Everton Must Unleash £25k-p/w Ace Vs Spurs

Everton will host Bournemouth at Goodison Park today in their final Premier League clash of the season, with everything still left to play for.

The Toffees are currently two points clear of the relegation zone but will need a victory to comfortably secure top-flight football once again over their competitors Leeds United and Leicester City.

Sean Dyche will be feeling the pressure when he leads his team out in front of the home support this afternoon, as he will know how catastrophic it would be to suffer relegation for the first time since the Premier League began.

Unfortunately for the Everton boss, injury issues have presented themselves once again ahead of the final day, with both Nathan Patterson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin expected to be unavailable for selection.

Dyche took to his pre-match press conference to confirm that the pair are unlikely to feature against the Cherries:

"They won’t be fit."

"We realised when he [Calvert-Lewin] got injured in the first game that it wasn’t going to be a short injury. We knew we would have to find a way of working with that. We have found that way and it’s important we do that."

"Patto has come into the side more latterly and performed well. We lose him as well."

Due to the striker’s absence, the manager will need to find another focal point to secure Everton’s survival, and it could be a great opportunity for Demarai Gray to return to the side.

Will Demarai Gray start vs Bournemouth?

The 26-year-old has been an inconsistent feature since the arrival of the former Burnley boss, but has been a much more reliable provider of goal contributions than some of his positional peers.

Gray is the second-highest goalscorer in the Everton squad with six goals and one assist delivered in all competitions this season, which has been a far better output than Neal Maupay, Ellis Simms and Calvert-Lewin’s combined.

Not only that, the £25k-per-week ace – hailed "inspirational" by Martin Keown – has undeniable pace and creativity which could cause chaos for Bournemouth, averaging 1.2 key passes, 1.7 shots on goal and one successful dribble per game so far.

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Indeed, Gray is most commonly deployed in the wider positions of the forward line, but has often played in the centre-forward role this season to make up for Calvert-Lewin’s absence and had success in the position scoring in the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest in March.

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Dyche to unleash Gray in the Toffees' attacking threat this afternoon, as a moment of magic from the Everton whiz could be their saving grace at full-time.

Juventus Want To Sign £20k-A-Week Leeds Ace

Juventus are interested in making a move for Leeds United youngster Wilfried Gnonto this summer, according to a fresh transfer update.

How has Gnonto fared at Leeds?

The 19-year-old joined the Whites during last summer's transfer window, coming in as an exciting young signing with a potentially massive future in the game.

While Leeds' season was generally an awful one, as they suffered relegation from the Premier League after three years in the division, Gnonto was arguably one of the few brights parks. The £20,000-a-week attacker's form wasn't necessarily great every week, but he still scored twice and registered four assists in the league, often looking like one of his side's most dangerous and unpredictable players.

Like so many current Whites players, however, the Italian will now be weighing up his future, with Championship football not something that is likely to appeal to him. It could even be that he leaves in the summer, with a new claim proving to be a worrying one, in that respect.

Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto.

Could Gnonto make quickfire Whites exit?

According to Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Juventus are keen on signing Gnonto before the start of next season, even though an official approach is yet to be made.

The report states that the Serie A giants were frustrated by Leeds' relegation, as it ended their hopes of Weston McKennie joining the Whites permanently, and therefore getting him off their wage bill. They are trying to use that negative as a positive, though, instead turning their attention and making contact with Gnonto.

The idea of Leeds losing the winger so soon after arriving is clearly concerning, considering he is already a 10-cap Italy international, while still being in his teens. He has been lauded as a "special" player by Michael Skubala, and had the Whites not gone down, he looked like he could be a key figure for a number of years to come.

It is hard to persuade any top-class footballer to stay put when the team gets relegated to the second tier, though, so it would be difficult to begrudge Gnonto a move away in the summer transfer window, especially if a club of Juventus' calibre come calling.

There is always the chance that the teenager could remain loyal, trying to help Leeds make a quick return to the Premier League, but the best that the Whites can realistically hope for now is to get good money for the youngster's signature.

Man Utd Could Find Bellingham 2.0 In £301k-p/w Gem

As Manchester United look to strengthen this summer, the major priorities for manager Erik ten Hag appear to be the signing of a new number nine and central midfielder, with the Dutchman seemingly hoping to improve the spine of his team ahead of next season.

With regard to midfield additions, Manchester Evening News reported earlier this season that the Red Devils were considering a fresh approach for Borussia Dortmund starlet, Jude Bellingham, with the England international having previously snubbed United's advances back in 2020.

Any potential move for the 19-year-old now appears almost impossible following the news that Real Madrid have reached an agreement with the Bundesliga side regarding a €100m (£86m) deal for the teenager, with the former Birmingham City man looking all but set to be plying his trade in the Spanish capital next season.

To have missed out on a player who is "going to be the best midfielder in the world" – according to Three Lions colleague, Phil Foden – is undoubtedly a blow for the Old Trafford outfit, with Ten Hag needing to find another midfield solution over the coming weeks and months.

The 53-year-old could already be lining up a perfect alternative to the Dortmund ace, however, in the form of Leon Goretzka, with the Bayern Munich machine believed to be a target for the Carabao Cup winners, according to reports in his native Germany.

Should Man United sign Goretzka?

The signing of the £301k-per-week maestro could allow Ten Hag to find his own version of Bellingham, with the two Bundesliga stars said to share a number of statistical and stylistic similarities, as per FBref.

Jude Bellingham for Borussia Dortmund

That likeness between the 6 foot 2 German and his English counterpart – who is also a towering figure at 6 foot 1 – is not just due to their physical stature, with the pair able to make a stellar impact at both ends of the pitch.

That is showcased by the duo's defensive strength, with Goretzka ranking in the top 3% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for blocks made, while Bellingham ranks in the top 7% in that regard.

Equally, the two men also have the desire to bomb forward and get involved in the final third, with Goretzka averaging 2.2 touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 across the last 365 days, while Bellingham is only slightly ahead as he averages 3.6 touches per 90 for the same metric.

With the latter man a player who can "do absolutely everything" – according to United legend Gary Neville – the Bayern ace is also something of an all-action star in his own right, with former boss Julian Nagelsmann describing him as "one of the best box-to-box players in Europe".

Much like Bellingham – who has 24 goals and 25 assists to his name in 132 games for his current side – the former Schalke man also possesses an "incredible goal threat", according to Nagelsmann, having registered 34 goals and 35 assists in 179 games for the Bavarian giants.

While the Bochum native is less of a long-term option having turned 28 earlier this year – in contrast to the teenage Bellingham – his similar attributes to that of the Madrid-bound superstar should make him a perfect fit for Ten Hag at the Theatre of Dreams.

Rangers: Beale Could Land Unstoppable £10k-p/w Signing at Ibrox

Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale bolstered his attacking options earlier this month as the club officially confirmed the signing of Sam Lammers from Atalanta on a permanent basis.

The Light Blues have now added four players to their squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, with the Dutchman following Jack Butland, Kieran Dowell, and Dujon Sterling in committing to the Scottish giants this summer.

However, the Gers do not appear to be done in the transfer market and are eyeing another striker to compete with Lammers, Antonio Colak, and Kemar Roofe.

Who is Josh Maja?

The Glasgow giants reportedly have a genuine and long-standing interest in signing Bordeaux centre-forward Josh Maja in the coming weeks.

His contract with the Ligue 2 side is set to expire at the end of this month and, as it stands, the Nigerian international is poised to be available for nothing.

Beale could strike gold by signing the 24-year-old striker as current Gers attacking midfielder Todd Cantwell could make him unstoppable next season.

Rangers attacking midfielder Todd Cantwell.

The English maestro arrived at Ibrox in January from Norwich and enjoyed a terrific start to life in Scotland. He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.36 and chipped in with six goals and four assists from the middle of the park across 16 league outings.

Cantwell created five 'big chances' and produced 1.3 key passes per game for his teammates, despite having played less than half of the campaign.

The 25-year-old, who completed 89% of his attempted passes in the Scottish Premiership, is able to open up the opposition on a regular basis to create significant chances for his fellow attackers, whilst his goal return last term also suggests that the ex-Norwich magician can make a big impact on his own.

Maja, whose "rare" talent was hailed by former Rangers striker Jermain Defoe, could benefit from Cantwell's creativity after an impressive season with Bordeaux in Ligue 2.

The £10k-per-week finisher averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.08 across 37 league appearances and contributed with 16 goals and six assists for the French side.

These statistics show that the 5 foot 11 dynamo, who scored 17 goals in 49 games for Sunderland's first-team, has the potential to be a prolific scorer for Rangers if provided with the right service.

Cantwell could be the player to do that for him as the 25-year-old wizard has proven himself to be an excellent creator for the Light Blues and his constant supply line to the forwards could make Maja an unstoppable threat up front for Beale in the 2023/24 campaign.

The Nigerian gem's ability to assist others from a number nine position, which resulted in him being able to create eight 'big chances' in 22/23, also means that opposition defenders would have to deal with his creativity, in potentially assisting Cantwell, as well as his finishing quality in the box.

Arsenal Eye ‘Generational’ £61m Gundogan Alternative

Arsenal have already enjoyed a busy summer transfer window, with Mikel Arteta keen to get his business done early in order to get them immediately integrated within his squad.

The Gunners enjoyed a fine recent campaign, but it concluded with little to show for it but their Champions League qualification. For all their progress, their Spanish manager will be far from content in allowing his team to slow down now.

Kai Havertz and Declan Rice are poised to be huge additions to his squad should they get both get secured, however, they each come with hefty price tags.

This makes the failed move for Ilkay Gundogan all the more frustrating, given his immense quality and availability this summer on a free transfer. Their interest was long-standing, but in the end, the allure of Barcelona proved too much.

ilkay-gundogan-manchester-city

In an effort to secure someone in a similar mould, perhaps the north London outfit could seek to reignite a rumour that has lost pace in recent weeks, by swooping for Dominik Szoboszlai.

Having showcased their willingness to spend big, the reported €70m (£61m) release clause could prove a minor stumbling block for the free-spending Gunners.

Is Dominiz Szoboszlai similar to Ilkay Gundogan?

The German proved to be an instrumental figure in Manchester City's recent treble success, starring in the Premier League and captaining the side to immortality.

He operated as the cornerstone of Pep Guardiola's revolutionary system too, occupying a role as a second number ten beside Kevin De Bruyne. Fortunately for Arteta, Szoboszlai is also well-versed in such a position and could offer fine balance to play next to Martin Odegaard within a similar philosophy.

Although the two boast varying physical profiles, they share an elite skillset and silky play style that has seen both shine in their respective leagues.

Gundogan recorded 11 goals and seven assists in all competitions last campaign, and yet when compared to other central midfielders across Europe, also ranked in the top 12% for pass completion, the best 17% for shot-creating actions and the top 4% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, via FBref.

When using Opta's player analysis tool, this same penchant for playmaking and dictating is outlined in the 22-year-old who posted 23 goal contributions of his own across all competitions, as he sits in the top 4% of positionally similar players in Europe for chances created.

Szoboszlai clearly excels with regard to creating chances, whilst his goalscoring and shots taken are similarly admirable. He could pose a true offensive threat under Arteta, and his youth makes him malleable, prepared to be turned into a world-class star.

After all, journalist Marcel Moeller had suggested he was a "generational talent" back in 2020, and he has only grown since then.

Offensively exceptional and with his whole career in front of him, the Hungary international has all the attributes to emulate Gundogan's success last season and even surpass him technically one day.

Tottenham: Spurs "Frontrunners" To Sign "Exceptional" Forward

Tottenham Hotspur are among the "frontrunners" to sign forward Manor Solomon for free this summer, but Shakhtar Donetsk have threatened to sue them if they do.

Who will join Spurs this summer?

Incoming new manager Ange Postecoglou, who will officially start work on July 1, has still already earmarked transfer targets and held strategy meetings with chairman Daniel Levy.

The Australian, after putting pen to paper on a move down south from Celtic, is ready to green-light the signing of a star centre-back and holds a serious interest in Leicester City star James Maddison.

Spurs are also after a new goalkeeper to succeed Hugo Lloris, who has since confirmed his desire to leave N17 this summer as he seeks a new challenge.

Postecoglou, amid reported doubts over the likes of Richarlison, is plotting to sign a new forward this window too. Tottenham did want to sign Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal, but with the winger on his way to Chelsea, they may need to look at alternatives.

Solomon, who impressed on loan at Fulham during the second half of 2022/2023, is apparently on their radar and journalist Dom Smith of The Evening Standard claim Spurs are among the "frontrunners".

manor-solomon-fulham-transfer-tottenham-hotspur-spurs-gossip-heung-min-son-levy

However, Fulham are firmly there as well, and this report from Smith relays that Tottenham could even land themselves in legal trouble with a swoop for Solomon.

Shakhtar have apparently threatened to sue Spurs if they sign the Israel international on a free deal, coming after a FIFA ruling allowed players to leave Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia.

The Ukranian Premier League side have been left frustrated by an amendment to the legislation which allows players to independtly halt their contracts and move wherever, without approval from their employers.

As such, Shakhtar could take their frustrations out on Tottenham through the courts if they move for Solomon on a Bosman.

How many goals did Manor Solomon score for Fulham?

The 23-year-old, who has now jetted to Ibiza for a seven-day holiday before deciding his future, enjoyed a real hot streak of form at Fulham last season.

Solomon scored in five straight games between February and March, and four overall in the league under Marco Silva, with the Whites now eager to re-sign him permanently.

Israeli sports journalist Josh Halickman has also described the forward as an "exceptional athlete" and puts him up there with some of the country's best sports people of recent times.

Newcastle Face Fresh Competition To Snap Up £120,000-A-Week Full-Back

Newcastle United's pursuit of Kieran Tierney has suffered a blow with the news from The Sun that Celtic now also want to try and snap up the defender this summer.

What's the latest Newcastle United transfer news?

The Toon have clearly set out to try and improve their backline this window, with the club seemingly having a number of defensive options on their transfer wishlist. The Premier League side have already got their eye on Joachim Andersen at fellow English side Crystal Palace. He isn't their only option at the back but with a deal potentially cheap – it might cost them less than £30m – he's believed to be on their radar, as well as his teammate Marc Guehi.

In addition, the Magpies have also moved to try and strengthen their full-back positions too. On one side of the field, they seem to be edging closer towards a deal to snap up Tino Livramento from Southampton. Talks are now at an "advanced" stage and it means that the signs are promising over a deal being completed.

kieran-tierney-arsenal-premier-league-newcastle-transfers

Are Newcastle United signing Kieran Tierney?

On the other side of the field, the name that has been interesting them is Kieran Tierney. Things though may now not be as straightforward when it comes to bringing the player in. That's because according to a report from The Sun, Newcastle now face competition from Celtic for his signature.

The Scottish side may not be able to afford a transfer fee for the defender – and his wages of £120,000-a-week are also steep – but could try and snap him up on loan and it seems as if the player himself isn't averse to moving back to Scotland. For now, the Toon seem to still be the favourites to add the Arsenal man but it is no longer a simple one-horse race for the left-back.

Tierney still looks like he is capable of performing at the highest level too, he's just struggled to prove it as much for Arsenal with his lack of minutes this season. With just six starts to his name in the Premier League, it's obviously a lot harder for the defender to assert himself and show his abilities.

However, football journalist Josh Bunting called the Scotland international "magnificent" earlier this campaign and added during a game that he had pulled off some "stunning" defending. The player then still has the quality – and Newcastle will be hoping to add it to their own squad, rather than seeing him head to Celtic instead.

Celtic’s £25m "Revelation" Has "Already Spoken" To New Club

Celtic forward Jota has “already spoken” to Al Ittihad manager Nuno Espirito Santo regarding a move to Saudi Arabia, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

When did Jota join Celtic?

The Hoops’ left-sided winger permanently arrived in the Scottish Premiership last summer following a successful loan spell the season before from Benfica, as per Transfermarkt, and across both periods north of the border he’s clocked up a total of 83 appearances to date.

During the 2022/23 campaign, the Portuguese starlet firmly established himself as Ange Postecoglou’s overall top-performing player with a WhoScored match rating of 7.48 which highlights the significance he has, but with the boss now having left and Brendan Rodgers back in charge, his future is up in the air.

Sky Sports reported just days ago that the 24-year-old had entered advanced talks with Saudi Arabian outfit Al Ittihad, with discussions ongoing in regard to the initial fee and structure of payments – where it was stated that personal terms shouldn’t be an issue – and it sounds like all parties are now confident that a deal will go through.

Is Jota leaving Celtic?

Taking to Twitter on Sunday, Romano revealed that Jota is expected to leave Celtic and has even personally chatted to his prospective new manager about the move. He wrote:

“Understand Al Ittihad coach Nuno has already spoken to Jota about his transfer considered imminent and set to be completed next week. Fee gonna be around €30m (£25m), discussions ongoing.”

Celtic forward Jota.

Whilst Rodgers hasn’t personally worked with Jota, he will have seen the positive impact he’s made since joining from afar – the type of impact which has seen him hailed a “revelation” by Alex McLeish – so trying to retain his services is a no-brainer of a decision.

The Gestifute client posted a remarkable 21 goal contributions (11 goals and ten assists) in 29 Scottish Premiership outings last season which saw him receive five man-of-the-match awards, not to mention that he recorded 80 shots over the campaign which was the second-highest total in Glasgow, as per FBRef.

The Lisbon native also adds wonderful versatility to the manager’s ranks with his ability to operate in six different positions across the pitch, including all across the frontline and even two roles in the midfield, which is yet another great attribute to have at your disposal.

Finally, Celtic have won five trophies following Jota’s arrival which is no coincidence and he’s certainly helped to play his part in the club’s success, so there’s no doubt that this number would only continue to increase should he stay beyond the summer.

Arsenal Hold "Talks" To Sign Hugely In-Demand £50m Rising Star

Arsenal have “held talks” to sign Southampton starlet Romeo Lavia, reports 90min journalist Graeme Bailey.

Which players are Arsenal signing in 2023?

The Gunners have been on fire in the transfer market so far this summer, splashing the cash to ensure their incredible 2022/23 season under Mikel Arteta is no flash in the pan.

The north Londoners have already announced the signing of Kai Havertz from Chelsea – a sure sign of the power shift in the capital – and deals for Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber are thought to be all but done.

Arteta and Edu’s work won’t finish there however, due to the fact that they are also set to lose some key players from the team that performed so well last term. Granit Xhaka has left the club to join Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen while Thomas Partey is also thought to be likely to leave, so the addition of Rice may need to be accompanied by another new arrival in the centre of the park.

thomas-partey-arsenal

And that’s where Lavia could come in, with the Southampton youngster expected to depart after the Saints’ relegation from the Premier League. The 19 year-old is one of several midfield targets to be linked – the likes of Moises Caicedo and even Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni have been mentioned – but the Belgium international appears to be the most advanced.

Are Arsenal signing Romeo Lavia?

Indeed, the Gunners have actually “held talks” to sign the former Manchester City starlet, reports Bailey, but they aren’t alone as Chelsea and Liverpool have also made the same steps.

Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle are also keeping an eye on the situation, with the teenager “emerging as one of this summer's most in-demand players”. Saints apparently expect to recoup £50m to sell their prized asset.

It’s hard to imagine Lavia coming in and starting week in week out for the Gunners – he is outperformed by Rice in all but three of FBRef’s key metrics for defensive midfielders – but he would be an excellent option to have in the building depending on the opposition, especially with tricky European ties on the way.

The three areas he actually betters Rice in are tackles, blocks and successful take-ons, painting the picture of a player who is excellent at shielding the back four, breaking up play and then weaving out of tight situations to retain possession once he has taken it.

With Rice sure to be striding forward and aiding the more attack-minded players in the XI, having a pure number six behind the England international in certain games would allow him to focus more on those attacking phases of play, and Lavia looks the perfect candidate.

You don’t need to look far to find plaudits for the tough-tackling ace either, with Pep Guardiola saying this earlier this year: “We had, and we have, an incredible opinion about him. We thought to keep him, but maybe he would not (get) enough minutes like he has in Southampton.”

Many pundits and fans alike have pointed out the similarities between the way Arteta’s team operates and Pep’s City, so it is no surprise to see the boss looking to recruit a player valued so highly by his former mentor, and the interest from various big six rivals shows exactly how Lavia is seen by those around the game.

Liverpool: Klopp Can Replace Henderson With £152k-p/w Machine At Anfield

An update has emerged on the future of Liverpool captain and central midfielder Jordan Henderson amid speculation over a move to Saudi Arabia…

What's the latest Liverpool transfer news?

According to Football Insider, Al Ettifaq are 'confident' that they will be able to complete a medical with the England international before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the former Sunderland academy graduate has agreed to a £700k-per-week contract with Steven Gerrard's side and is now set to depart Anfield after 12 years at the club.

It states that negotiations between the two teams have progressed recently and that a transfer is now expected to be completed over the coming days.

Who could replace Jordan Henderson at Liverpool?

Sky Sports journalist Melissa Reddy claimed that the Reds have considered a move for Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, who could allow Jurgen Klopp to forget all about Henderson ahead of next season.

The Netherlands international could be a fantastic replacement for the English maestro as they are both excellent technicians who can dictate the tempo of matches.

Henderson ranks below the average for players in his position within the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions for tackles, interceptions, blocks, and clearances per 90 over the last 365 days.

However, the Reds veteran ranks in the top 6% of midfielders for progressive passes per 90 (8.19) and among the top 20% for Expected Assisted Goals (xAG) (0.15) per 90.

This shows that the 33-year-old metronome excels at moving the ball up the pitch to find teammates in advanced positions, which also leads to him creating quality opportunities for them to score – hence his high ranking for xAG.

Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson.

Gravenberch is a similar type of midfielder but has not been able to showcase his best form at Bayern Munich as he only started three Bundesliga matches last term.

However, the £152k-per-week machine's form for Ajax throughout the 2021/22 Eredivisie campaign suggests that the potential is there for him to emulate Henderson's success on the pitch.

The towering gem, who stands at 6 foot 3, averaged 8.33 progressive passes and racked up 0.16 xAG per 90 for his previous club, with the former placing him in the top 5% of midfielders within the Dutch top-flight.

Gravenberch, who was once heralded as "very dominant" by his former coach Brian Tevreden, also won 58% of his individual Eredivisie duels that term, whilst Henderson won 50% of his battles in the Premier League last season.

These statistics suggest that the Bayern youngster could provide similar qualities to the Liverpool captain on the pitch if he is able to translate his Ajax form over to England, after a difficult year in Germany.

At the age of 21, the powerful colossus is 12 years younger than the Three Lions star and would come in as a player with long-term potential who could be the next midfielder to spend many years at Anfield.

This is another reason why he could be a dream replacement for Henderson as this deal would be to secure the future of that position, rather than it being a short-term move, which would allow Klopp to forget about further reinforcements for that role for the time being.

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