All posts by z3u9t.icu

According to The Mirror, Serie A giants AC Milan are hoping to sign Everton youngster Ademola Lookman before the end of the January transfer window. 

However, The Toffees have so far insisted that the 21-year-old is not for sale, but will be bracing themselves for another bid from the Italian outfit.

The England under-21 international has struggled for game time so far this season under Marco Silva, managing only three starts in the Premier League. Two of those three starts have come this month, which gives the suggestion that senior figures at Everton were aware that the player was discontent. In order to placate him and avoid a move away, he has been granted game time. However, as they would have feared, there is growing interest in the winger.

Lookman had a wonderful spell at Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig last season, and has surely caught the attention of a number of clubs around Europe. Snapping up young English talent seems to be the in vogue thing to do around the continent currently, and Lookman may be another name on that list.

Everton can only really blame themselves for this as well. They have already shown an interest in a number of wingers this month, which would have made Lookman feel even more dejected, as Silva clearly does not see him as an option at the moment.

Everton will surely want to keep hold of Lookman, but from the player’s perspective, he must feel unwanted at Goodison Park, so a move to a club with such prestige that wants him would be right up his street.

Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones has been passed fit for his side’s Champions League clash with Benfica on Tuesday night, journalist Ian Doyle has confirmed.

The Lowdown: Liverpool face latest test

The Reds continue their quadruple charge with a trip to Portugal as they take on the Lisbon outfit in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.

In truth, Jurgen Klopp’s men were handed a relatively kind draw in the grand scheme of things, with the Portuguese side surprise winners over Ajax in the last round.

Jones was a doubt for the game after he limped out of Saturday’s 2-0 win at home to Watford, but a positive update has now emerged.

The Latest: Jones passed fit

Taking to Twitter on Monday, Doyle confirmed via Klopp that the 21-year-old was in contention to start, having overcome his weekend problem.

The journalist tweeted: “Klopp on injuries: Full squad available for the game, absolutely. Curtis had a little swelling, disappeared overnight. Trent now, 4-5 days is ready as well.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-26/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Place on the bench

Prior to going off last weekend, Jones had disappointed against Watford, firing a couple of efforts wide of the target and struggling to get into the game, also losing possession 12 times.

For that reason, it would be a surprise if he starts tonight in what is another crucial match in Liverpool’s potentially legendary season, especially given his recent injury concern and his rarity of starts throughout the season in general.

Fabinho coming back into the number six role makes complete sense, while Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita could be the number eights, allowing Thiago to be managed carefully ahead of Sunday’s huge Premier League clash with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

In other news, a fresh update has emerged regarding Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool future. Read more here.

Many Everton fans have been slamming some transfer news involving Dusan Vlahovic.

As per 90min, the Goodison Park outfit are one of seven Premier League clubs who are now eyeing up a move to sign the Fiorentina striker, with the others being Newcastle United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, while Juventus are also named as having an interest.

The player’s agents were in England earlier this month to engage in talks with top-flight clubs, and their client is likely to be available for around £70m.

However, given the Toffees’ problems with Financial Fair Play (FFP), it does seem rather unlikely that they would pay that kind of money for a player.

Vlahovic is also one of the emerging superstars of the beautiful game at just 21 years of age and has scored 12 goals in just 14 matches across all competitions so far this season (Transfermarkt).

Therefore, it seems unrealistic that he would move to the Toffees anyway, with the likes of City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Juve, all of whom are currently competing in the Champions League, all likely to be preferred destinations for the Serbia international.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/everton-news/” title=”Everton news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Everton fans on Vlahovic transfer news

These Everton fans slammed the transfer news as it was shared on Twitter, with one supporter going as far as to claim that it was ‘laughable’:

“In no universe would a lad with this much talent and potential even step foot in Goodison except to put about 5 past us”

Credit: @Jord_Thom00

“More chance of me playing against Brentford”

Credit: @keiranEFC_

“Like he’d ever come to us ahahahh”

Credit: @Jack19EFC

“Laughable to suggest he’ll come. His next destination will likely be an elite club or a German team to prepare him for his big move.”

Credit: @rlfansSaddened

“Why should he sign? There‘re better options for him. No chance imo”

Credit: @timnsno

“So we are completely out the picture, why even bother printing it lol”

Credit: @ianlawton7

In other news, find out what Benitez claim has shocked many Evertonians

Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves could be an excellent signing for Manchester United, according to Leeds United ambassador and pundit Noel Whelan.

The Lowdown: Neves linked with United move

The 24-year-old has continued to be a key man for Wanderers this season, excelling under the management of Bruno Lage at Molineux.

Neves has started 15 of his side’s Premier League matches, chipping in with a goal and assist apiece and averaging 2.1 tackles per match.

United have been linked with a move for the Portugal international next summer, as Ralf Rangnick looks to sign quality players in the middle of the park, where he is almost exclusively relying on Fred and Scott McTominay.

The Latest: Whelan talks up transfer

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan, 46, claimed Neves could excel at Old Trafford:

“He’s a player who has been a real standout for Wolves. He’s got creativity, scores goals, set-piece taker, works hard off the ball, exciting on the ball – I think he would flourish at Man United.

“In the time he’s been in England and the Premier League, he’s really earned that big move. He’s one of three or four who have been so pivotal to Wolves’ success since they got promoted.

“He commands that respect, and you can definitely see why he’s a wanted man by clubs like Man United.”

The Verdict: Would be a massive loss

Neves has been such an integral part of Wolves’ success since they were in the Championship, making 194 appearances and counting. Former Wolves man Sylvain Deslandes admitted he and his teammates were ‘astounded’ by the former Porto captain’s ability when he joined.

The thought of losing the Portuguese talent is, therefore, hugely worrying, with his ability on the ball something that would be extremely difficult to replace.

Unfortunately, the lure of playing for a club of United’s stature could be too much to turn down, but with Neves’ contract not expiring until 2024, they would at least be able to get a huge amount for his services if a move did happen.

In an ideal world, he will continue to thrive at Molineux, however, with Lage building a team around him in the coming years.

In other news, Luke Hatfield has talked up Wolves signing a Premier League winner. Find out who it is here.

Keith Downie has revealed that Diego Carlos is now ‘keen’ on signing for Newcastle United in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Talks underway

As per 90min journalist Graeme Bailey, the St. James’ Park faithful are ‘in talks’ with Sevilla to try and sign Carlos, although the La Liga outfit are trying to persuade him to sign a new deal in Spain.

Other names in the centre-back position have also been mentioned as potential targets, but Carlos seems to be the one that has the most legs.

However, given that the Brazilian is currently rated at £40.5m by Transfermarkt, it seems as if it could be an expensive deal to do.

The Latest: Carlos ‘keen’

Speaking to The Transfer Tavern, Sky Sports journalist Downie has revealed that Carlos is now personally ‘keen’ on a move to the North East, but has warned that Sevilla ‘hold the aces’ when it comes to whether they want to let him go this month:

“We’re hearing again from one source that the player would be keen on the move.

“But again, the club hold the aces when it comes to this.”

The Verdict: Worth it

Even though Carlos is likely to be an expensive deal, it would certainly be worth it from the Tyneside outfit’s point of view.

They have the second-worst defensive record in the top flight, and bringing in a commanding central defender would certainly help them concede fewer goals.

Nicknamed ‘The Beast‘, Carlos is exactly the kind of character that they need in the backline, and is already playing at the highest level in both the UEFA Champions League and La Liga.

Nonetheless, at 28 years of age, he is in his prime, and so he can help solve their problems straight away.

In other news, find out which two fresh targets have now been ‘discussed’ as potential NUFC signings here!

An update has emerged on Rangers loanee Cedric Itten, regarding a potential change in style for the Ibrox forward under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

What’s been said?

Responding to a fan’s question about loan players suiting van Bronckhorst’s squad, The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell named the attacker as an ‘interesting case’.

The report claimed that he was told Itten had been training to play in a similar way to Tottenham’s £108m-rated striker Harry Kane, in the way that he drops deep to receive the ball.

He said:

“Cedric Itten is an interesting case. When I watched him at St Gallen, it was obvious he was not a target man primarily. But Gerrard tended to start him from the right as a way to play towards him diagonally.

“I don’t think it played to his strengths and I was told in the summer, in the lead-up to the Malmo first leg he had to start because Alfredo Morelos was suspended, that Itten had been working on dropping deep in a way that replicated the role Harry Kane has carved out at Tottenham.”

Unleash him

The Gers have a number of players currently out on loan and van Bronckhorst may want to run the rule over them heading into January, in case he decides that he wants to recall them to utilise their talents in the second half of the campaign.

Instead of asking Ross Wilson to splash the cash on expensive additions to the squad, the Dutchman could bring Itten – for example – back to Ibrox and look to make him a success. This could save the club millions in the transfer window and make for an intriguing tactical tweak in the coming months.

The £14k-per-week gem, who was once dubbed “superb” by ex-Gers boss Steven Gerrard, could slot perfectly into the way van Bronckhorst’s team has set up since his arrival if he is able to play in a similar way to Kane.

If Itten can drop deep to receive the ball on the half-turn before spinning and firing the ball into the space he vacated then it could be a masterstroke by the Dutchman.

Ryan Kent and Fashion Sakala, who played in the wide roles vs Hearts, have pace to burn and could make runs inside their full-backs into the space Itten leaves – latching onto the Swiss striker’s passes to go through on goal. Scott Arfield and Joe Aribo have also made a similar run from deep that could suit this style of play, with both scoring goals by making runs past the attacker.

Itten scored 36 goals in 63 games for St Gallen, showing that he has the ability to be a regular goalscorer to go along with his potential stylistic suitability to van Bronckhorst’s side, but he is yet to fulfil his potential for Rangers.

By bringing him back to the club in January and utilising him in this new role, the ex-Feyenoord coach could get the best out of him.

AND in other news, Forget Tavernier: “Terrific” Rangers beast with 51 duels won is already Gvb’s key man…

An update has emerged on Giovanni van Bronckhorst, regarding the possibility of him replacing Steven Gerrard at Rangers.

What’s the talk?

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Dutchman is set for talks with Rangers over the vacant managerial position this weekend.

He Tweeted: “Rangers have shortlist ready to replace Gerrard. The board will start official contacts during the weekend – talk scheduled also with Gio van Bronckhorst #RangersFC Former Rangers and Barça player, he’s in the list together with other 2 managers. He’s interested in the job.”

Delight

Rangers fans will surely be left delighted by this update from Romano for multiple reasons. Firstly, he is a familiar face who understands the club.

The retired Netherlands international played over 100 times for the Gers during his playing career in Scotland before his £12.15m transfer to Arsenal in 2001, which remains the most expensive departure from Ibrox in the club’s history to this day.

This shows that he is familiar with the club and will have a connection with the fanbase, through memory or the memories of their parents, and could form an instant bond if he gets the job.

Van Bronckhorst being, according to Romano, interested in the role could also leave fans delighted as it shows that he is keen to make the move and still has an affection for the club. He wants to take over from Rangers, rather than Ross Wilson needing to convince him to take the job.

They could also be buzzing due to the Dutchman’s impressive record as a manager. In four full seasons at Feyenoord, he averaged 2.03 points per game in the Eredivisie as his side finished third, first, fourth and third.

He also won the Dutch Cup and the Dutch Super Cup twice each, taking his tally to five trophies in four years at Feyenoord, showing that he has the quality as a coach to piece together a team capable of winning games on a regular basis.

Van Bronckhorst is also currently out of work, which means that Rangers would not need to pay any compensation to snap him up.

He could come straight in without any baggage from a job he just left and that could appeal to Wilson, as it would save money ahead of the January window.

AND in other news, Wilson could land Rangers an “exceptional” Gerrard replacement in “modern” 48 y/o boss…

Everton have already had an active transfer window, signing two new defenders in Nathan Patterson and Vitaliy Mykolenko during the first week of the transfer window, and continue to be linked to a number of players as Rafa Benitez tries to change the direction that Everton are heading in with them currently 15th in the Premier League and just six points away from the relegation zone.

What’s the word?

According to Brazilian news outlet, UOL Deportes, a €15m (£12.5m) bid from Shaktar Donetsk for Everton transfer target, David Neres, has been rejected by Ajax.

The report claims that Ajax value the 24 year old midfielder at, at least €20m (£16.6m), with his contract running out in June 2023.

Everton were linked to Neres over the weekend, with Jeunes Footeux reporting that the Merseyside club were one of many that were interested in securing his signature, including Newcastle United.

Neres was hailed “quality” by his current manager, Erik Ten Hag, who previously spoke about interest from other clubs who wanted to sign the player in 2019:

“It’s so complex and there are so many people involved in Ajax at the moment that it may happen,

“But technically I don’t want to lose a quality player like Neres, because we need him. ”

Rafa must swoop

Now that Shaktar Donetsk have made a bid and had it rejected, it could be time to step up the chase for the Ajax forward, if Benitez is serious about signing him.

The £18m-rated star has been drawing attention to himself in the Eredivisie, with four goals and two assists so far this season, and could definitely help Everton with their attacking output if they were able to beat their competitors to the signing of the striker.

Everton have been struggling to control games and not scoring enough goals to take three points, with the side conceding 1.78 goals, but only scoring 1.28 goals per game this season according to FootyStats, which has as a result seen the side struggle to climb the league table into a comfortable position in the top half of the table.

The Spanish manager must look for ways to seize the opportunity of the transfer window, by making signings in key areas during the transfer window, and adding a young forward into the attacking line would surely give Benitez options for a fresh perspective.

That’s especially when the side is struggling to find chances to score during the second half of the season and beyond. Thus, Neres would be the perfect signing for this particular issue that Everton will need to fix if they want to rewrite the story of their campaign so far.

Words from a certain Jose Mourinho also add to the viewpoint of why Everton have to sign him.

Speaking about his heritage and performances, the Portuguese commented: “David Neres fully reflects what a Brazilian player should be. For me, he is the best of the new generation.”

As a result, he is a player that would surely light up proceedings at Goodison Park.

In other news: Journo gives perspective on potential Barkley signing

Sunderland enjoyed a busy January transfer window as Kristjaan Speakman brought in a number of players to bolster then-manager Lee Johnson’s squad.

Jermain Defoe, Jack Clarke, Jay Matete, Trai Hume, Danny Batth and Patrick Roberts all came in to aid the club’s attempts to win promotion to the Championship this season.

One of those signings has already flopped as Defoe recently announced his retirement from football after playing seven League One matches for the club.

Kristjaan Speakman error

Another January signing who the club could end up making an embarrassing error over is attacking midfielder Patrick Roberts.

At the time of his arrival, Johnson said: “We hope that this is the place he calls home for a number of years.”

However, that may not transpire as he is attracting interest from elsewhere. TEAMtalk recently reported that Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise are keen on a deal for the former Manchester City man at the end of the season.

They are set to have Champions League football to offer and want to tempt Roberts into making the switch just months after he signed for the Black Cats.

This is where Speakman must act quickly to avoid making this blunder. He was only able to agree a short-term deal with the forward until the end of the season and must now extend his terms to secure his future at the Stadium of Light.

At the very least, Roberts signing a new contract would allow Sunderland to recoup a fee for his services instead of losing him for nothing in the summer.

The winger has one goal and has averaged 1.3 key passes per game across ten matches in League One, starting four times, and has the potential to improve further at the age of 25. He still has his best years ahead of him as he is yet to reach his peak and he could enjoy that at the Stadium of Light if he stays.

Ex-Black Cats player Stephen Elliott dubbed him “sublime” recently and former Norwich head coach Daniel Farke also previously hailed the forward’s talents, saying: “He is a brilliant lad who is full of potential. He is the type of player who can change a game because he has this ability that he can create something in a one against one situation.”

These comments suggest that Sunderland are yet to see the best of the attacker and that is why they cannot lose him on a free. It would be embarrassing to lose a player of his talent without receiving payment for him just months after bringing him to the club, which is why Speakman must rectify his error to avoid making another one.

AND in other news, Cost £13.6m, now worth £1.8m: SAFC had a nightmare on dud who “lacked professionalism”…

A number of West Ham supporters are excited after the Hammers were linked with a January move for Sparta Prague striker Adam Hlozek.

David Moyes’ men were given a reality check in the Premier League last weekend, losing 1-0 away to Wolves and seeing their top-four hopes dented in the process.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-developments-2/” title=”West Ham developments” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

It has still been a wonderful start to the season for West Ham, though, and there is no reason why they can’t secure Champions League football next season.

For that to happen, a few reinforcements would arguably help in January, allowing Moyes to keep his squad fresh as the season goes on. That is especially the case in attack, where there is no natural centre-forward alternative to the injury-prone Michail Antonio.

According to Football Insider [via West Ham Fan Zone on Twitter], the Hammers are reportedly interested in signing Sparta youngster Hlozek, with the striker scoring 32 goals in 106 appearances for the Czech club despite only turning 19 in July.

West Ham fans love Hlozek rumour

These West Ham fans reacted positively to the rumour on Twitter, with some believing that the teenager would be an “excellent” signing in the winter transfer window.

“Now I’m liking this”

Credit: @MarcClimpson

“Lingard, Hlozek, Antonio, Bowen, Fornals, Lanzini & Benrahma when he comes back from AFCON… That’s a serious attack!”

Credit: @WhufcSloth

“Nice”

Credit: @callumwhu123

“This would be a huge deal! 6ft1, quick, strong, excellent finisher, great work rate & good in the air. At just 19, get him on Antonio’s weight training plan & we build an absolute beast…especially with pace & skill around him”

Credit: @WhufcSloth

“Please West Ham”

Credit: @LiamWHU1

“I really hope it happens”

Credit: @LedingtonJohn

In other news, another striker has also been linked with a move to West Ham. Find out who it is here.