Alan Pardew has revealed he expects Yannick Bolasie to conclude his proposed £30 million transfer to Everton this month.
The forward made what appears to have been his last appearance for Crystal Palace when playing as a second-half substitute in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at home to West Brom.
Asked about the forward’s future, Pardew responded: “It’s not quite done, that deal. The chances are that it will be completed this week.
“But we’ll have to wait and see.
“As much as I love him and our fans love him, if his heart and soul’s not with us, then we have to exchange goodbyes.”
Carvalhal says Forestieri staying
Sheffield Wednesday manager Carlos Carvalhal insisted striker Fernando Forestieri would be going nowhere after refusing to play in the Championship clash at Norwich City, which ended in a hard-fought goalless draw.
Carvalhal said Forestieri had told him he wasn’t available, but made it clear that he would not be sold, with both Derby and Newcastle having been linked with a £12 million move for the wantaway star.
“Fernando is under contract at this club and the chairman has said he will not be selling anyone,” the Owls’ boss said.
“He is our player and will not be sold.”
Stoke City’s Shaqiri puts team first
Xherdan Shaqiri would happily trade personal plaudits for Premier League points after bringing his rich vein of goalscoring form into the new season.
The Stoke City schemer launched his campaign with a stunning free-kick to snatch a 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough.
However, for all the praise he has received as a result of his efforts, he insists it is the team which matters more.
Shaqiri said: “For me, it is more important to help the team.
“Of course, it’s always nice to score for a player. But I feel fit, I feel very good and that’s very important so I can help the team more.”
Serie B Spezia knock Udinese out of cup
Spezia caused an upset by knocking Udinese out of the Coppa Italia last weekend.
The Serie B side came from behind to win 3-2 and make it the worst possible start for new Udinese coach Beppe Iachini.
Rodrigo De Paul put Udinese ahead but goals from Nahuel Valentini and David Okereke turned the game on its head.
Duvan Zapata squandered the chance to bring the Serie A side level when his penalty was saved and Nene punished them further by extending Spezia’s lead.
Zapata did make amends with a headed goal but it was too little too late.
Boateng voted best player in Germany
Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng has been named Germany’s footballer of the year for 2016 by sports writers.
The 27-year-old came out on top of a poll of German reporters conducted by Kicker magazine, beating his club team-mates Thomas Mueller and Robert Lewandowski into second and third place respectively.
The former Manchester City defender picked up 163 votes, with Mueller taking 95 and Le-wandowski 90.
Boateng becomes the first de-fender since Juergen Kohler in 1997 to win the vote, which was won last year by striker Kevin De Bruyne.
Wright-Phillips sets Bulls’ goals record
New York Red Bulls closed to two points behind neighbours New York City at the top of the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference with a 3-1 win over Montreal Impact on Saturday night.
Bradley Wright-Phillips scored twice – going past Juan Pablo Angel to become the club’s record regular-season goalscorer with 59 – to turn the game around after Ignacio Piatti’s opener for Montreal.
Wright-Phillips said of his goals feat: “It’s definitely a proud moment, you know, the names associated with that record before, I shouldn’t even be in that category.”
Gary Lineker bares almost all on TV
Former England striker Gary Lineker kept a long-standing promise to present BBC’s Match of the Day programme in his underpants on Saturday.
With co-presenters Alan Shearer and Ian Wright giggling in the background, a straight-faced Lineker introduced the first show of the new Premier League season sporting only a pair of white boxer shorts emblazoned with the club badge of cham-pions Leicester City.
The 55-year-old had vowed on Twitter to shed most of his clothes for the show if Leicester, the team he supports, won the league title last season.
“It is a one-off and a sporting miracle that has landed me in my underwear,” Lineker said.