DEALS
Crystal Palace to sign Jack Butland despite Liverpool rumours and West Ham to complete Said Benrahma deal on domestic deadline day
Jack Butland is set for a reunion with former England manager Roy Hodgson at Crystal Palace, with the goalkeeper expected to seal his return to Premier League football on the domestic transfer deadline day.
The summer’s second transfer window officially closes at 5pm on Friday, with Butland joining the Eagles, NOT Liverpool, after rumours earlier this week, while West Ham are set to finally complete a deal for Said Benrahma.
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It was claimed Premier League champions Liverpool were eyeing the former England keeper as their new number two after Adrian’s error-prone start to the season.
But it appears Klopp will stick with the Spaniard for now, with Palace instead set to end Butland’s nightmare spell at Stoke.
The 27-year-old was once tipped to be England’s next long-term glovesman, but he is no longer in Gareth Southgate’s plans with the latest of his nine caps coming back in 2018 – the year Stoke were relegated from the Premier League.
Now aged 27, he’s not even the first-choice keeper at Stoke; he last featured for the Potters in their 5-0 thrashing against Leeds in the Championship in July, and has since lost his place to Wales international Adam Davies.
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With just 12 months remaining on his contract, Butland is keen to seal a move elsewhere to breathe new life into his career, and Palace have answered, where he will provide competition for No.1 Vicente Guaita.
Meanwhile, West Ham are also expected to confirm the £30million signing of Brentford forward Said Benrahma on Friday after a late chase full of twists and turns.
The Hammers were close to agreeing a deal for the Algeria ace last week, but the deal hit a snag over reports the 25-year-old was demanding bonus payments from the Bees before he departed.
Benrahma returned from international duty on Wednesday and held talks with his club to iron out their issues, before agreeing personal terms with West Ham.
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He will now undergo the final part of his medical on Friday and will sign a five-year contract at the London Stadium.
Benrahma’s arrival is also set to end West Ham’s interest in Josh King.
The Hammers had a £13m offer rejected by Bournemouth earlier this week, with the Championship club holding out for £16m for the versatile Norway attacker.
However, the decision to turn the London side down may backfire with less than a year remaining on King’s contract. It means they could lose him for nothing, with the player free to sign a pre-contract agreement with another club in the January window – which opens in just ten weeks.
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