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Looking to continue their busy summer, Everton have reportedly turned their attention towards a Serie A defender in an attempt to hand Sean Dyche a defensive boost ahead of next season.

Everton transfer news

The Toffees have already signed Jack Harrison, Tim Iroegunam and Iliman Ndiaye this summer, whilst reports also suggest that they've agreed a deal to welcome free agent Sekou Koita fresh from his spell at Red Bull Salzburg.

Everton keen on signing "exciting" £8m Onana replacement

The Belgian’s future still remains up in the air after his Euro 2024 displays.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 4, 2024

The 24-year-old looks set to become a part of quite the attacking rebuild from the Toffees, who are looking to avoid yet another relegation battle in the Premier League next season.

Ndiaye spoke to EvertonTV fresh from putting pen to paper and said: “As a player, I like to dribble, show skills and get the fans out their seats. I want to score goals and get assists but I also like to work hard. I love running, chasing the ball, getting the team high up the pitch. As a striker, you're the first defender. I love doing that bit.

“I'm so excited. I want to come in and carry on from the team’s progress last season. I feel like I’ll be ready to help and I just want to give it my all to get this club higher up the table.”

Everton don't seem to be stopping there or even after Koita, however. Now, according to TuttoMercatoWeb, Everton are interested in signing Jackson Tchatchoua from Hellas Verona, who are demanding €8m (£7m). The Italian club are planning on making 400% profit on their right-back, having just signed him for a reported €2m earlier this month following a season-long loan spell.

Tchatchoua can succeed Coleman

Potentially arriving to add depth to Dyche's side, Tchatchoua can provide ideal competition for current Everton right-back and captain Seamus Coleman as well as Ashley Young, before eventually succeeding the two veterans, who are edging closer to retirement at 35 years old and 38 years old respectively. Tchatchoua's arrival would represent solid planning from the Toffees, as they look to put an end to their recent problems.

Whilst Young enjoyed a solid campaign last time out, he can't go on forever and the responsibility down the right-hand side should be handed to Tchatchoua if he arrives this summer. The 22-year-old, by comparison, showed plenty of signs that he's able to keep up with the former Manchester United man and take his place sooner rather than later.

Competition for places will only benefit Dyche's side next season, whether it be going forward or, indeed, within his backline.

Former England striker Alan Shearer has backed fellow pundit Micah Richards to win 'I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here' in the future.

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• Richards backed to become King of the Jungle
• Wright won't participate in the show again
• Coleen Rooney to take part in the reality show in 2024

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Newcastle United and England legend claimed that Richards can win ITV's flagship reality television show, I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here if he takes part in the future. Shearer believes that the ex-Manchester City star has what it takes to become the 'King of the Jungle', although he clarified that he would never take part in the reality series himself.

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• WHAT ALAN SHEARER SAID

  Speaking to Betfair, Shearer said: "I’m a Celeb is due to start later this month and other than Wrighty, who we know has been in the jungle – and he's told me all about it and how he won't be going back in – there's only Micah Richards of my punditry colleagues I could see in there! If it was between him or Martin Keown, it would have to be Micah Richards. He could be the King of the Jungle, and it would sure be entertaining seeing him in there. I can't see myself going in there though, absolutely not!"

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE GOSSIP

  The Premier League's all-time record goalscorer also revealed that ex-Arsenal star Ian Wright, who participated in season 19 of the show in 2019 and finished eighth, has told him that he will never go back to the reality show. Wayne Rooney's wife Coleen is among the 12 participants who will head to Australia for the brand new season of the show.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  The Premier League will be back this weekend with Chelsea and Arsenal locking horns in the marquee clash of the gameweek at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Meanwhile, the new series of 'I'm a Celebrity' is due to begin on November 17.

Louis Saha has explained what Ruben Amorim needs to do at Manchester United for his first season at the club to be deemed a success.

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• Saha discusses Amorim's task at United in first season
• Amorim conducted first training session on Monday
• United take on Ipswich Town this weekend

• Getty/GOAL
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Amorim, who moved to Manchester from Sporting CP last week to replace Erik ten Hag, has got his task cut out at Old Trafford. He has taken over a team that is currently 13th in the Premier League and has registered just four wins out of their first 11 matches.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  As the Portuguese coach is gearing up to stand on the sidelines for the first time as Red Devils boss, former United star Louis Saha has revealed what the new coach has to achieve in his maiden season with the Premier League giants to consider his journey a success.

• WHAT LOUIS SAHA SAID

  Speaking to , the former France forward said: "In recent years, Manchester United have continued to show that they’re capable of reaching finals and I still believe that this squad is good enough and capable enough of doing it again. Winning the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League is going to be an aim for Rúben Amorim, but getting Manchester United to play consistently well will be as good as a trophy.

  "If Rúben can do this by implementing an identity, then that will build the foundation for this team to win the type of trophies that we want, which is the Premier League title. We want it back and any other trophy Amorim can win in the meantime is a bonus. The main target for the manager is to create that momentum, that belief and that spirit. We saw all of those things in his Sporting Lisbon team."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

  With the international break coming to an end this week, the 39-year-old coach's first assignment as United boss will be against a struggling Ipswich side in the Premier League on Sunday in an away clash.

We are only days away from the dramatic conclusion of the European Championships and finding out if football really is coming home this summer or if it's taking a detour to Madrid.

The country will be watching with bated breath on Sunday evening, but the Tottenham Hotspur recruitment team will be watching the match for a different reason.

Based on recent reports, Daniel Levy and Co will be focussing on one of the England players who's been touted for a move to N17 this summer, and while it's not semi-final hero Ollie Watkins, the star in question has been compared to him in the past.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Dean Jones via GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham are still interested in signing Brentford's Ivan Toney this summer.

Alongside the Lilywhites, Jones has revealed that Manchester United, Chelsea and West Ham United have also been considering the £20k-per-week ace recently, setting the stage for an exciting transfer battle.

However, he states that sources close to the North Londoners believe they could make a 'serious push' for the striker and that the longer he remains on the market, the more likely they'll be able to secure his services for closer to £40m and not the £60m the Bees value him at.

It could be a tough deal to get over the line, especially if he stars in the final on Sunday, but based on his performances in his last full season, it is one worth pursuing, and the comparisons to Watkins are just a massive bonus.

How Toney compares to Watkins

It would be fair to say that as campaigns go, last season was not a great one for Toney.

Upon the completion of his eight-month betting-related ban, he scored just four goals and provided two assists in 17 appearances, and while that's not horrific for a player in arguably the most challenging league in the world, it's a far cry from his two previous campaigns in the top flight in which he racked up 20 plus goal involvements.

So, with that in mind, it wouldn't be fair to judge his ability off the back of a down year in which he had to deal with an extraordinary challenge off the pitch in the form of his ban, and unsurprisingly, the comparisons to Watkins do not stem from the 2023/24 season.

Instead, it comes from FBref, which compared Premier League forwards in 2022/23 and created a list of the ten most similar players for each one. In the case of the Brentford man, they ranked Villa ace as the most similar striker in the league.

This conclusion is easier to understand when looking at how closely the pair ranks in several underlying metrics, such as non-penalty expected goals and assists, actual non-penalty goals, progressive passes received, shots, goals per shot, key passes, tackles won and successful take-ons, all per 90.

Alongside their underlying numbers, the pair have also proven themselves to be prolific forwards in the top flight.

In that season in particular, the former Exeter City gem scored 16 goals and provided six assists to the Northampton-born star's 21 goals and five assists.

Spurs now favourites to land "superstar" Johnson upgrade for £60m

The incredibly exciting winger could add so much to Postecoglou’s side.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jul 12, 2024

Ultimately, even with a lacklustre campaign under his belt last season, Toney is a Premier League-proven goalscorer, and if Spurs can sign the "monster", as dubbed by his manager Thomas Frank, for anything like £40m this summer, then they absolutely should – the comparison to England's latest hero is just a bonus.

Everton are closing in on their fourth signing of the summer as they look to hand manager Sean Dyche a side able to avoid relegation from the Premier League once more this season.

Everton sign Jesper Linsdtrom

Following their Premier League survival last season despite two points deductions for breaching financial fair play regulations, Everton are hoping to be a little more comfortable this time around.

Dyche's side have already made a number of new additions this summer, with Jesper Lindstrom the latest arrival. The Danish international arrived on loan from Napoli in a deal which includes an option to buy the 24-year-old at the end of the season.

“I feel very good. It’s amazing to represent Everton. This is a big club, with big history, a good stadium and, as I’ve seen, very good facilities as well. I’m very, very happy to be here and I feel like this is a good fit," Lindstrom explained to Everton's official club media.

“I am 100 per cent ready. I’m so hungry. This pre-season feels long because I just want to play football, I just want to be out there in the stadium. Last year was a tough year for me but I’m so happy to be here now and I can’t wait to get started."

Dyche already has an upgrade on £50k-p/w Everton star who could be sold

The Toffees are still looking to offload numerous first-team players.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 27, 2024

He joins striker Ilman Ndiaye in the new arrivals at Goodison Park, with the striker having been signed from Marseille as the Toffees look to bolster their attack, with Dyche's side managing the third-fewest goals in the division in the 2023-24 campaign.

Further back, they have also signed central midfielder Tim Iroegbunam from Aston Villa, though both Lewis Dobbin and Amadou Onana have headed to Villa Park in the time since his arrival on Merseyside. And they are closing in on another new face.

Everton set to sign defender

Now, it has emerged that the Toffees are on the verge of signing Republic of Ireland international Jake O'Brien from Lyon, with a fee agreed with the French side and talks taking place over personal terms.

That is according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who claims that the club have a "deal in principle" agreed with Lyon and that O'Brien is "ready to accept the five-year contract offered".

The 23-year-old still has three years left on his £9,000-a-week deal at Lyon, having only left the Premier League for France 12 months ago. However, his performances last season caught the eye and have convinced the Toffees to part ways with around £22m to bring him to Goodison Park.

Already a regular for the Republic of Ireland, he has drawn praise from former manager John O'Shea, who hailed his "brilliant" rise.

"It’s been brilliant to see what he has done in the last year to 18 months, establishing himself in a top-flight league. It’s been brilliant to see. There’s great competition in that area of the pitch. He’ll have lots of competition but it’s great for us, and me being part of the defensive camp shall we say, that we can help him improve even further over the two games coming up", O'Shea said via Extra.

Now he is looking set to take another step as he heads to Goodison Park.

An angry Hansi Flick slammed the entire Barcelona team after they squandered a two-goal lead to drop points against Celta Vigo.

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• Celta mount late comeback in 2-2 draw
• Flick raged at Barcelona players
• Blew two-goal lead to drop points

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  In-form winger Raphinha opened the scoring in the 15th minute before Robert Lewandowski doubled the lead just after the hour mark. Just when it seemed that Barcelona were on their way to securing all three points, Celta Vigo staged a brilliant comeback after Marc Casado picked up a late red card. Alfon Gonzalez scored his team's opening in the 84th minute and two minutes later Hugo Alvarez netted the equaliser to seal a crucial point for the hosts.

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• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Barcelona boss Flick was understandably frustrated as his team gave up on a two-goal and dropped two important points. After the draw, the German coach publicly slammed his players for lacking confidence with the ball and their overall dismal showing during the match.

• WHAT FLICK SAID

  In his post-match press conference, the Barca boss said, "It wasn't just the last 10 minutes. It was the whole match. We played a really bad game. We have to be honest. We made a lot of mistakes, also in the first half, and we weren't confident with the ball. We didn't play the football we're used to. We were lucky with some situations and in the end we got a point and we have to react because it can't be repeated."

  He added, "These are things that can happen but we have to look forward. The least bad thing is that it's only one match and we got a point but we're not happy and neither are the players. Everyone can play better than today."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  The Catalan club saw their lead reduced to five points at the top of the table after the result against Celta. They will be next seen in action on Tuesday night in the Champions League against Brest.

Liverpool received a welcome boost with the return of Trent Alexander-Arnold to training ahead of Wednesday's clash with Real Madrid.

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• Alexander-Arnold back in training
• Right-back out with hamstring issue
• Linked with Wednesday's opponents

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 26-year-old missed Liverpool's 3-2 win over Southampton on Sunday with a hamstring issue sustained against Aston Villa on November 9. The international break appears to have afforded the right-back the time he needed to recover, though, as he trained with his team-mates on Tuesday.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  While Arne Slot has confirmed that Alexander-Arnold won't start in Wednesday's Champions League showdown with Real Madrid, his return is a welcome boost with Manchester City visiting Anfield on Sunday.

• WHAT SLOT SAID

  "Trent is in the squad but he won't be available to start," Slot told reporters. "Maybe he will make a few minutes, but in an ideal world he won't."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Federico Chiesa was also involved in the training session as he steps up his return to full fitness. The Italian, whose chequered injury record was well-known to Liverpool when they signed him from Juventus in the summer, has endured a difficult start to his Liverpool career, playing just 18 minutes in the Premier League.

Celtic are chasing a move for a long-term target this summer as they look to bolster their ranks ahead of the new Scottish Premiership campaign, it has been reported.

Celtic focus on permanent moves for loanees

Following the Scottish League and Cup double (both at the expense of bitter rivals Rangers), Brendan Rodgers' side have had a quiet summer. They have replaced the retired Joe Hart with veteran shot-stopper Kasper Schmeichel, who has joined on a one-year deal after his time with Belgian side Anderlecht came to a close.

"Celtic is one of the world’s proper football clubs, a massive name and a place of real passion and success." he told the club website.

They have also confirmed a deal for backup goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo, with the 22-year-old arriving from Aston Villa. But much of the focus has been on trying to negotiate permanent moves for their successful loanees last season.

Striker Adam Idah was a priority for Rodgers at the end of the season after he scored nine times on loan from Norwich, but a deal is looking increasingly difficult to pull off.

Speaking to the media last week, new Norwich manager Johannes Hoff Thorup suggested he wanted Idah to remain at Carrow Road.

"Like we said from day one, he's a vital part of the group and of the squad here. Luckily, or maybe unfortunately, we have players where there's also interest from other clubs. But we should always strive to have that, that's important for us."

"But Adam’s working hard in training, a good guy with good energy. He's really doing well. And I hope it's obvious for him and everyone that he will play a vital part for this team."

They are having better luck with fellow loanee Paulo Bernardo though, with reports from Scotland claiming that a deal for the midfielder is "all but done" in a move that will see Celtic shell out just under £3.4m to bring the 21-year-old to Celtic Park.

He may not be the only midfield arrival, though.

Celtic set to resume long chase

That comes with Sport Witness relaying claims from Turkey that Celtic remain interested in midfielder Jakub Kaluzinski. The Hoops were keen to sign him during his time at Lechia Gdansk, the report suggests, but the young Polish midfielder completed a move to Turkish side Antalyaspor last summer.

Celtic could forget about Balikwisha with "magic" pre-season star

The Hoops could hand a larger role to the impressive winger next season instead of dipping into the market.

3

By
Dan Emery

Jul 23, 2024

Now, 12 months on, Celtic remain interested, it is alleged, and there is no suggestion that he is unobtainable despite being under contract until 2026. On the contrary, it is added that a deal could be completed for just €4m (£3.3m), though Spanish side Rayo Vallodolid are also thought to be chasing his signature.

It remains to be seen whether a move for the 21-year-old talent is given priority given the other areas of need in the Hoops squad, but it is certainly one to keep an eye on ahead of the new campaign.

Manchester United fans have branded Andre Onana a "f*cking clown" after his error gifted Nottingham Forest a second goal at Old Trafford.

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• Onana criticised by supporters
• Let the ball fly over his head
• Forest won 3-2 at Old Trafford

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  United went into half-time at Old Trafford at 1-1, but fell behind within two minutes of the restart, with a long-range Morgan Gibbs-White strike wrong-footing Andre Onana and fizzing into the bottom corner. The Red Devils' goalkeeper was subsequently slammed on social media, as he completely failed to move towards the effort. Onana was blamed again when Chris Wood managed to sneak it by him, with the shot stopper again watching it go in.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

  @MarkGoldbridge wrote: "Is Onana allergic to the ball…"

  @Jay7Blanco said: "Onana what a f*cking clown."

  @AnfieldRd96 said: "Don't care what anyone says, Onana is a shambles of a goalkeeper."

  @SeanSheehanBA wrote: "First big decision for Amorim here. Anyone with a brain knows Onana isn't a Man United goalkeeper. He needs to be axed immediately."

  @Buddytempestv2 concluded: "Onana just undone six months of building his rep back in one game tears."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Bruno Fernandes pulled a goal back but the Red Devils were unable to rescue a point, suffering a second consecutive loss under Amorim.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  United play Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League on Thursday before a clash with Manchester City in the Premier League next weekend.

Tottenham are expected to table a bid for one £40 million "game changer" this summer, amid fierce rivalry from Europe for the player's signature.

Spurs undergo summer overhaul as senior players leave

Ange Postecoglou appears to be getting the overhaul he hinted at earlier this year, with a succession of surplus senior players departing north London.

Tottenham favourites to sign £150k-p/w forward over Arsenal and Liverpool

The north Londoners are out in front as things stand.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 30, 2024

Bryan Gil most recently completed a move to La Liga side Girona on loan, but Michel's men will have the opportunity to make it permanent for around £12.5 million next summer, as the Spaniard's new contract includes a release clause set at that amount.

Emerson Royal is also on the verge of a move to AC Milan from Tottenham after weeks of negotiations with the Rossoneri, according to various reports from Italy, If all goes to plan, the Brazilian will join Gil, Ryan Sessegnon, Japhet Tanganga, Eric Dier, Ivan Perisic, Tanguy Ndombele, Joe Rodon and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg out of the N17 exit door.

"We need change. Change has to happen," said Postecoglou on Tottenham's need to restructure the squad.

"You can’t want to alter your course and expect the same people are going to be on that. It’s just not going to happen. We’ve had two windows and we’ve had some development of players, for sure, but when I say we’ve still got a long way to go, that’s what I’m talking about.

"It’s impossible to say you’re going to have drastic change and yet expect everyone to be on that journey. It’s not for the want of trying. It’s just that we’re going to play a certain way, we’re going to train a certain way and we’re going to have a certain mindset."

A concern for Spurs supporters will be that chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange have sealed just three incomings, which includes Timo Werner's season-long loan extension and a deal for South Korean teenager Min-hyeok Yang.

Archie Gray is Tottenham's only statement capture of the window so far, but that isn't to say the Lilywhites won't have a late-summer surge in mind.

Tottenham expected to bid for Conor Gallagher

According to Sky Sports News and journalist Kaveh Solhekol, Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher is very much still on Spurs' radar.

The England star has been repeatedly linked with a move to north London since last summer, despite the rivalry which exists between Tottenham and his club. Chelsea are under pressure to sell the 24-year-old this window, as his contract expires in 2025, with La Liga side Atletico Madrid currently locked in talks to sign Gallagher for Diego Simeone.

Atletico are apparently growing in confidence they can sign Gallagher, so Postecoglou and co will have to act fast if they're serious. Sky Sports and Solhekol do claim Tottenham are expected to bid for Gallagher, but the competition from Atletico poses a serious threat.

Called a "game changer" by Jermaine Jenas, Chelsea value the Cobham academy graduate at around £40 million, but it is believed Atletico are hoping to whittle down his price tag in talks.