Former England defender Gary Cahill has announced he has left Crystal Palace after a two-year spell at the Premier League club.
A statement published on Instagram from Cahill read: “After much thought and deliberation, I can confirm that I have left Crystal Palace FC after an enjoyable two years.
“I have really enjoyed my time at the club and I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone involved at the club, especially the fans and staff who welcomed me into their South London family.
“It’s been a privilege to play at Selhurst Park, especially in that first season where I got to experience the atmosphere that the Eagles fans create on a match day. Playing in front of the Holmesdale Road stand is a memory that I will cherish in particular.
“I would like to wish the club all the best for the future and wish them every success for the coming season.”
Aston Villa willing to accept £100m bid for Jack Grealish
Aston Villa are ready to accept Manchester City’s £100m offer for Jack Grealish, according to reports.
The Premier League champions submitted a triple-figure bid on Friday as they attempt to prise the England international away from his boyhood club.
Pep Guardiola has made Grealish one of his leading transfer targets this summer, and a deal appears to be edging closer.
Indeed, Sky Sports reports that Villa are likely to accept City’s offer – which would break the British transfer record – in the coming days.
The Villans would love to keep hold of the 25-year-old for at least another season, but they will not stand in Grealish’s way if he makes it clear that he wants to move on.
Villa have also recognised that a £100m bid meets their own valuation of a player who has been at the club since the age of six.
City have not yet received a response from Villa but the report states that the latter have now decided they are willing to let their captain leave.
The ball is now in Grealish’s court. He is now back in the Midlands after a post-Euro 2020 break and was expected to return to training on Monday.
He will now hold talks with Villa and make a decision on whether or not to move to the Etihad Stadium.
Grealish has the offer of a new contract at Villa Park on the table, and Dean Smith would no doubt be delighted if he decides to stay put.
Grealish loves the club and benefits from having the team built around him, a luxury that would not be replicated in Manchester.
But the 25-year-old is ambitious and wants to win silverware, something he is much more likely to do as part of Guardiola’s side.
Grealish signed a five-year contract with Villa in September, but his time at the club looks to be coming to an end.
Spurs’ youngest ever player Devine signs his first pro deal
Tottenham’s youngest ever player and goal scorer Alfie Devine has signed his first professional contract.
Devine has been handed a new three-year deal at Spurs after turning 17 on Sunday, and will remain in north London until 2024.
The English midfielder scored on his senior debut for Tottenham last season, making history in the process, and will hope to establish himself in the first-team squad under new head coach Nuno Espirito Santo in 2021-22.
Spurs have confirmed the news in an official statement on their website, which reads: “We are delighted to announce that Alfie Devine has signed his first professional contract with the club. The young midfielder, who celebrates his 17th birthday today, has signed a contract that will run until 2024.”
Devine joined Tottenham from Wigan last summer, and made his first appearance for the club in their third-round FA Cup clash with eighth-tier minnows Marine in January.
The talented teenager came off the bench to break the record for the youngest player to ever appear for Spurs at 16 years and 163 days, and marked the occasion by also setting a new mark as the youngest goalscorer in their history.
Devine produced a sublime low drive that rounded off a thumping 5-0 victory for the north London outfit, with his stellar performance ultimately proving to be one of the few high points in a difficult campaign.
Devine earned special praise from then-manager Jose Mourinho after his impressive debut, as the Portuguese told reporters: “He’s a kid with good potential. He’s basically a midfield player but with an instinct to appear in finishing zones and to score goals. We like him and of course for him, it was a special day.”
The one-time England U16 international will have to continue being patient in his pursuit of regular minutes at Spurs, but could be handed opportunities in the cup competitions as Nuno seeks to build a strong squad for the future.
He might even push for a place on the bench in Tottenham’s opening game of the new Premier League season against champions Manchester City on August 15.
Players are refusing to take Covid vaccine, causing unrest for some EPL clubs
Premier League clubs could start the new season without their stars after it was revealed that many of the players are refusing to have Covid vaccinations.
According to The Sun, some players have chosen not to get the vaccine for personal reasons, while others have opted out for religious reasons.
This has caused divisions in the dressing rooms of these clubs, as the virus continues to disrupt football in the pre-season.
The new EFL season already kicks off on Friday night, yet one club in the Championship has players and staff isolating after one player who refused to take the vaccine tested positive.
Manchester United were forced to withdraw from a friendly against Preston North End on Saturday, after reporting a suspected Covid outbreak at their Carrington training ground.
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