Tag Futebol

Everton have lined up three medicals at Finch Farm today as Farhad Moshiri aims to provide Sean Dyche with some reinforcement ahead of the remaining months of the campaign.

What’s the latest?

Dyche has landed on Merseyside with a huge task on his hands as the Toffees face yet another relegation battle in the remaining 18 games of the 2022/23 campaign.

And up to now, no new faces have come through the doors at Goodison Park with the only arrivals at Everton being two loanees who’ve returned from their respective deals.

However, it seems as if the Premier League strugglers are pushing today to get some deals done and provide Dyche with the best opportunity to keep them in the top flight.

Indeed, speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist Jacque Talbot has heard the Toffees have lined up a trio of medicals with just hours remaining in the window:

“I’ve heard they’ve got three medicals lined up today. I believe it will be Sulemana from Rennes. I’m not sure on the other names, but that’s what I heard. There are three medicals booked in at Everton today as Sean Dyche tries to pull them out of the relegation zone.”

Looking to make some moves

It is worth mentioning since Talbot spoke to GiveMeSport, it seems as if Everton may have already been handed a possible transfer blow in the race for Kamaldeen Sulemana.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Rennes winger has decided to join Southampton over Everton with the two clubs having found an agreement for a transfer.

This will feel like a huge blow for the Toffees who will be missing out on a player who they clearly feel could have brought them a boost in the fight against relegation.

And it will come as a double-blow for Everton who are now expected to miss out on the player to one of their relegation rivals with Southampton side the only team below Dyche’s men in the table.

Losing out on the player to Southampton will not only feel like a blow in their hopes of survival but also in the sense of where Everton are now as a club in missing out on players to smaller clubs like the Saints.

With all of this in mind, there will be a hope Everton do not stumble across any further issues with the other two medicals which are believed to be scheduled at Finch Farm.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring David Raya to north London in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Matt Law, with the journalist revealing in a recent article for The Telegraph that, with Spurs looking to sign a long-term successor to Hugo Lloris between the sticks, Fabio Paratici has now identified the 27-year-old Brentford shot-stopper as one of his top targets for the position.

Law goes on to suggest that, while the signing of a new ‘keeper is not a priority for Antonio Conte in the January transfer window, with the France international having turned 36 years of age on Boxing Day, there is an acknowledgement among the Tottenham hierarchy that an heir to Lloris should be signed at the end of the current campaign.

“Incredible”

Considering just how impressive Raya has been for Brentford in recent seasons, it is easy to see why Paratici would be interested in a deal to bring the Spain international to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Lloris’ long-term successor.

Indeed, over his 24 Premier League appearances last season, the £19.5m-rated shot-stopper was in sensational form between the Bees’ sticks, keeping eight clean sheets, as well as making an average of 3.3 saves – the joint seventh-most in the league – playing 10.8 long balls and completing 25.8 passes per game.

These returns saw the 27-year-old average an astonishing Sofascore match rating of 7.01, ranking him as Thomas Frank’s joint fifth-best performer in the top flight of English football last time out.

For context, those numbers were all better than Lloris’, with the Frenchman struggling within the latter stages of his career. By comparison, he achieved an average rating of 6.98 in 2021/22, having made 2.6 saves per game and completing 4.6 long balls a match.

The £25k-per-week Raya has been in fine form over his 18 Premier League fixtures in the current campaign too, having already kept five clean sheets, in addition to making an average of 4.4 saves – the most in the division – playing 10.8 long balls and completing 23.3 passes per match.

These metrics have seen the player who The Athletic’s Jay Harris dubbed “incredible” and “one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League” average a quite breathtaking Sofascore match rating of 7.11, not only ranking him as Brentford’s second-best performer in the league but also as the joint 43rd-best player in the top flight as a whole.

As such, considering just how solid a ‘keeper Raya has very much proven himself to be over the last two seasons, it is indeed easy to see why Paratici is targeting the two-cap international as Lloris’ successor between the Spurs’ sticks, as the Spaniard would undoubtedly be an incredible signing for the Italian to get over the line next summer.

Glasgow Rangers failed to gain any ground in the Scottish Premiership title race following a 2-2 draw against Old Firm rivals Celtic in today’s New Year derby.

Michael Beale was taking charge of the Ibrox side for the first time in an Old Firm clash and he had to look on as Rangers were underwhelming in the first half, having just 40% possession and going in at the break a goal down.

The second half saw a marked improvement, with the Light Blues scoring twice in the space of six minutes to lead 2-1 and the performance was far more fluid.

A first derby win for Beale was snatched away by a late Celtic equaliser, however, and despite their best attempts, the Gers couldn’t find a late winner.

James Tavernier showed great composure to score the penalty while making four key passes during the tie, yet it was Fashion Sakala who was arguably Rangers’ biggest threat going forward.

Sakala had so far thrived under the 42-year-old in the four matches since the season resumed midway through December, scoring twice and grabbing an assist and he was deployed on the right wing for today’s match.

The 25-year-old received a solid Sofascore rating of 7.0/10 for his performance, which included 39 touches and 12 accurate passes, although it was his attacking prowess that nearly won the match for Rangers.

Sakala played one key pass, had a total of four shots, succeeded with three of his four dribble attempts, and won the penalty from which Tavernier coolly slotted away.

His unpredictable nature meant he was an absolute nightmare for the Celtic defence, with his darting runs and raw talent creating chances for his teammates throughout the encounter.

He was also praised for his “excellent driving run” to set up Ryan Kent’s equaliser by journalist Joshua Barrie, while Jordan Campbell claimed that Sakala “changed the game for Rangers” with his second-half performance.

Beale can take a lot of positives from this performance into the next few weeks, and despite the game finishing in a draw, it could have easily ended with the Light Blues securing all three points.

The difference at the top of the table is still nine points and the next two Old Firm clashes will be crucial unless the title has already been decided by then.

Manchester United have regularly been left to rue their inactivity in the transfer market, with the Red Devils having repeatedly missed the chance to land promising young talents on the cheap, only to then be quoted far greater fees to sign those players later down the line.

That has been evident in the case of Argentina international Enzo Fernandez, with reports earlier this year having suggested that the midfielder was a target for the Old Trafford outfit, only to eventually join Benfica in the summer for an initial fee of just €10m (£8.7m).

The suggestion is that United are keen to atone for that missed opportunity by making another move in 2023, with 90min reporting last month that the Premier League giants are among a number of clubs to be keeping a close eye on the youngster.

The former River Plate gem will likely not come cheap, though, with reports in Portugal suggesting that he has a release of around €120m (£104m), with the Lisbon outfit unlikely to be in any rush to cash in on their recent addition.

Despite that hefty price tag, it could well be worth paying for Erik ten Hag’s side if they are to snap up Fernandez in the New Year, with the 5 foot 10 sensation having illustrated his quality in recent weeks after enjoying a “brilliant” World Cup, in the words of journalist Liam Twomey.

The highly-regarded “cheat code” – as described by Kwadwo Sheldon – played a vital role in helping Lionel Scaloni’s side to secure glory in Qatar, having featured in all seven games in the tournament for the South American giants.

The playmaking “phenomenon”, as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig, had only made three appearances in friendlies prior to the start of the competition, although he quickly established himself in the team after netting a glorious curling effort in the group stage win over Mexico.

The dynamic ace was a truly relentless presence in midfield throughout the tournament, having won an impressive 75% of his aerial duels while also averaging 3.1 tackles per game, ranking joint-third in the competition as a whole for tackles won (15).

Such standout performances in front of a global audience unsurprisingly saw the ten-cap menace claim the tournament’s Young Player Award, with that only set to further increase the growing list of suitors who are chasing his signature.

Those displays have been a continuation of the San Martin native’s form at club level, with Fernandez having scored three goals and laid on five assists in all competitions for Benfica this term, while he also ranks in the top 1% in Europe for progressive passes as a marker of his ball-playing quality.

The signs are that the exciting asset will improve even further over the coming years, with United needing to atone for their previous inaction and secure his services in 2023.

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe will likely use this current halt to proceedings to plot his potential moves in the upcoming January transfer window, with the World Cup stage likely to allow the Englishman to keep tabs on possible targets.

One man who could play a leading role for his country in Qatar is silky Frenchman, Adrien Rabiot, with the 6 foot 2 sensation heading into the tournament off the back of a stunning run of form at club level, with the Juventus midfielder scoring five times and laying on two assists in just 16 outings for the Serie A outfit this season.

That standout form – which has seen the 27-year-old dubbed “breathtaking” by journalist Mina Rzouki – has come after the former Paris Saint-Germain man appeared destined for a departure from Turin over the summer, with Premier League giants Manchester United having been heavily linked with a high-profile swoop.

The Magpies, too, had also been tipped to make a move for the 29-cap gem in the recent window, with the playmaker facing an uncertain future at the Allianz Stadium with just over six months left on his existing deal.

With the £150k-per-week giant yet to agree to an extension despite his latest resurgence, it could well be time for the Tynesiders to pounce once again in January, particularly should Rabiot go on to impress again on the international stage in the coming weeks.

The one-time Manchester City youth asset will likely have the chance to shine in Didier Deschamps’ side amid injuries to the likes of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, having previously missed Les Bleus’ glorious triumph four years ago after being left out of the squad in Russia.

Now set to be chomping at the bit to show his worth this time around, the Saint-Maurice-born powerhouse could go on to be one of the leading assets for the much-fancied holders, potentially helping to see his stock rise even further.

As far as those back at St James’ Park are concerned, were the club to get the towering gem through the door he could potentially replicate the success of resurgent hero, Joelinton, with the pair said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities, as per FBref.

The in-form Brazilian – who was dubbed “special” by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher last term – offers a dynamic midfield presence to Howe’s side, showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 13% in Europe’s top leagues for dribbles completed, with Rabiot only slightly behind as he ranks in the top 18% for the same metric.

The latter man also mirrors the Magpies gem as a result of his defensive work as he averages 2.68 tackles per game, while Joelinton averages 2.79 tackles per game, showcasing that the duo both offer a real ball-winning asset in the middle of the pitch.

A comparison to the former Hoffenheim man may not have been flattering just over a year ago, although Joelinton has emerged as a real leading asset in Howe’s side over the last 12 months, notably playing a key part in the club’s surge this season after making 12 top-flight starts.

To bring in a figure such as Rabiot to provide further competition and depth could well be an ideal addition as far as the Tynesiders are concerned, with the one-time Toulouse loanee having notably been praised by ex-teammate Gianluigi Buffon in the past, with the Italian icon stating:

“Rabiot is incredible, very strong. What I met is a champion, a fantastic mix: he has physical strength of [Paul] Pogba – he is a proper wardrobe. He has [Arturo] Vidal’s personality in the game and potentially [Claudio] Marchisio’s dynamism and ability to integrate “

Such a glowing assessment is a sign of the midfield maestro’s quality – something that could well be on show in Qatar – with Newcastle simply needing to get a deal completed in the New Year.

Everton have been heavily linked with Ben Brereton Diaz since the summer and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the Toffees transfer target.

What’s the latest?

Fabrizio Romano took to his Substack page for Caught Offside to dispel rumours that Manchester United could compete with Everton for the Blackburn Rovers forward’s signature in January.

Romano revealed: “Nothing concrete for the moment, the strongest interest has been from Everton, back in the summer.

“My understanding is that there is currently nothing from Man United.”

He’s a Maupay upgrade

There is no doubt that Brereton Diaz would be a major coup for Everton in January as they have struggled to find the back of the net over the first half of the Premier League season so far, and with the potential for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to be sidelined with a hamstring injury, the signing couldn’t come at a better time.

Indeed, Everton did add a little depth to their forward line after losing Richarlison this summer with the signing of striker Neal Maupay but the former Brighton and Hove Albion ace has barely lit up Goodison Park with his presence in front of goal.

Maupay has scored just one Premier League goal in nine appearances and has been unable to register any assists or create any big chances for his attacking teammates, so it would make perfect sense for Everton to make another approach for Brereton Diaz in the new year as he would be a big upgrade on the newly-signed striker.

Over 20 Championship appearances so far, Brereton Diaz has scored nine goals, registered one assist and created four big chances, as well as making one key pass and taking 3.1 shots on goal, proving that he could be the natural finisher and attacking threat that Lampard needs in the team.

The £20m-valued ace has not only been a dominant presence in front of goal this season but has been a consistent and reliable performer for Rovers over his time at the club scoring 41 goals and registering 13 assists over 149 appearances, with a goal contribution every 172 minutes.

With that being said, if the powers at Goodison Park can pull off a deal for Brereton Diaz in January it could be season-changing for Everton in their pursuit to climb the Premier League table over the second half of the campaign.

West Ham United are a club famed for their production of exciting young talent, with the club’s most notable success story in recent times having seen midfield star Declan Rice emerge from the academy set-up to become a leading figure in the first-team.

Plucked by the Hammers at the age of 14 following his release by London rivals Chelsea, the Englishman subsequently went on to make his debut at the tail end of the 2016/17 season, having not looked back since after going from strength to strength in recent years.

Hailed as the “best central midfield player in the country” by pundit Paul Parker last season, the 23-year-old has regularly been linked to the Premier League’s elite clubs as a result of his impressive displays for both his club and at international level, notably featuring in all seven games of the Three Lions’ Euro 2020 campaign.

The 34-cap sensation has grown to such importance for the Irons that he was even named captain following Mark Noble’s retirement at the end of last term, despite his relative youth, with manager David Moyes suggesting that his star asset could now be worth as much as £150m.

With doubts over the £60k-per-week machine’s long-term future at the club, however – with his current deal set to expire in the summer of 2024 – the focus will now likely be on finding a suitable replacement, with it set to be a sizeable hole to fill once the Kingston-born menace does depart.

Rather than looking to the transfer market as a solution, however, the London Stadium outfit could well save themselves millions by instead turning towards the academy, with the case of Rice showcasing the benefits of promoting from within.

One impressive youngster who could well take the West Ham captain’s place in the side in the coming years is Pierre Ekwah, with the 20-year-old having caught the eye at youth level of late, having joined from Stamford Bridge last summer.

The defensive midfielder was lauded by journalist Alan Rzepa at the time of his arrival, who stated that the emerging prospect “is going to be insane” for the east Londoners in the future, with the current evidence suggesting that that prophecy could well become reality.

The exciting Frenchman has already scored seven goals and provided one assist from his 35 games at U21 level over the past year or so, including three goals in just eight appearances at Premier League 2 level so far this term.

The versatile ace – who like Rice can also be deployed at centre-back – is yet to feature at senior level thus far, although was named on the bench for the Europa Conference League qualifying games against Viborg back in August.

A France U20 international, Ekwah looks set to be a player who could well make the step up to join Moyes’ ranks in the coming months and years, with the hope being that he can follow in Rice’s footsteps and become a key figure for the Hammers, while also leaving the Blues to pay for their mistake once again in letting such a quality young asset depart.

Southampton will definitely have Matthias Jaissle ‘in the frame’ if Ralph Hasenhuttl leaves St. Mary’s, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Hasenhuttl under pressure

The Telegraph have recently reported that the Austrian is close to being sacked by the Premier League side after recording just two wins from their opening nine games of the new season.

The Daily Mail state that the club’s owners, Sport Republic, want to bring someone in that has a reputation of developing younger players, with the likes of Domenico Tedesco, Enzo Maresca and Red Bull Salzburg boss Jaissle all name-checked.

The Latest: Southampton to approach Jaissle?

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones claimed that Jaissle holds similar tactics to Hasenhuttl, and therefore believes that the 34-year-old will be considered a serious contender to take over.

“Southampton obviously have a certain profile of boss that they will go for, they need to have a certain vision and a style of football. But he’s certainly a guy that will be in the frame.”

The Verdict: Exciting candidate

Jaissle is a much younger manager than the Saints would normally approach, but if his track record is anything to go by, he would be a hugely exciting appointment on the south coast.

The German has been in the dugout for 101 games throughout his coaching career, and has won an outstanding 78, drawn 16 and lost just ten, averaging a huge 2.40 points per match (Transfermarkt).

He achieved a domestic double last season, so has silverware to his name, and this is the level of success and belief that needs to be instilled before the club start going on a downwards spiral.

Steven Gerrard made the bold decision to keep Cameron Archer at Aston Villa during the summer but his lack of first-team action suggests it might have been a big mistake by the Villa boss.

The 19-year-old academy graduate enjoyed a superb breakthrough campaign last season, first catching the eye with four goals in the League Cup for Villa’s first team, including a hat-trick in a win against Barrow.

He was sent on loan to Preston North End in the Championship and continued his impressive form in the second tier, hitting seven goals in just 20 appearances for the Lancashire club, taking his tally to 15 goals in 56 senior appearances.

Manager Ryan Lowe was full of praise for the young striker’s impact in the second tier, saying:

“Cameron has got an abundance of talent.

“It is getting him in the right places, I don’t want him coming short all the time, I want him to be on the shoulder, sniffing around, being proactive, not reactive.

“His quality levels are fantastic, he’s bullish, strong, he can roll, he has got that little burst of pace too.”

Archer’s fine form would continue during the summer, as he managed four goals in just four outings for England U21s, and it all seemed set for the 20-year-old to have a big 2022/23 campaign.

Gerrard confirmed during the summer that Archer would remain with the first team and was expected to challenge the likes of Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings for a starting role.

However, that hasn’t come to fruition, as despite Villa’s poor start to the season, the academy graduate has featured in just 17 minutes of action this term, making three appearances from the bench.

Even against lower league opposition in the League Cup, Archer was afforded just eight minutes of playing time, and this lack of first-team action is surely harming his potential, as he wasn’t called up to the England U21 squad for the current international break.

It makes little sense that Archer is warming the bench when he was attracting so much Championship interest during the summer and Gerrard looks to have made another blunder in keeping him at the club without giving him any real chances.

Celtic are back in action today for their first Old Firm Derby clash of the SPFL season in front of their home fans.

Their previous league game saw the Hoops beat Ross County 4-1 on Wednesday in the Scottish League Cup thanks to goals from Callum McGregor, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Daizen Maeda and James Forrest.

On the chalkboard

In terms of what Ange Postecoglou’s starting XI could look like to take on Rangers, one figure that didn’t play in midweek that we feel should be in from the beginning on this occasion is Josip Juranovic.

Celtic signed the right-back during the 2021 summer transfer window on a five-year deal from Legia Warsaw.

Throughout his debut season at Parkhead, the defender, who had been linked with a £15m move away from Glasgow this summer, made 35 appearances for the Bhoys across all competitions, chipping in with five goals and two assists along the way.

He could dominate

To highlight how useful he was for Celtic last season, he came third for the number of tackles he won (28) at the club, as well as racking up the fifth-highest number of crosses (98) and interceptions (22).

This shows not just how much of a very capable defender he is but also how much of a danger he can be in an attacking sense.

Bearing in mind how Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side have only had seven fewer shots at goal than Celtic so far this season and have delivered more crosses than the SPFL champions, having a player like Juranovic on the pitch could be key for the Bhoys in getting a positive result out of the game.

Also, his ability to get up and down the pitch and make things happen at both ends shows that he has what it takes to dominate a match, which is surely what the home side will be looking to do this afternoon.

Previously hailed for his “outstanding” performance against Rangers last season by Ally McCoist, the 27-year-old certainly knows what it takes to play in an Old Firm Derby and what is needed to win in them as well.

Moving forward, we ultimately feel that the full-back should be one of the first names on the team sheet for Postecoglou, as his defensive and attacking attributes would give his side an edge over their bitter rivals.