sell the defender to Hoffenheim for £8m, which was incredible business considering they brought him in for free the summer before, and his performances back in the Bundesliga suggested that the Hammers got the better end of the stick.

In five seasons with Die Kraichgauer, he accumulated just 74 appearances, while a return to England on loan with Fulham also didn't go to plan, as he featured just five times in the Premier League for the Cottagers as they were relegated from the top flight.

Therefore, it was no surprise when Nordtveit was released by Hoffenheim last summer upon the expiry of his contract.

Since then, he was only able to find a new club in his native Norway late last month, as he signed for Skjold IL.

Despite being just 32, Nordtveit's market value has completely fallen off a cliff since his West Ham exit, with Football Transfers now valuing him at just €200k (£175k).

That simply reinforces just how well the Hammers did to sell him, even if he was a disaster in his one-year stay at the club.

Aston Villa have been longing for an offensive catalyst since the £100m departure of beloved homegrown talent Jack Grealish to Manchester City in 2021, the fleet-footed demon's feats for the Lions undoubtedly going down in the club's folklore.

Sure, Ollie Watkins has been prolific in the Premier League of late; Emi Buendia is easy on the eye with his gliding gait, but no one has captured the panache and efficiency of the former gem.

A wholly contrasting skill set, but Villa's Finn Azaz could be the optimum name to send Villa Park into rapture once again, with the midfield maestro out on loan at League One high-fliers Plymouth Argyle this season and forging a season of emphatic success; a centrepiece to the club's promotion-pushing efforts.

Argyle are table-toppers after 38 matches, five points clear in the automatic playoffs with just eight matches to play.

The Republic of Ireland international Azaz has indeed been fantastic for The Pilgrims and will certainly be in contention for a spot in manager Unai Emery's system next year, so arresting has he been in his trade.

Who is Finn Azaz?

Azaz has been on the Claret & Blue's books since the summer of 2021, when he was signed from Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion and immediately loaned out to Newport County, praised as "exciting" by the club's official website.

WhoScored highlights Azaz's most arresting traits as his 'key passes', 'dribbling' and 'finishing', and his offensive midfield deployment could indeed provide the Villans with the offensive spark to complement the front-line next season.

Emery sold Danny Ings to West Ham United for £15m in January and only signed 19-year-old prospect Jhon Duran for £18m to bolster the offence, the dynamic Colombian precocious but perhaps not quite ready for the talismanic role.

The activity hints at a marquee addition in the summer, with the likes of £44m Lille sharpshooter Jonathan David touted, and as such, a creative and enterprising force situated behind would indeed go down a treat.

The 22-year-old Azaz has recorded an average Sofascore rating of 7.14 this term, scoring seven goals and supplying eight assists and complementing his direct return with 1.7 shots and 1.9 key passes per match, hailed as a "baller" for his exploits by journalist Alex Dunne.

If Emery does decide to offer the one-cap U21 international a platform, he could stake a claim for Philippe Coutinho's place in the team, with the distinguished Brazilian branded “disappointing” by former Villa star Gabby Agbonlahor.

The £125k-per-week man has scored just one goal and provided no assists from 22 outings across all competitions this season, recording a mediocre Sofascore rating of 6.66 and offering just 1.1 shots and 0.4 key passes per outing, inferior to Azaz's output, granted, playing two divisions below but exhibiting all the prowess requisite for success in the English top-flight.

How the "imposing" Azaz – as dubbed by Ashley Preece – has carried himself in the third tier this term has been extremely impressive, and if he can continue to nurture his abilities at Premier League level with Villa, he could become a shrewd, homegrown sensation in the midlands.

He might not quite have the flair or elegance of the likes of Grealish and Coutinho, but the mechanical, industrious way he exerts his authority and dynamism cannot be understated.

Leeds United boast a wealth of youth talent, many of whom have been handed their big break in the first team in recent years.

Marcelo Bielsa, Jesse Marsch and now Javi Gracia all have employed academy graduates, whilst acquired talent like Wilfried Gnonto also have earned acclaim for their sensational performances that belie their youth.

However, amongst all this academy production, one name has been somewhat pushed to the wayside despite his immense potential.

Cody Drameh was widely seen as one of the shining lights of the Whites' youth setup, with the expectance being that he would soon hold down their right-back spot for the foreseeable future.

However, having been shipped out on numerous loans and seemingly replaced in the market, his hype has died somewhat.

Given his sparkling displays during his current spell away from the club, he is surely playing his way back into contention, especially given the underperformance of his rivals in his role.

How is Cody Drameh playing at Luton Town?

The 21-year-old joined Luton Town in January as one of many questionable decisions made by Marsch, however, the young defender is currently proving why he boasts more than enough talent for a starting spot in a Premier League team.

This came almost exactly a year after he was handed his first loan, as he was sent to Cardiff City where he too was a big hit. Drameh would even win the young player and player of the season awards after just six months in the Welsh capital, an outstanding feat.

His boss at the time, Steve Morison, reserved special praise for the relentless dynamo, as he noted: "He is like a Duracell Bunny, isn't he? He just keeps going and going."

Meanwhile, this season Ayling has endured an average rating of 6.71, a slight depreciation from his supposed successor in Rasmus Kristensen. The Denmark international has only mustered a slightly improved 6.87 rating himself, marking both out as disappointments.

To compare this with their young counterpart, who has marked himself out as both an outstanding creative and defensive threat in the Championship, they will surely be fearing for their positions in the squad.

Drameh is earning a 7.11 average rating for the Hatters, where he is recoding 1.8 key passes alongside 3.3 tackles and 2.0 clearances per 90, via Sofascore.

He is the standout with regard to form, and his youth makes him a thrilling prospect that would surely get fans excited too. Should Gracia keep the Yorkshire outfit up and retain his place in the dugout, his first port of call next season must be to ditch Ayling for the sensational youngster who has earned his big chance.

Journalist Charles Watts has indicated that Gabriel Jesus could be set to return to full training soon, in what would be a massive boost to Arsenal.

What’s the latest on Gabriel Jesus?

The Brazilian has been absent since picking up a long-term injury during the World Cup, but Arsenal have kept their spot at the top of the Premier League with Eddie Nketiah and Leandro Trossard deputising for the striker.

He has been in light training but could be set for a return to full training with the squad soon, as Watts pointed out a detail following Arsenal’s dramatic victory over Bournemouth at the Emirates.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Watts pointed out that Jesus took part in a squad warm-down following the game, including intense five-a-side drills with the ball, indicating that he could be set to return to action.

“Gabriel Jesus was there and was taking part which is a great sign. if you see after the game, he’s on the touchline celebrating with all the players as they came off and he’s in his training gear,” he stated.

“Even Elneny, but he’s obviously in his usual clothes, but Jesus was in his training gear and he went out and he took part in that training session with the substitutes that played in the match. It was quite intensive and he was part of it.

“I think that’s a really big step in terms of his recovery, to see him doing that and twisting and turning, taking part in the match. There weren’t huge goals going in or anything like that, but it’s still a really big indication that he’s fit, and must be very, very close now to coming back and joining in full training.”

How important is Jesus to Arsenal?

The £45m summer signing from Manchester City settled in instantly at the Emirates, scoring twice on his home debut, and quickly impressed with his work rate and technique as he led the line.

Arsenal lost just one league game with him in the side, and despite going on a goalless run pre-injury, his role in the team helped the likes of Granit Xhaka and Gabriel Martinelli hit their own scoring form.

Xhaka is yet to score this season without Jesus in the side, and his eventual return will provide a massive boost as Mikel Arteta’s side aim to win the Premier League for the first time since 2004.

Arsenal could already have a perfect heir to Granit Xhaka.

According to The Secret Scout earlier this week, the Gunners have tied down “one of their top academy players” in 16-year-old sensation Myles Lewis-Skelly to a new contract.

It’s no secret that the famed Hale End academy is capable of producing real stars of the future, with Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah being the finest and most recent examples.

There is also a belief that the north Londoners are looking to bolster the engine room in the coming months as moves for the likes of Declan Rice of West Ham United and Moises Caicedo of Brighton and Hove Albion being mooted.

But manager Mikel Arteta may well already have his natural heir to the Swiss vice-captain, with Lewis-Skelly catching the eye for the youth setup.

The teenager has recently been dubbed as “one of the most talented U17s in England” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, who has also put together a profile of the relatively-unknown jewel.

It’s thought that he has very strong passing, vision and athleticism attributes which makes him comparable to a former Premier League monster in Mousa Dembele – ‘energetic, hardworking, and determined in the defensive phase with good anticipation sense to provide key interceptions and tackles,’ he wrote.

Lewis-Skelly was part of the U18 side to defeat Watford earlier in the week and his performance saw The Sun journalist Daniel Cutts suggest that the youngster “could be absolutely anything in the future.”

Next Generation Arsenal, who frequently covers the Gunners’ academy, once claimed that the Hale End gem was “like a train thundering down the line,” whilst he has clearly already caught the eye of Arteta as he was part of first-team training before the north London derby last month.

Xhaka very much plays a Dembele-like role for the Spaniard, so even if their top target in Rice were to join in the summer, then you’d imagine Lewis-Skelly’s chance at progressing isn’t actually thwarted at all.

Given the aforementioned reviews of the 16-year-old prospect, it’s clear that Hale End has produced yet another immense talent and in the “very highly-rated” Lewis-Skelly – as lauded by journalist Jeorge Bird – Arsenal could well have a midfield machine for the future.

AND in other news, Arteta could unearth the new Saka in “skilful” Arsenal teen who’s “Hale End’s finest”…

BBC pundit Chris Sutton has slammed Newcastle United midfielder Joelinton after he took a terrible dive to try and win a penalty in the club’s most recent game.

What’s the word?

Things have been going pretty brilliantly for Eddie Howe and his side this season. After all, they currently sit fourth in the Premier League and have a Carabao Cup final to play in the near future.

However, they suffered a slight setback on the weekend as they were held to a 1-0 draw at home against West Ham United as Lucas Paqueta’s 32nd-minute strike was enough to tie the game despite Callum Wilson firing the Magpies into an early lead.

During the game with the scores level an hour nearly played, Joelinton drove into the box and threw himself to the ground when Nayef Aguerd challenged him for the ball.

However, clearly, there was no contact made and the Brazilian was subsequently booked for his theatrics. While speaking about the incident live on BBC 606, Sutton didn’t hold back on his criticism.

He said: “The winner of this week’s simulation game, Joelinton. A double dive from Joelinton.

“No, no, Joelinton. You’re better than that. Newcastle, come on, sort it out. But the award which you don’t want to win, Joelinton has won it. They’ve had a great season. But you are better than that, Joelinton.”

Poor sport

It seems as though Sutton isn’t the only one to have an issue with this terrible attempt to win a penalty with fans online mocking the “absolutely shameful dive” (via Daily Star).

That incident was a notably low point for Joelinton in a game where he and his teammates really struggled to deliver any real moments of quality beyond the early goal they scored.

Indeed, the Brazilian picked up a SofaScore player rating of 6.6 which was the fifth worst of all the Newcastle players who featured in the game.

Still, Howe kept the midfielder on for the full 90 as he finished the match with 86 touches and 81 per cent passing accuracy while giving the ball away 19 times and making four fouls – which includes the dive that he was booked for.

With all that in mind, there’s certainly room for improvement next time out.

There is ‘growing interest around’ Newcastle United transfer target Ivan Fresneda, according to a fresh update from renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Fresneda linked with Newcastle move

The Magpies are still looking at potential signings in the January transfer window, as Eddie Howe looks to give his squad an extra boost for the second half of the season.

Fresneda is someone who has been linked with a move to St James’ Park recently, having impressed at right-back for Real Valladolid this season, making six La Liga starts, despite still only being 18.

Newcastle looks set to have competition for the youngster’s services, however, and a new update has now emerged.

The Latest: New update emerges

Taking to Twitter, Romano confirmed the Magpies’ interest in Fresneda but admitted that two big European clubs are also eyeing him up:

“Interest growing around Iván Fresneda. Valladolid RB’s attracting Newcastle, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus as called weeks ago but also more top European clubs have now joined the race.

“Born in 2004, Fresneda’s highly rated waiting for decision on his future.”

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The Verdict: One for the future

Fresneda is a player of huge potential, having been hailed as ‘remarkably complete’ by La Liga Lowdown’s Matt Clark earlier this week, so Newcastle should do all they can to sign him.

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At 18, he wouldn’t necessarily come in as a key man from the off, especially with Kieran Trippier playing so well currently, but he could be viewed as a long-term replacement for the Englishman.

Fresdeda’s current Valladolid deal doesn’t expire until 2025, so Newcastle may not be able to sign him on the cheap, but he is already showing that he is worth taking a punt on.