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Everton could be set to instantly replace one outbound star with a potential upgrade…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to transfer expert David Ornstein, who took to Twitter to issue an update on the Toffees’ pursuit of Kamaldeen Sulemana.

With Anthony Gordon having now departed for £45m, the new boss Sean Dyche will look to reinvest it with intelligence to ensure his side has the best possible chance of ensuring survival.

This young wide man seems like he could be their first foray, as Ornstein wrote on Monday morning:

“Everton made verbal offer on Sunday for permanent signing of Rennes winger Kamaldeen Sulemana. Would see EFC reinvest some Gordon proceeds in direct replacement. Stade Rennais seeking ~€30m (£26m) for 20yo who wants to go. SaintsFC still keen”.

The news came just hours before news of another bid from the Toffees, one totalling £45m for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher.

Gordon upgrade

It seems like the exit of Gordon from Goodison Park has been met with one of the more jovial reactions from the Everton fanbase, scratching their heads at what exactly spurred Newcastle United to spend that kind of money on a 21-year-old with just seven senior goals to his name.

Having burst onto the scene, the boyhood blue’s spark soon fizzled out and he struggled to find consistency in a royal blue shirt. As such, he was often dropped this season by Frank Lampard in favour of the equally woeful Dwight McNeil.

With clear attitude problems, outlined in his refusal to train in order to force a move, he will likely not be missed.

It does clear the way for some fresh talent to enter the club, and in Sulemana he would have a clean slate with which to hopefully fire Everton to safety.

With just three goal contributions to his name this season, it has admittedly been a poor campaign for the 20-year-old. To truly have a big impact on this second half of the season, he will need to be even better than last season, where he earned eight goal contributions across all competitions.

This is still a marked improvement on Gordon’s tally in the previous two seasons, who had only mustered three goal contributions this campaign and six the season prior in the league.

However, what the Ghana international will offer is pure pace and skill which few currently do at the club, which he uses to great effect.

Sulemana injects danger into any game he is part of, best outlined by the fact that he ranks in the top 2% for dribbles completed when compared against other wingers across Europe. He truly is the “young sensation” that journalist Yaw Ampofo Jr dubbed him.

What will please Dyche further is that he is also not afraid to do his defensive duties, and with him likely to be employed within a 4-4-2 system, this will be imperative. When compared against the same group, he ranks in the top 9% for tackles and the top 2% for interceptions, highlighting where he really shines.

With a sparkling work rate to pair with his insatiable talent on the ball, should he start to convert this into more of a tangible threat then he will likely far surpass Gordon’s short legacy at the club.

Young West Brom pair Jovan Malcolm and Reyes Cleary ‘will be involved’ against Chesterfield in their FA Cup third round replay, Joe Chapman reports.

The Lowdown: West Brom host Chesterfield

The Baggies are in a superb run of form at the moment, winning their last four Championship matches in a row and jumping to sixth place in the table.

In the FA Cup however, Carlos Corberan’s side needed a last-gasp equaliser from Brandon Thomas-Asante to secure a 3-3 draw at Chesterfield, with a replay now required to separate the two sides.

The two sides meet again on Tuesday evening, with Corberan potentially rotating ahead of a crucial trip to Burnley on Friday night.

The Latest: Duo expected to play

Taking to Twitter, Chapman reported that Malcolm and Cleary will feature at home to Chesterfield:

“Corberan has confirmed both Malcolm & Cleary will be involved on Tuesday.”

The Verdict: Great chance for young pair

It makes complete sense for Corberan to give players like Malcolm and Cleary an opportunity to shine on Tuesday, especially with matches coming thick and fast.

For the former, it would be a senior West Brom debut, with the striker scoring 20 times in 37 appearances for the Under-18s, while the latter has made four appearances so far this season.

There is the risk that West Brom could end up losing, of course, given the lack of experience on show, but it is a gamble that Corberan needs to be willing to take, with promotion a larger priority.

Transfer expert Dean Jones has claimed that Arsenal are unlikely to sign FC Barcelona winger Ferran Torres in this window.

The Lowdown: Arsenal ‘really like’ Torres

It was reported by Jones in December that the Gunners ‘really like’ Torres after inquiring about him in the summer, ahead of a potential move in January.

They have also been strongly linked with moves for Shakhtar Donetsk’s Mykhaylo Mudryk and Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix, so it is clear that Mikel Arteta wants to bring in an elite attacker to help cover for the injury to Gabriel Jesus, and push his team towards the Premier League title.

The Latest: Torres unlikely

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has claimed that the North London club are now unlikely to bring Torres to the Emirates Stadium in this window, as he is set to ‘get another crack’ at Barcelona:

“It seems like information from Spain is that Ferran is going to get another crack at making his current move work, so I’m not sure again that they’ll get much joy down that path.”

The Verdict: Not a major blow

Even though Torres would have been a shrewd addition to Arsenal’s ranks, it will not be seen as a major blow to lose out on him, given their pursuits of both Mudryk and Felix respectively.

Footballing legend and Barca boss Xavi rates Torres very highly, claiming that he is ‘world-class‘ after signing him last January, as he ranked in the 93rd percentile for shots and progressive passes received per match of all wingers in Europe’s top five leagues in 2022, and 92nd for non-penalty xG.

Of course, it would have been class to reunite him with two of his former team-mates at Manchester City in Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, and play under former City assistant coach Arteta, but now the Gunners can at least concentrate on deals for Mudryk and Felix while Torres looks unlikely to join.

Glasgow Rangers are in the mix to sign Standard Liege sensation Nicolas Raskin, according to reports in Belgium.

The Lowdown: Raskin profiled

The 21 year-old is a versatile midfielder who has enjoyed a rapid breakout into Liege’s first-team over the last couple of seasons, seeing his transfer value skyrocket from €325k to €7m in the space of two years, an increase of over 2,000 per cent.

Capable of playing as a deep-lying number six, a box to box number eight or even in the advanced number ten position, Raskin is now attracting interest from all over Europe due to his tense contract situation.

The youngster’s current deal runs out next summer, and he recently took to social media to make it clear he is not in talks to extend, even calling a journalist a ‘clown’ for reporting otherwise.

The Latest: Rangers join the race

Seemingly not impressed by his very public statement, Liege have now decided to cash in this January, with Voetbal Nieuws (via Sport Witness) revealing Raskin turned down a new contract worth €1.8m per year and has been relegated to the Jupiler Pro League outfit’s B-team.

They are now waiting for ‘any interesting offer’, and Rangers join Club Brugge, Leeds United, SC Braga, Genoa, Fiorentina, Marseille and Lille as ‘potential buyers’.

The verdict: Worth the gamble?

Given the contract standoff seemingly taking place at the Premiership club right now with Alfredo Morelos – the striker has allegedly requested £45k per week to sign a new deal – fans may be cautious about engaging with another maverick.

That said, the Gers haven’t exactly done poorly out of their time with the Colombian, as he’s racked up 116 goals for the club, and if Raskin could even manage half of that impact then he would be a worthwhile gamble.

The versatile midfielder, dubbed ‘brilliant’ in his teens and tipped to part of Belgium’s next golden generation by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has provided four assists in 14 Belgian League starts this season, showing an eye for a pass that has often been lacking in the Ibrox midfield ranks.

For context, Malik Tillman is the only Rangers midfielder with four Premiership assists this season, and he of course plays in a more advanced role.

With so many sides interested in Raskin and a senior Belgium berth seemingly inevitable for the Under-21 international, Ross Wilson would be a fool not to test the waters with a cut-price January bid.

Liverpool could look to hijack Manchester United’s £50million move for PSV star Cody Gakpo, according to pundit Paul Robinson. 

The Lowdown: Goalscoring genius 

Following on from an impressive haul of 25 Eredivisie goal contributions last term in the form of 12 goals and 13 assists, Gakpo has gone one better this time around with nine goals and 12 assists from just 14 league games.

And his incredible league form combined with three goals from four games under the tenure of Louis van Gaal at the Qatar World Cup has only stoked the fires of talks surrounding a possible big move in 2023.

The 23-year-old has been a goalscoring genius so far this season, with his World Cup efforts likely to add to his ever-growing price tag.

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The Latest: Robinson urges Reds to swoop in

Asked by Football Insider whether Liverpool could make a move for Gakpo with assistant coach Pep Ljinders reportedly a big admirer of the player, Robinson said:

“Look, Jurgen Klopp and the recruitment team at Liverpool clearly trust Pep Lijnders judgement because they backed him on the Jota signing.

“Gakpo is a top player. He has proven it at domestic level and now he is proving it on the biggest stage of all, the World Cup. He is certainly a player who would improve the Liverpool squad.

“You can see why Ljinders likes him. The may well trust Lijnders again. Liverpool have a lot of options in forward areas but I wouldn’t rule out them hijacking a move for Gakpo.”

The Verdict: Worth a try

Hijacking a move from your bitter rivals is a feat that will always go down well with the fans, especially for this calibre of player, so to snatch Gakpo from the clutches of Manchester United would serve as a sensational feat from Jurgen Klopp and co. 

Given Klopp’s track record of transforming the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota into goalscoring machines, you get the impression that Gakpo would instantly become an elite-level forward under the German boss’ guidance.

This is worth a try from a Liverpool perspective, despite their already esteemed front-line.

Villarreal attacker Nicolas Jackson could be an ideal addition to Aston Villa’s attack if he joins the Premier League club in January, journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed.

The Lowdown: Jackson linked with Villa

The 21-year-old is an exciting young player who has scored two goals and set up two more in La Liga so far this season, with a bright future seemingly on the cards for him.

New Villa manager Unai Emery knows Jackson inside-out after working with him recently at the Estadio de la Ceramica, and the Senegal forward has been linked with a move to Villa Park.

A January move could potentially be on the cards, and his possible signing has once again been talked up.

The Latest: Journalist talks up possible Jackson signing

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke said that Jackson is someone who could help take Villa up another gear this season and beyond if he comes to the Midlands.

The reporter said of the 21-year-old:

“He’s broken into the Villarreal team on a regular basis this season, and he’s been a real find for them.

“He scored goals, created goals, and he’s someone who could add to that Aston Villa attack because they’ve really struggled to score goals so far this season.

“So, I’m sure it’s an area of the team that Unai Emery will quickly identify to try and improve.”

The Verdict: Ideal January addition

Jackson could be a perfect January addition for Villa, with Emery’s knowledge of the Senegalese gem as a player certainly taking the risk element out of the move.

At 21, he is still very raw, but with Philippe Coutinho and Emiliano Buendia regressing from last season’s levels, and with neither Danny Ings nor Ollie Watkins scoring freely, more attacking depth is required.

Jackson should be viewed as someone who could come in and be an immediate regular for Villa, while also maturing into a genuine stalwart in claret and blue as the years progress.

Medical expert Ben Dinnery has claimed that the new injury to Kemar Roofe is ‘very frustrating’ for him and Glasgow Rangers, although not ‘alarming’.

The Lowdown: Injury setback

Giovanni van Bronckhorst confirmed in late October that the 29-year-old had suffered an injury setback and would be missing for a couple of weeks.

The striker had been carrying a knee injury from last season, although he did make his return in the 1-0 win at home to Dundee in the Scottish League Cup quarter-finals last month.

Roofe then made another substitute appearance in the 1-1 draw at home to Livingston in the Premiership, but this latest injury has kept him out ever since.

The Latest: ‘Very frustrating’

Speaking to Football Insider, Dinnery – who runs the Premier Injuries site and also contributes for Sky Sports – has claimed that Roofe’s latest injury setback is ‘very frustrating’, but not ‘alarming’.

He stated of the Jamaican’s woes: “I wouldn’t say it’s alarming, it’s more frustrating in terms of where the player wants to be.

“We know the associated risk of players returning from long-term injury, regardless of the work you are putting in on the training pitch.

“Nothing quite prepares the body for the rigours of competitive first-team football. That’s why you see players suffer minor setbacks and niggles because you need to adapt and integrate.

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“This latest setback puts a pause on him being involved but in the grand scheme of things, it’s just a minor issue.

“Unfortunately it’s one that he will be used to. You need to be in a really strong mindset to get you through that. You just focus on hitting those milestones in recovery and getting back in the team.

“It’s very frustrating, very disappointed but not totally unexpected. The break eases the pressure. Usually, everyone is asking when you are back and you push yourself.

“This allows the process to take its natural course, you can ease back and go through a thorough programme, so you arrive in the second half of the season in a really good place.”

The Verdict: Cannot catch a break

Roofe simply cannot catch a break, as he has been suffering from constant injury problems since the last campaign.

With Alfredo Morelos strongly linked with leaving Ibrox over the next few months, there is a place in the Rangers squad for an understudy to Antonio Colak, and Roofe would be confident that he can eventually surpass the new signing as the Light Blues’ main focal point.

He finished as the club’s third-highest scorer last season with 16 goals across all competitions, and when fit, he has shown that he can be a consistent threat in front of goal.

However, these constant injuries are hampering his chances of getting more game-time for the Light Blues.

Everton have no doubt endured a miserable recruitment record over the years, having routinely made often bizarre and costly decisions in the transfer market, while also missing out on potential ideal signings.

One such figure that eluded them in the past was that of Peter Crouch, with reports back in 2010 suggesting that the Englishman was a potential target for Toffees boss David Moyes, with midfielder Steven Pienaar set to head in the other direction to join Tottenham Hotspur.

While the striker’s previous Liverpool connections may well have been a contentious issue among supporters, the towering marksman would likely have offered a reliable goalscoring presence in attack, having netted 13 times and provided nine assists during the 2009/10 campaign for Spurs.

A player whom Moyes was seemingly fond of – with the Scotsman having reportedly been keen to sign the unique asset during his later stint as Sunderland boss in 2016 – it could well have been an ideal deal for all concerned.

As it proved, however, no such move came to fruition – despite Pienaar securing his switch to north London – with Crouch ultimately staying put with the Lilywhites for a further season.

Amid that missed chance, the Merseysiders instead bolstered their attacking ranks with the free transfer capture of Jermaine Beckford, with the former Leeds United man subsequently going on to last just a solitary season at Goodison Park, having scored ten goals in all competitions during the 2010/11 campaign.

As for Crouch, the 6 foot 7 colossus would ultimately go on to join Stoke City a year later, enjoying a respectable spell with the Potters as he scored 61 goals and provided 27 assists in 261 games in all competitions.

The now-retired journeyman – who also turned out for the likes of Southampton, Queen’s Park Rangers and Portsmouth in a lengthy career in English football – may have never been truly prolific, although remained a real handful for any opposition as a result of his towering frame and aerial ability.

That latter strength ensured that the 42-cap menace still holds the overall record for the most headed goals in Premier League history with a tally of 40, while his tally of 108 league goals ensures he ranks 28th in the competition’s all-time scorers list.

A player who accumulated 199 goals at club level throughout his career, the Macclesfield-born sensation would no doubt have offered a real attacking threat to Moyes had he been snapped up all those years ago.

Just imagine the carnage that could have ensued with the former England international lined up in attack alongside Marouane Fellaini…

Nottingham Forest’s tough start to life in the Premier League continued on Monday night as they were thrashed 4-0 by previously-winless Leicester City.

A shocking spell in the first half saw James Maddison open the scoring thanks to a deflected effort, before an excellent strike from Harvey Barnes made it 2-0 just a minute later.

Maddison then made it 3-0 with a superb free-kick in off the post, with Patson Daka completing the humiliation in the second half with a lovely flicked finish.

However, Forest had their chances at the King Power Stadium, with Taiwo Awoniyi missing two huge opportunities, including an effort off the post when the score was still 0-0.

Had the Nigerian summer signing taken his chances then Forest could have escaped with a point or more, so the former Liverpool man definitely let Steve Cooper down.

In fact, his lacklustre finishing ability may well have cost the English manager his job, as reports have emerged following the game that the Reds could look to appoint Rafa Benitez as Cooper’s replacement, after a disappointing start to the season.

As per SofaScore, Awoniyi would earn a shocking 6.1 rating for his performance, which was the worst of any outfield player on the pitch.

After hitting the woodwork in the first half, the 25-year-old fluffed another chance in the second half, shooting straight at Danny Ward when played through on goal.

During his time on the pitch, the Nigerian forward would have just 13 touches of the ball. Dean Henderson, by comparison, would have 54, which emphasises how little Awoniyi was involved on Monday night.

The target man has averaged just nine passes per game this season but somehow dropped even lower against the Foxes, completing just six passes before he was rightly substituted just after the hour mark.

With only two goals in his opening eight appearances for Forest, with a number of notable chances missed, Cooper may well have been a lot better off with a more clinical option than Awoniyi up front.

Therefore, with the former Swansea boss seemingly on the brink of losing his job, Awoniyi must share some of the blame after another passenger-like display on Monday.

Fulham are reportedly looking to pip Tottenham to a deal for Leeds United forward Dan James, according to ESPN’s James Olley.

The Lowdown: Spurs rumours

The 24-year-old has been linked with a late move to Spurs, with Antonio Conte’s side thought to be confident over a deal. Talks were reportedly at an advanced stage, although the Wales international is still with Leeds in the final hours of the transfer window.

It looks as if there has been a transfer twist, though, with another London club now keen on his services.

The Latest: Transfer twist

Olley, a senior reporter for ESPN, took to Twitter on Wednesday to provide an ‘update’ on James. He claimed that Fulham are ‘ready’ to match Leeds’ £20m asking price, with Tottenham only willing to sign the forward on loan.

Phil Hay has shared what he knows, stating that James’ preference is to remain at Elland Road but Leeds haven’t ruled out an exit just yet.

Fabrizio Romano has since claimed that a deal is close, though he believes it could be a loan move, so time will tell whether Leeds get any cash for the player come the end of the day.

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The Verdict: Decision to make

It doesn’t look like PSV’s Cody Gakpo will be heading to Yorkshire, and with time running out before the 11pm deadline, Leeds may have a decision to make regarding James.

It appears as if they could be tempted to sell the 24-year-old, but it would be a major gamble to green-light a move without a replacement lined up.

Victor Orta may well be working late into the night on the hunt for a forward, so James’ future could be one to keep an eye on today with Fulham now firmly in the race for the Welshman.