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Everton have been dealt a huge blow in their chase of Zeki Celik with the LOSC Lille right-back reported to favour a January transfer to AS Roma.

What’s the word?

According to Fanatik, Roma have begun negotiations with Lille in hopes of signing Celik in the mid-season window, as they strive to move ahead of the Toffees in the race for the Turkey international.

Lille are understood to value the 23-year-old at just €15m (£13.5m), two-and-a-half years on from signing Celik for €2.5m (£2m) and seeing the defender prove to be a key aspect of Christophe Galtier’s plans at the Stade Pierre Mauroy.

Celik has opened 12 of Les Dogues’ Ligue 1 fixtures this term, with an ankle injury sidelining the 18-cap defender for three games following the November international break.

Everton had held talks with Celik’s representatives earlier in the January window to discuss a potential move to Goodison Park, where Carlo Ancelotti is said to be searching for his long-term successor to Seamus Coleman.

But Celik is now said to favour a move to Roma, where Paulo Fonseca’s side sit fourth in the Serie A and nine points behind leaders AC Milan after losing 3-0 to SS Lazio in the Rome derby last Friday.

Ancelotti has one choice to make

Word that Celik is favouring a move to the Stadio Olimpico as the Giallorossi ramp up negotiations with Lille has left Ancelotti with one choice to make: Who does he envisage being Everton’s right-back in years to come?

The Toffees have been linked with a handful of names of late, including Norwich City’s Max Aarons, Rangers’ James Tavernier and more recently Brighton and Hove Albion’s Tariq Lamptey, on top of Lille’s Celik, as Ancelotti strives to find a long-term option in the position.

Ancelotti must decide swiftly if Celik is the one to fill the role, or if the Blues would be better served waiting until the summer when they may have the chance to sign a player like Lamptey.

So far this season, Lamptey has emerged as the best attacking option between Coleman, Celik and himself with a higher volume of shots per game (0.5), key passes (0.9) and successful dribbles (1.2) in the Premier League, per WhoScored.

Celik, for his efforts in Ligue 1, ranks second among the trio for shots (0.4 to Coleman’s 0.3) and key passes (0.8 to Coleman’s 0.4), but third for dribbles (0.6 to Coleman’s 0.8). He also displays better defensive traits with a higher average of successful tackles (3.2), interceptions (1.8) and joint-most clearances (1.5) and blocks (0.2).

Lamptey, meanwhile, is last compared to Celik and Coleman with 1.5 tackles, 0.6 times dribbled past,  blocks (0.1) and clearances (0.8) and second for interceptions (1.7) and for least fouls committed (1.9).

So, for just €15m (£13.5m), Celik would offer a very well-rounded and young option to rival Coleman for honours at right-back, but Ancelotti may be too late in his pursuit.

AND in other news, Everton have requested further information on the availability of a 21-y/o target who “has potential”…

It has been 16 months and 499 days since Adam Forshaw was last spotted in a Leeds United shirt.

The midfielder has endured a horrendous period out with a hip problem but he still hopes to be fit before the Premier League season ends.

For the former Middlesbrough man, it would be a big reward for someone who has had to sacrifice so much. When he hobbled off against Charlton last term, top-flight football was not a reality quite yet.

The club’s transfer record was still the £18m they spent on Rio Ferdinand in 2000 and dare we say it, but social distancing didn’t exist either.

So much has happened to Forshaw, Leeds and indeed across the globe since he last took to the field. Though, if you believe the player himself, there could soon be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Forshaw is a tenacious figure and despite the Whites achieving promotion last season they missed him greatly. His running between each box are desirable qualities and to Marcelo Bielsa, he is highly rated.

“He defends similar to Kalvin, he attacks similar to Klich,” the Argentine noted in October 2019. Understandably, you can see why Bielsa lusts after his return.

Forshaw is like very few players in the Leeds squad but over a year since he first got injured, the manager has finally found a remedy to his hole in the squad.

United’s midfield has been lacklustre at times this season. Pascal Struijk has struggled to fill in for Kalvin Phillips when he’s been absent at the base and Mateusz Klich has had a difficult term. The Pole has scored just once since the second game of the campaign for example.

Thus, when Bielsa witnessed Stuart Dallas rampage forward and find the net against Leicester last weekend, he will have raised a wry smile. At long last, he’d found someone who, in the words of the great man himself, defends like Phillips and attacks like Klich.

Dallas won their Players’ Player of the Season in 2019/20 and he’s not let up since Leeds won promotion. Once again, he’s proven to be a pillar of versatility but he’s now finding a home for himself in the middle of the park. Like Forshaw, the £10k-per-week earner possesses boundless energy and provides as much to the attack as he does in defence.

Leeds Live reporter Beren Cross wrote after the Leicester win: “The performance in central midfield any doubters needed to see. Wonderful, especially in the first half. Those third-man runs from deep caused chaos and eventually forced the equaliser. So dependable in both halves of the pitch, with and without the ball.”

Cast your mind back over a year and that could quite easily describe a performance from Forshaw. As Leeds brushed Brendan Rodgers’ team aside, Dallas broke up the play by making two interceptions and producing four fouls.

Speaking earlier in the season, Darren Fletcher aired his views on the Northern Irishman, hailing his ability to play in a host of positions.

“The midfielders can go everywhere, he wants interaction, he wants wide players coming in, he wants midfielders running beyond. He (Dallas) played like a normal midfielder so credit to him to be tactically that versatile, it’s perfect for somebody like Bielsa,” Fletcher said.

A quick look at the stats will tell you how similar the two players are. In 2020/21, Dallas has won 2.2 tackles per game, made 1.3 interceptions and produced 1.1 shots per match.

Reflect on the 2018/19 campaign and Forshaw also won 2.2 tackles an outing. He managed 0.8 shots on average too.

It’s taken a while for Bielsa to find his ideal solution in midfield but it looks as though he’s finally stumbled upon something worth sticking to.

AND in other news, Leeds must cash in on “unreal” £18k-p/w gem this summer, Bielsa has surely seen enough…

Many Arsenal fans were left slamming the display of Emile Smith Rowe in their 1-1 draw versus Benfica in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night.

The tie was technically their away leg although it was played in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome in what ended up being a frustrating game for Mikel Arteta and his men.

The Emirates Stadium faithful were largely dominant but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang especially missed a few big chances that would have made the second leg much more comfortable.

Bukayo Saka saved the Gunners’ blushes after captain Pizzi put the hosts in front from the penalty spot.

Smith Rowe was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area and so gave away the pen in what was not his best night by his standards.

The 20-year-old lost out on no fewer than four of his duels and also failed to record a single shot, dribble, key pass, accurate cross or long ball, while he also lost possession 11 times, earning him a very measly 5.9 overall rating on Sofascore, the lowest out of any player to have set foot on the pitch.

Arsenal fan reaction to Smith Rowe display

These Gooners slammed his performance on Twitter, with one AFC supporter even going as far as to say that he was ‘clueless’ while another claimed that he ‘needs to be shipped off to the Championship’:

“We needed to slow the game and avoid a loss because our attack had lost ideas. Smith Rowe was tired and clueless, Auba gave up, Pepe and Martinelli looked exposed, Saka and Odegaard did not have any more tricks. There was no killer power. Tierney and Cedric could not make runs.”

Credit: @EngineerOmari

“Smith Rowe needs to be shipped off to the Championship again. Only rated because he’s from fail end and runs around like a horse.”

Credit: @lucxidreams

“Arsenal fan but it was a pen. Dumb decision from Smith Rowe”

Credit: @32mtizzy

“Arsenal’s creative spark Martin Ødegaard dropped a very good performance against a team playing such a low block. However, performances from other creators such as Emile Smith Rowe and Hector Bellerin from full back were average or simply poor.”

Credit: @AnalysingAFC

“Smith Rowe was poor and stop with the Bellerin agenda”

Credit: @clockend_scott

“Smith Rowe was poor.”

Credit: @riyadinho19

In other news, find out who was slammed by Arsenal fans for his display versus Aston Villa here!

Karl Darlow is set to be replaced by Martin Dubravka for Newcastle United in their home fixture versus Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday night.

That is according to The Daily Telegraph, claiming Steve Bruce has decided to change his goalkeeper for the game against Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.

Darlow can count himself unlucky

Darlow can count himself very unlucky to be dropped as he has put in some stellar displays for the St. James’ Park faithful over the course of the 2020/21 term so far.

The 30-year-old makes no fewer than 3.5 saves on average per game in the Premier League and has also saved a penalty and made no errors that have led to shots or goals (Sofascore).

Alan Shearer was particularly full of praise for him during the North East club’s 0-0 home draw with reigning EPL champions Liverpool back in December of last year, describing Darlow as ‘exceptional’.

Nonetheless, Dubravka is a safe pair of hands and is more than capable of filling into the Englishman’s shoes against the Molineux outfit.

After all, the Slovakia international was Bruce’s first-choice ‘keeper before his injury which meant that Darlow had to step in, and now he will take his place in between the posts again for the Magpies as they look to get a vital three points to ease off fear of potential relegation.

In other news, find out what inside claim Luke Edwards has dropped on Bruce’s future here!

Newcastle United have been dealt yet another huge blow with concerns over Isaac Hayden’s fitness ahead of Sunday’s relegation scrap with Premier League rivals West Bromwich Albion.

Steve Bruce revealed on Friday that Hayden has been carrying an ankle injury for the best part of the last week or two and could join an ever-growing list of absent players.

The Magpies were already set to tackle this weekend’s crunch six-pointer without head coach Bruce’s favoured front-three of Callum Wilson, Miguel Almiron and Saint-Maximin due to respective hamstring, knee and groin issues.

Losing Hayden as well will come as a hammer blow to the Toon’s hope of securing all three points at The Hawthorns, as Bruce strives to end United’s three-game winless run and claim what will only be the St James’ Park natives’ third win in 18 games across all competitions.

Newcastle’s dire run of form currently sees the northeast outfit sit just three points clear of the drop zone after 18th-placed Fulham lost to Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday night, which further handed Bruce a game in hand over the Cottagers in the fight for survival.

Hayden has been a fixture of the Magpies’ line-up when fit this season, starting 19 of his 21 top-flight appearances and playing the full 90 minutes on 16 occasions.

Only goalkeeper Karl Darlow (2,250), defender Jamal Lewis (1,827) and 10-goal top scorer Wilson (1,816) have been awarded more minutes on the field than the Arsenal product (1,721) thus far this term.

Hayden has also offered a joint team-high 40 successful tackles with Almiron, alongside a Toon-high 37 interceptions and 22 passes blocked, per WhoScored, as the 25-year-old breaks up opposition play at a vastly superior level to his St. James’ Park teammates.

His efforts additionally see Hayden rank 49th among all Premier League players for successful tackles – Manchester United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka (72) has the most – 18th for interceptions and 25th for passes blocked.

Should Hayden be deemed unavailable for Newcastle’s trip to relegation rivals West Brom on Sunday, Bruce may have to place his trust in summer signing Jeff Hendrick and hope that the £8.1m-rated flop is able to step up to the challenge at hand.

Hendrick has played no role in United’s last three Premier League games after being shown a second yellow card in January’s 3-2 win over Southampton, which capped off a poor vein of form from the ex-Burnley midfielder whom the Magpies signed as a free agent in August.

The Saints match marked Hendrick’s 16th start in 17 top-flight games with the Toon, despite being slammed by numerous supporters for his efforts against Crystal Palace four days prior, along with producing a torrid performance in January’s 2-0 away to Everton and delivering an anonymous display at Aston Villa.

Hendrick being sent off at home to Southampton also saw that he earned a two out of 10 match rating from Chronicle Live, having been shown a second booking for a needless shirt pull on Takumi Minamino in an act that was described as ‘beyond stupidity’.

Bruce may now need to rely on Hendrick retaking a spot in his midfield should Hayden be ruled unfit, and will have to see the Republic of Ireland international turn a corner with his performances if called upon.

AND in other news, some Newcastle players want a “very good organiser” lauded by those he’s worked with to replace Steve Bruce…

Carlton Palmer does not believe that Tottenham Hotspur will sack Jose Mourinho, telling Football FanCast in an exclusive interview that the ex-Chelsea boss will be given at least two seasons to prove his worth in north London.

Spurs have endured a difficult spell this season and fell as low as ninth in the Premier League table.

That has led to reports of interest in rival managers, including both Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers and RB Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann.

Palmer, though, does not think that Spurs will be looking to sack Mourinho any time soon.

Indeed, reports suggest that it would cost the club around £30m to sack the Portuguese.

While Palmer, an ex-England international, thinks that Mourinho’s position may come into doubt if the club fail to finish in the top four, he expects him to be given the 2021/22 season to shape Spurs in his own image.

He told FFC: “I don’t think Spurs will be looking to relieve Mourinho of his duties. But I certainly think that they’ll be, with the money that’s been invested in bringing Mourinho in, I think they would have been expecting to finish in the top four.

“I don’t know if that’s possible for Spurs this season. If you’re looking at Man United and Man City, Chelsea, they’ve taken a very, very strong manager. And so I see them finishing in the top four. And that leaves one space.

“So what would happen if they’ve finished outside the top four for Mourinho? I don’t know.

“But listen, I’m a big fan of Mourinho and it takes time to build a winning mentality, to build a winning team. And he should be at least given two seasons and I think he will be given two seasons to try and improve Spurs’ fortunes.”

Spurs’ link with Rodgers is interesting, given that one report has claimed that chairman Daniel Levy attempted to appoint him after he sacked Harry Redknapp, but ended up bringing in Andre Villas-Boas instead.

Palmer is surprised by the link, and he has pointed out that the ex-Liverpool boss seems to be touted as a potential appointment whenever a top manager runs into difficulties.

He added: “Well, Brendan Rodgers must have a brilliant agent, every top job when the manager is in slightly a bit of doubt, he gets linked with, he got linked with the Arsenal job before Arteta went in there.

“He must have a brilliant agent for doing that. But I mean, don’t get me wrong, Brendan Rodgers has done a fantastic job at Leicester City.”

Crystal Palace’s on-loan forward Michy Batshuayi has certainly not had the best of times since joining Chelsea from Marseille.

The Belgian has been farmed out on four separate loan deals away from Stamford Bridge, making a total of just 77 appearances for the Londoners since his arrival nearly five years ago.

Now, he has been encouraged to depart the club permanently by former Belgium hero and compatriot Erwin Vandenbergh.

However, having twice signed the 27-year-old on temporary deals twice in the past, Steve Parish and the Eagles should avoid making a permanent move.

It is fair to say that Batshuayi’s second loan spell at Selhurst Park has not gone as positively as the first. Having scored six goals in 13 appearances during the second-half of 2018/19, he has scored just once in 18 showings this time around.

This run of poor form is not entirely surprising considering that he has not managed to score double figures in a single season since the 2017/18 campaign, the second-half of which he spent with German giants Borussia Dortmund.

Batshuayi’s confidence in front of goal appears to have totally evaporated due to that barren run of form. He is now only averaging 0.7 shots per game in the Premier League this season according to WhoScored, a hugely disappointing record for a striker.

At the age of 27, Batshuayi is certainly not a young forward and he should be in his peak but this new low appears to have plunged his future in the Premier League into doubt.

Rated at £10.8m and out of contract at Stamford Bridge next summer, a move for the Belgian may not actually be too costly in the near future.

However, with a recent record as poor as his, Palace’s funds really should not be spent on securing a permanent deal for Batshuayi.

AND in more news, the Eagles should also avoid signing Sheffied United man John Lundstram…

Some Manchester City fans have been reacting to the news that Borussia Dortmund reportedly want €150m (£128m) for their star striker Erling Haaland if they are to sell him this summer.

The Citizens have been heavily linked with a move for Haaland (The Mirror via BeSoccer), who has been in stunning form for Dortmund so far this campaign. In 30 games in all competitions, he has 31 strikes to his name, meaning he has 47 goals in just 48 matches for Die Schwarzgelben since signing for them in January of last year (Transfermarkt). Not only that, he has managed to hit the back of the net 20 times in just 14 Champions League games throughout his career.

It is common knowledge that the 20-year-old Norwegian has a €75m (£64.2m) release clause which comes into play next summer, but Dortmund would let him go for €150m (£128m) in just a few months according to German outlet Bild (via CBS Sports).

This news was shared by Twitter account @City_Chief, and it attracted plenty of attention from these City supporters, who took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the Haaland news below

“Write that check!”

Credit: @MatthewShehorn

“That’s a steal, to us he is worth twice that. Just get it done!”

Credit: @FplVester

“Just pay what they want!”

Credit: @peko3141

“That’s it? Let’s get this going ASAP!!”

Credit: @DaOGMuffinMan

“pay it and get him signed up….”

Credit: @mcfc_matty

“Worth that price tag no point waiting for the release clause he will be gone by then”

Credit: @dkrobinson2398

In other news, some Manchester City fans slammed this player against Fulham.

Sheffield Wednesday have been dealt another cruel blow over Chey Dunkley this week…

What’s the latest?

The 29-year-old centre-back missed the Owls’ last two league outings after picking up a hamstring injury in training and now Darren Moore has ruled him out for several weeks.

Speaking to reporters earlier this week, via the Sheffield Star, the new Wednesday boss said:

“Chey Dunkley has picked up a hamstring injury, so he’s going to be out for a little while.

“In terms of the level, it’ll be more weeks for that one. He picked that one up in training, so it’s a disappointment for us.

“He’s with the medical team now, so he’ll get the treatment and we’ll try and get him back as soon as we possibly can.”

Devastating for Darren

Dunkley’s debut season at Hillsborough Stadium has hardly gone to plan, with injuries making it rather difficult for him to make much of an impact and now he’s been ruled out for the rest of the month, it is hard to envisage him getting back in soon.

However, when he has featured, he’s looked amongst the Owls’ best performers.

The £10k-per-week colossus is currently ranked fifth for average WhoScored rating on the season (6.68), which is above his current replacement Osaze Urhoghide (6.56).

At 6 foot 2 inches, Dunkley is a powerful threat in the air. He has averaged 3.9 aerial duels won, which is the second-best of any Owls defender and ahead of both Julian Borner and Urhoghide once again.

He has also proven to be a no-nonsense type too, managing 3.2 clearances per game too, all via WhoScored.

The Owls are struggling at either end of the pitch right now and Dunkley’s presence would be an added bonus. His former Wigan teammate Sam Morsy believes the £900k-rated beast is “lethal” in one-to-one situations, whilst also hailing him as “unbelievable.”

As a result of this latest setback, Dunkley’s continued absence will be a devastating blow towards Wednesday’s chances of remaining in the Championship.

Moore is surely gutted.

AND in other news, Sheffield Wednesday have another Almen Abdi in “excellent” £18k-p/w flop…

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Steve Bull who moved from West Bromwich Albion to Wolves in 1986, admits he can’t see Chris Wilder taking the job at the Hawthorns if they decide to not stick with Sam Allardyce next season.

Wilder parted ways with Sheffield United through mutual consent last week after guiding them to a ninth-placed finish in the Premier League last season, before The Daily Star reported that the Baggies could look to bring him to The Hawthorns as a replacement for Allardyce.

The former Blades player took over when they were in League One and in three seasons they had made it to the top flight despite operating on a relatively small budget. However, both parties saw it fit for Wilder to leave his boyhood club.

Speaking on whether Chris Wilder could make an immediate return back into management at West Brom and what might be holding him back from doing so, Bull told FFC:

“Chris Wilder probably could but I think it would be the same situation as at Sheffield United because they’ve got no resources and no money. Would the chairman back him? I don’t think so.

“I think Chris Wilder has been in management now so he probably wants to have a six-month rest and charge his batteries up.

“He’ll want to get the zest back in him and then Chris Wilder will be out there again soon.”

Sheffield United were pushing for a place in Europe last season before the season was paused for Covid-19 and they haven’t been able to cope playing without any fans.

The Blades have won just seven league games since football returned last June, with three of them coming at the end of last season.