Nottingham Forest could well be facing a hectic end to the January transfer window, amid reports that the Premier League outfit are keen on striking a deal for Santos sensation Angelo Gabriel.
What’s the word?
That’s according to journalist Paul Taylor, who wrote on Twitter that Steve Cooper’s side are plotting a move for the 18-year-old starlet – alongside Paris Saint-Germain veteran Keylor Navas – with just hours left until the deadline.
The reporter stated: “Nottingham Forest’s hopes of signing Keylor Navas from PSG have been boosted. And #NFFC are making a late push for Angelo Gabriel, the highly rated Santos teenager. Both deals will be logistically challenging. But it is never dull on deadline day…”
In his attached article for The Athletic, Taylor outlined that the teenager has been on the Reds’ shortlist for ‘some time’ and is regarded as ‘one of the brightest young talents in Brazil’, hence the desire to pull of this last-gasp deal.
Bad news for Lingard
The addition of the versatile forward – who was reportedly the subject of a £22m offer from Newcastle United last summer – could well spell bad news for current Forest ace Jesse Lingard, with the Englishman set to face even more competition for a starting berth.
The former Manchester United man has endured a difficult start to life at the City Ground since his arrival on a free transfer last July, having failed to provide a single goal contribution in his 14 Premier League outings, albeit while scoring twice and laying on two assists during the club’s Carabao Cup run so far.
Those woes have been further compounded by the 30-year-old’s recent injury blow, with the move yet to pay off for either the club or the player himself, leading to suggestions that a departure could occur come the end of the season.
The former West Ham United loanee could well find himself nudged further onto the periphery at the City Ground if the aforementioned Gabriel is to sign before tonight’s deadline, with the youngster having been described as a player of “crazy potential” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
That glowing praise has come amid a stunning start to life at senior level for the Brazil U20 international, having already provided three goals and nine assists in 102 first-team appearances to date, a remarkable haul for someone who only turned 18 in December.
The 5 foot 8 dynamo will no doubt be able to bolster the youthful exuberance of the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and Brennan Johnson in attack, as he notably averages 5.05 successful dribbles per game, with Lingard averaging just 0.47 per match in that regard.
With the latter seemingly entering into the latter stages of his career as he turns 31 next month, Cooper and Forest may already be eyeing a more promising, long-term option such as Gabriel who can lead the team forward in the years to come, while also being able to make a difference in the short-term.
BBC radio host and comedian Maisie Adam has claimed the future of Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane is “a ticking time bomb” as he could leave this summer.
What’s the word?
There was no strong expectation that the Englishman would abandon Spurs mid-way through the current campaign and with the January transfer window now closed any concerned fans can relax on that front anyway.
However, when the season is over, the summer market will open and Kane will have just one year left on his contract which expires in 2024. While the player is said to be open to extending, nothing is set in stone yet.
Manchester United seem to be one name perpetually linked with a move for Kane while Bayern Munich also remain very much in the picture. With giants such as that interested, a summer saga could potentially develop.
Adam certainly seems to think so. Indeed, while speaking about what future transfer will be “one to watch” next summer on BBC Sounds’ Transfer Gossip Daily, she made her point clearly.
The host said: “Obviously it’s going to be Kane again, obviously. It’s a ticking time bomb, surely. Surely!”
Talk about statement signing
While it’s unclear if Kane will commit his future to Spurs, doubt also remains over the future of manager Antonio Conte. The Italian’s contract is up in the summer and if he won’t be at the club, then perhaps his star striker will be on the move too.
Of course, the 29-year-old has a lot of love for the club and is now a legend in his own right, regardless of his empty trophy cabinet, having equalled Jimmy Greaves’ record as Tottenham’s all-time top scorer netting his 266th goal in a Premier League win over Fulham.
Still, it’s hard not to escape the feeling that the England captain may be ready to seek out a new challenge as he comes into the latter stages of his career (turning 30 this summer). A past attempt to try and force a move to Manchester City proves that he was once open to leaving north London.
For now, it seems as though Spurs fans best enjoy their key man for the rest of the season because dark clouds of uncertainty may soon begin to hang over Kane’s head.
West Bromwich Albion clambered back into form last night as they recorded yet another Championship victory to move them into the play-off positions.
It marks the Baggies’ tenth victory in their last 12 league games and a redemption result as their only loss during that period (other than to league leaders Burnley) was against the team they defeated last night, Coventry City.
In a close-fought encounter at The Hawthorns, the Sky Blues battled well to trouble the hosts on numerous occasions. Despite this, it was Grady Diangana’s strike on 15 minutes which separated the teams at the final whistle.
His close-range finish was one of just three shots on target for Carlos Corberan’s side, but the Baggies boss will once again revel in a display which afforded just one shot on target from the opposition and warranted another clean sheet.
Should the 39-year-old mould his team into a more clinical and creative outfit, combined with the defensive foundations already in place, he could be prepared to take the Premier League by storm.
One of few villains from last night played a large role in this lack of proficiency, as Daryl Dike endured one of his toughest games in a West Brom shirt.
The American was comfortably the worst-performing starter from the home side and deservedly earned his 6.1 Sofascore rating before being dragged off in the 59th minute. Indeed, journalist Elias Burke took to Twitter to claim that the 22-year-old had “looked pretty sluggish” before his substitution.
That lethargy translated into his influence, which was almost non-existent. In his time on the field, Dike only managed eight touches of the ball, three of which were completed passes. Even goalkeeper David Button managed more; in fact, his tally of touches (30) was almost quadruple that of the ex-Orlando City striker.
Dike’s lack of impetus to get involved could be forgiven if he were not so integral in squandering the few golden opportunities which fell his way. Despite having such a minuscule number of touches, the 22-year-old still managed to miss two big chances, which almost cost Corberan and Albion.
Winning by such a small margin is often satisfying, but had the visitors scored themselves, West Brom would have rued those chances that their American marksman fluffed.
This showing might offer proof that he is not the sole answer to the club’s striking woes, and that perhaps Karlan Grant’s failed deadline day move to Swansea City might be a blessing in disguise. He couldn’t have done much worse than his team-mate last night, even if the 25-year-old is desperately out of form, having not scored since August.
An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their transfer plans for academy forward Josh McPake…
What’s the talk?
According to Football Insider, the Light Blues are weighing up their options with the young winger as they attempt to part ways with the 21-year-old.
The report claims that they wanted to cash in on the forward in the January transfer window but no concrete offers came to the negotiating table.
It is stated that terminating his contract and paying him off is one of the ways they could go about moving him on after the window slammed shut last week.
Ditch him
The Light Blues have already decided that they do not see a future for McPake at Ibrox and terminating his contract, which would free him up to find a new permanent home, in the coming months could be a good solution for all parties.
Ross Wilson must reach an agreement to mutually end the dud’s deal as it currently has 18 months left to run and his time out on loan at Queen’s Park this season does not suggest that he is going to break into Michael Beale’s first team in that time.
The winger has reportedly had discipline issues off the pitch and has not done enough in the final third to make up for any problems that he has outside of matches.
In 20 Championship matches for Queen’s Park, McPake has scored two goals and provided three assists from out wide, an indication that the gem has struggled to consistently make an impact.
His form in the second tier of Scottish football comes after the forward scored one goal and failed to assist any in 19 appearances in League One and League Two in England during loan spells with Morecambe and Tranmere.
During his time in League One, the 21-year-old averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.46 and lost 62% of his individual duels – a score that left him 30th in the Morecambe squad.
McPake, who Harrogate manager Simon Weaver once described as “too hot to handle”, has not done enough in his last three loan spells to suggest that the gem has a long-term future at Rangers, given his lack of end product and poor standard of performance, coupled with his disciplinary issues this term.
Therefore, Wilson must brutally ditch the academy product, whether that comes in the next few weeks or in the summer transfer window, to put an end to his Ibrox stories, so that both parties can move on.
Wolverhampton Wanderers didn’t enjoy the greatest of success earlier this season, both on and off the pitch.
Former manager Bruno Lage won just once in the Premier League before being sacked at the start of October, with several of his big-money signings, including Goncalo Guedes and Matheus Nunes not hitting the ground running straight away.
This combination of poor results and splashing the cash on talents who couldn’t quite settle was arguably the main reason the Portuguese coach lost his job, yet selling Morgan Gibbs-White during the transfer window could have also played an inadvertent role, especially with events that have transpired over the previous six months.
What has Morgan Gibbs-White done since leaving Wolves?
The Englishman had risen through the youth ranks at the Old Gold while even claiming World Cup glory for England U17s back in 2017 before making his first-team debut at the start of the 2018/1019 campaign.
Overall, he made just 12 Premier League starts for the Molineux side, never really living up to the early promise as he was progressing through the youth ranks.
A move to newly promoted Nottingham Forest in the summer for a staggering £42.5m may have represented a fee Lage couldn’t turn down, yet he has thrived at the club and proved that the 46-year-old made a huge mistake.
Two goals and four assists may not be outstanding, however, these returns see him ranked second in the Forest squad and it isn’t just goals and assists that he is contributing to the team either.
The 23-year-old ranks first for key passes made per game (1.9), successful dribbles per match (1.4), total shots per game (1.9), and big chances created (five) while featuring in the top five for overall rating (6.98), suggesting that his move has been a success when judging by his all-round performances.
No Wolves player is managing more key passes created per game than Gibbs-White, whilst only Pedro Neto has averaged more dribbles per outing, albeit on a smaller scale, given his injury absence.
He was dubbed a “bargain” by writer Louis Wheeldon late last year, while being lauded as “worth every penny” by journalist Ethan Lamb and it’s clear that he is finally living up to his potential, not allowing the extravagant transfer fee to affect his game.
Lage clearly had a shocker with the Englishman and he could have certainly become an integral member of the squad under Julen Lopetegui that’s for sure.
Wolves’ loss is Forest’s gain and the Old Gold could be paying for Lage’s mistake over the next few years, especially if Gibbs-White continues in his current vein of form.
Everton have found themselves embroiled in a relegation battle once again this season in the Premier League, however, since Sean Dyche arrived at Goodison Park last month it has given the side a huge boost.
The Toffees are now 16th in the top-flight table, climbing out of the relegation zone following a victory over Leeds United last weekend and are now one point clear of the drop with 15 games remaining.
Despite Dyche’s quick turnaround of improved performances, the former Burnley boss has already felt the strain of the managers who preceded him with a number of injuries to key players weakening his opportunity to play his very best side available.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has suffered another injury problem to his thigh which has ruled the striker out for the foreseeable and now talented midfielder Amadou Onana is a huge doubt for the upcoming game against Aston Villa after suffering a knee problem in the second half of the clash with Leeds on Saturday.
As a result, the newly-appointed manager must now look to the depth in his squad to ensure quality isn’t compromised at this crucial stage of the season for Everton and unleashing returnee James Garner could be the perfect solution during Onana’s potential absence.
Is Garner available for the Aston Villa game?
The Merseysiders will host Aston Villa at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon and Dyche will be hoping his unbeaten home form can continue when Unai Emery’s side pay a visit.
Garner returned to action following his recovery from a long-term back injury when he played for the U21s last Friday alongside fellow youngster Nathan Patterson who is also getting back to match fitness after suffering his own fitness issue.
The former Manchester United academy graduate made a £15m move to Everton last summer but hasn’t been able to hit the ground running at his new club as of yet but now he could have the golden opportunity to prove himself to his new manager should Onana be unable to recover in time for the weekend.
Garner has only made six Premier League appearances averaging at just 23 minutes per performance this season so far, however, the 21-year-old ace displayed how effective he can be in the centre of the pitch during his season-long spell with Nottingham Forest last season.
Over 41 Championship appearances, the young midfielder – hailed “phenomenal” by Trevor Sinclair – scored four goals, registered eight assists and created seven big chances, as well as averaging two key passes.
He also registered 1.4 interceptions, 1.8 tackles and won 3.9 duels per game, proving that he is both reliable in defensive transition and a huge attacking threat.
With that being said, Dyche could now capitalise on the youngster’s strengths by utilising his skills in the heart of the team to give Everton their best opportunity to keep up their run of impeccable form at home, distancing themselves even further from the relegation zone.
We have to admit, choosing Everton’s best players these days is a far more difficult job than it once was. This is a side fresh from a relegation battle, in which they came closer to the drop than ever before, and they remain in trouble this term.
The Toffees have installed Sean Dyche as their new manager as they look to stave off relegation to the Championship once again.
It makes for a difficult task when it comes to ranking their best players, but we’ve had a go at listing the 10 best players in their squad.
Let’s take a look…
10) Alex Iwobi
Yes, even we can’t believe that Alex Iwobi is on this list, but hear us out.
In the last season or so, the former Arsenal man has undergone a quiet transition into a reliable midfielder for Frank Lampard, and now for Dyche.
His passing ability has been shown off on certain occasions, too, as he unexpectedly rises up the rankings of importance at Goodison Park.
Since joining the club, Iwobi has clocked up over 120 appearances.
9) Ben Godfrey
Soccer Football – FA Cup Third Round – Hull City v Everton – KCOM Stadium, Hull, Britain – January 8, 2022 Everton’s Ben Godfrey applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Craig Brough
Since arriving from Norwich City in 2020, Ben Godfrey has been thrown into the deep end of relegation battle.
But, he has far from drowned, instead learning to swim the ever dangerous waters of the Premier League.
Given his reliability at times, his injury woes have somewhat stunted his development.
Godfrey has only played four times in the league this season but he’s so good, he’s even played twice for England.
8) Michael Keane
Admittedly, Michael Keane’s form has dropped off a cliff at times in the last season, but, at his best, which he will hope to return to this season, he remains Everton’s best central defender.
While he did fall out of favour towards the end of Lampard’s reign, he will now be hoping Dyche restores him to the XI.
The two forged a fruitful partnership at Burnley, where Keane made 108 appearances, and he is a reliable option.
It remains to be seen if he will be back in the team any time soon.
7) Yerry Mina
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The third centre-back on this list, it becomes baffling just how Everton nearly went down in the first place last season.
But, with Yerry Mina’s injury problems playing a part, Lampard’s side conceded 66 goals last season, the sixth worst in the league.
When fully fit, Mina’s influence cannot be understated.
He’s back amongst it though, and even scored recently in the defeat to Wolves.
6) James Tarkowski
Time will tell whether we regret putting James Tarkowski this high up on our list.
But, for now, we believe he is one of the best players in the current Everton squad.
He proved to be an excellent asset at Burnley, as they managed to reach heights such as the Europa League, before finally suffering the drop.
The defender can put that experience to good use at Goodison Park, especially now Dyche is in the dugout, someone he knows inside out.
5) Demarai Gray
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In the first couple months of his Everton career last summer, Demarai Gray looked like a player trying to prove a point; like someone ready to burst into life.
His winning goal against Arsenal epitomised the start of his time at Goodison Park.
And, whilst he has since dropped off slightly, he still has the potential to be a key player.
In total, he has already scored three goals in the Premier League this season and could be vital to Dyche as his rebuild takes shape.
4) Amadou Onana
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Amadou Onana was snapped up from Lille in the summer, with the midfielder deciding to reject West Ham United in order to make the move to Goodison Park.
He already looks like an absolute monster in the middle of the park, with his strength and technique setting him apart.
Onana has quickly become a key player, and was vital to Dyche’s first win, dominating Arsenal in midfield.
A constantly willing runner, the Belgium international is likely to climb this list the longer he remains in Merseyside.
3) Jordan Pickford
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When your goalkeeper is this high up on a list like this, then you should know that the squad needs strengthening.
Unfortunately for Everton fans, Pickford has had to prove far too many times in the last season exactly why he is England’s number one between the sticks.
In the current campaign, the former Sunderland shot-stopper has again been integral to the way the club tries to play.
If they are to stave off the drop again, Pickford will have to perform at his very best.
2) Dominic Calvert-Lewin
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If it wasn’t for his recent injury problems, Dominic Calvert-Lewin would probably have done enough by now to warrant the top spot in this list.
As things stand, however, injuries have denied him of that.
At the end of the 2020/21 season, in which he netted 21 goals in all competitions, Calvert-Lewin would have been on top of the world.
This season, he is working his way back to full fitness and has only scored once, but the talent remains.
1) Abdoulaye Doucoure
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Abdoulaye Doucoure is, in our opinion, Everton’s best player by quite some distance.
This is a midfielder who could be playing at a far higher level, and if the Toffees can build their foundations around him, then they’ll survive relegation, and pull away into mid-table this season.
Of course, Dyche doesn’t have an easy job on his hands, but having a midfielder like Doucoure makes it a lot less difficult, especially when he can be paired with Onana in the centre of the pitch.
That is a truly dominant pairing; Everton just need to start winning some games!
So, there you have it, our ranking of Everton’s best current players. Do you agree with our list? Or, do you believe that we’ve left some players out? Let us know in the comments!
Manchester United are plotting a summer move for Red Bull Salzburg striker Benjamin Sesko, according to a recent report.
The Lowdown: Man United eyeing striker
Wout Weghorst was once again chosen to lead the line for Man United in their 2-0 triumph over Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final, however he has scored just once in nine games for the Red Devils since arriving in January.
As such, he is unlikely to be viewed as a long-term option for United in attack, with Erik ten Hag still said to be interested in Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane, and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen.
The Latest: Sesko targeted
According to a report from Football Insider, the Red Devils are plotting to sign Sesko from Red Bull Salzburg this summer, despite the fact he has already agreed a £21m move to sister club RB Leipzig.
Old Trafford is said to be the perfect destination for the 19-year-old, given Ten Hag’s proven track record of working with young players.
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The Verdict: Make it happen
If there is any possibility of signing the starlet this summer, then Man United should do their utmost to make it happen, given the vast potential that he possesses.
Sesko is a fantastic young prospect who first rose to prominence when he bagged a ridiculous 59 goals in just 23 games for second division side Krsko Under-15s in 2017-18.
Journalist Josh Bunting has hailed the striker as being a ‘superb talent’, while football scout Jacek Kulig has even likened him to Manchester City forward Erling Haaland, such is his supreme athleticism and ability in front of goal.
The Slovenian marksman is 6 foot 4 and has been clocked sprinting over 36 km/h. He has managed to score six goals in 18 Austrian Bundesliga appearances so far this term, already bettering his tally from last season.
If Ten Hag is chasing a developing young striker to come in and lead the line for years to come, he could do much worse than Sesko.
Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo has been praised for his opening finish during the Premier League game vs Manchester United by journalist James Pearce.
The Lowdown: Victory at Anfield
The Reds were the hosts at Anfield on Sunday afternoon as Jurgen Klopp and his side secured an emphatic 7-0 victory over the Red Devils thanks to goals from Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
The Dutchman’s contribution was obviously the key moment, as he opened their account on 43 minutes after running onto an Andy Robertson through-ball to cut inside Raphael Varane and fire the ball into the far corner past David De Gea.
It had been a tight game with half-chances at both ends up until that point, but the floodgates opened thanks to the January signing’s opener.
The Latest: Pearce stunned
Taking to Twitter, Pearce couldn’t believe the execution of Gakpo’s finish to give Liverpool the lead just before the break. He wrote:
“Wow, what a finish that is from Gakpo. No wonder United wanted to sign him. The Dutchman showing them what they’re missing up top.”
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The Verdict: Standout performer
Liverpool were huge under pressure to get a result coming into this game given United’s recent form, and Gakpo was one of the standout performers in this unbelievable scoreline.
The Reds winger received a match rating of 8.2, the second highest in the whole squad and only behind Salah, who scored the perfect ten for his record-breaking display, becoming the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.
The 6 foot 3 Dutchman won half of his aerial duels and produced a key pass before being substituted in the closing stages of the encounter (SofaScore).
Gakpo will have definitely proven a point to United, who were also chasing him prior to signing for Liverpool, and this reinvention could spark the start of a new era on Merseyside.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Manchester United sent scouts to watch summer transfer target Kim Min-jae this week.
What’s the latest on Kim Min-jae and the Man Utd links?
It seems as though the Man Utd decision-makers are already trying to plan for the future with regard to possible signings at the end of the season with moves already being made behind the scenes.
Even though it remains unclear who exactly will be writing the transfer cheques next summer – with the Glazers possibly selling the club amid interest from multiple bidders – Erik ten Hag and co are pushing on with their transfer plans regardless.
Indeed, defender Kim has been linked with a move to the Red Devils and club scouts were in the stands as Napoli took on Lazio on Friday night.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano explained (3:38): “What we can say is that Man United scouts were following the player already in October, in November.
“But really important to say that they were also sitting in the stands in the last game between Napoli and Lazio. He is a player they’re following.
“And so Kim Min-jae is one to watch because Manchester United are keeping an eye on him. But at the moment, it is important also to say that Napoli wants to extend his contract as a priority for Napoli.”
Will Kim Min-jae join Man Utd?
Ironically, despite having lost just once in Serie A all season beforehand, Napoli and Kim then went and lost for a second time with the United scouts watching on during the Lazio match.
Regardless of that defeat, though, the defender looks certain to win the Italian top-flight this term with that being their first home loss of the campaign.
So that result probably won’t put off any Man Utd scouts who will no doubt also be aware that the centre-back could be signed for a bargain this summer too.
Indeed, as per Corriere dello Sport (via Goal), the Napoli ace has £42m release clause which will become active for a 15-day period this summer. This explains why his current side are so desperate to negotiate new terms, as Romano makes clear.
It will certainly be interesting, however, to see if the Manchester presence in Italy will be enough to turn Kim’s head ahead of a possible summer switch.