The Wales international became Palace’s record signing as they desperately searched to improve Oliver Glasner’s squad in the January transfer window.

However, the 24-year-old has failed to impress when called upon at Selhurst Park and has yet to find the net and remains behind Ismaila Sarr in the pecking order.

Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Crystal Palace could cut their losses on Johnson if a club makes a significant offer for him.

While suitors may be hard to find given his likely asking price and the face he is under contract until 2030, but Crystal Palace could accept an offer should one arrive.

Is Brennan Johnson right for Crystal Palace?

Brown told Football Insider in December that Crystal Palace were making moves for Johnson, although he questioned whether the deal would be right for the Eagles.

Johnson frustrated once more as Crystal Palace beat Newcastle 2-1 last time out, with his withdrawal part of a triple change at 1-0 down as Glasner looked to inspire a comeback.

His role in the side has been questioned as a result of his disappointing displays, and their imminent change in manager could alter the situation, but he could also be moved on.

“Brennan Johnson has had a poor start at Crystal Palace,” Brown told Football Insider.

“And the worst thing about it is that I can’t remember him putting himself out too much, he doesn’t look like he’s making an effort to try and impact the game.

“That’s a concern I’ve had with him for a while, I went to watch him playing for Wales, their Under-21s I believe, once and everybody who was anybody in the scouting world was there.

“But he was jogging around the pitch, didn’t look particularly bothered, wasn’t putting in much effort and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

“So after that, I must admit I wasn’t his biggest fan, but I thought maybe this move to Crystal Palace might get the best out of him.

“They’ve been disappointed with him so far because he’s hardly made an impact and if everybody is fit and available, he doesn’t get into the starting XI.

“If the opportunity came up for them to cut their losses in the summer, I expect they would be willing to do it, make their money back and look elsewhere.

“It might be a bit soon, and they’ve got a new manager coming in, but all those concerns I’ve had about him are showing already and that’s not a good sign.”

Could clubs make moves for Johnson already?

Despite what has been a difficult start to life at Crystal Palace, Johnson has a number of long-term admirers in the Premier League who have previously considered moves.

Both Everton and Bournemouth made offers to Tottenham before the Wales international ultimately decided a move to South London would be the best move.

Meanwhile, Football Insider exclusively revealed that both Ipswich and Brentford were interested in Johnson and were prepared to rival Palace for his signature.

Should Palace take extreme steps and make the winger available in the summer, those previously interested clubs could be tempted to reignite their moves.

He remains highly rated among a number of clubs for his previous displays both for Nottingham Forest and Tottenham, and his Palace form could be overlooked.

The post 'They've been disappointed' - Expert: Crystal Palace could 'cut their losses' on big-money flop appeared first on Football Insider.

The Toffees were forced to put up with Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s injury issues for years at Goodison Park, and despite a change of stadium, the club’s issues have followed them across the city.

Moyes’ side are making a charge for Europe, and while Beto and Thierno Barry are ranked first and second in terms of Everton’s goalscorers, they only have 13 goals between them in the Premier League.

Everton’s transfer chiefs will be gearing up for an exciting summer transfer window, and it would appear that links are already emerging at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Everton in the race for Mohamed Amoura

Football Insider understands that Everton are eyeing a deal for Ivan Toney, but given his importance in the Saudi Pro League, it could take an eye-watering amount of money to drag him back to England.

As well as the England international, the Toffees are keeping tabs on Egypt international Mohamed Amoura, with the Wolfsburg star’s valuation dropping from £35million to £26million [L’Equipe].

While it has been a difficult campaign for the 25-year-old, he has still managed to record eight goals and seven assists in all competitions, even with the Africa Cup of Nations in between.

While Amoura is relatively inexperienced in the top leagues, featuring in the Europa League with Union St Gilloise in 2023-24, Hugo Ekitike, Omar Marmoush and Erling Haaland have all proven that a successful switch to the Premier League is possible.

Who must David Moyes fend off for Amoura’s signature?

With Wolfsburg also at huge risk of being relegated from the Bundesliga this season, there is an extra incentive for the Toffees to go all-in for his signature once the summer window opens.

However, Leeds have also been linked with Amoura, and Daniel Farke would likely welcome him to the squad with open arms. Moyes’ side must jump ahead of the queue for the striker.

With Everton just five points below the Champions League qualification spots, thanks to an extra team for next season, there is a very real chance of Moyes taking the club back to Europe.

That should help draw some bigger names to the Hill Dickinson Stadium in the summer, and Amoura could make an expected switch to England, with Merseyside his potential destination.

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The 27-year-old has enjoyed an outstanding season so far in the Championship and there is a growing feeling he is ready to make the step up to the Premier League.

Southampton currently sit fourth in the table, just three points shy of second place, but if they miss out on promotion they may be forced to let their star players leave.

As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, Leeds are one of multiple Premier League clubs ready to make a move for Scienza.

While any deal is likely to depend on Southampton’s promotion bid, Leeds are determined to strengthen their squad and view the winger among their top targets.

Leeds Untied boosted in pursuit of Leo Scienza

Football Insider revealed on 8 April that Southampton will be unable to keep Scienza if they are not promoted to the Premier League this summer.

Alongside Leeds, the likes of Everton and other mid-table Premier League clubs are believed to have been impressed by the winger’s performances.

Should Leeds secure Premier League survival in the coming weeks after placing themselves in a strong position, they will be well-placed to make a move.

Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “There’ll be a number of clubs who will look at Leo Scienza. He’s been one of the best players in the Championship this season.

“A real great pick up from Southampton when they signed him from Heidenheim in Germany, he’s been outstanding for them since his arrival.

“If Southampton remain in the Championship, they will find it hard to keep hold of the 27-year-old.

“There will be Premier League clubs, not just Leeds, who’ll be willing to offer the skilful winger that chance to play at the highest level as well.

“Southampton’s focus right now is on seeing if they can secure promotion, but if they miss out on promotion to the Premier League, it will be difficult.”

Who else has joined Leeds in the race for Scienza?

As previously mentioned, Everton are among a number of clubs who have joined Leeds in the race to sign Scienza should Southampton miss out on promotion.

A host of mid-table Premier League sides are also keeping tabs on his progress, but Football Insider recently shared reports that Aston Villa also want Scienza.

Should Unai Emery’s side opt to firm up their interest in the winger, they would likely have a significant advantage over the rest of the chasing back.

Villa are currently fourth place in the Premier League and on course to qualify for the Champions League, while they have progressed into the Europa League semi-finals.

Should they make a move for Scienza, they would likely rank higher than the likes of Leeds and Everton in their pursuit, and believe they could get a deal done.

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That is according to former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking to Football Insider, after McCoist claimed Celtic were running Scottish football.

McCoist could not believe that Celtic would host Hearts on the final day of the season, whilst Rangers would travel to Falkirk for a third time.

The fixture list though ensures that all teams in the league play 19 home games and 19 away matches, with the Scottish Premiership title still all to play for.

Rangers are currently second in the league table, just a point below leaders Hearts, with the two sides set to meet again at Tynecastle next month.

Ally McCoist claim labelled as ‘rubbish’

Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes McCoist’s comments have lost him a “little bit of credibility.”

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness states that there has been “no bias” in the fixture schedule.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “We all like Ally McCoist to a degree, but I’m afraid this is rubbish.

“I looked at the mathematical formulas around the scheduling of these post-split games. And there is no bias whatsoever in this at all. And it is the classic Rangers, Celtic Divide, I’m afraid.

“If somebody said it was black, the others would say it was white. And that’s the case it is. I’m afraid McCoist has lost a little bit of credibility in saying that. I thought he was above all that sort of partisanship.

“You can’t take it out on him. He’s blue through and through. But I’m afraid he’s wrong in this case, and if he had a look at the mathematics, he’d understand the case behind it.”

Rangers could be the team to beat in title race

Wyness also told Football Insider that Rangers are the team in form in the Scottish Premiership heading into the final five fixtures.

The title race is still too close to call, but the Gers have won their past four league matches and scored six against Falkirk last time out.

Martin O’Neill’s experience of winning titles could give Celtic the edge, although the Hoops’ performances of late suggest they could drop points again before the end of the season.

Hearts continue to lead the pack, and Derek McInnes’ side are chasing history if they can beat the Old Firm to the title.

The post 'Rubbish' - Ex-Aberdeen chief blasts Ally McCoist over his Rangers outburst appeared first on Football Insider.

Palace have been assessing a number of options to replace Oliver Glasner since January, and feel their Conference League progress will put them in a strong position.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, announced this week that Andoni Iraola will leave the Vitality Stadium this summer and are keen to secure his replacement quickly.

However, as I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, Coventry City are relaxed about Lampard’s future and confident he will stay.

The former Chelsea boss’ stock has risen as a result of Coventry’s Championship title push, but there is a growing feeling he will remain at the CBS Arena this summer.

Could Frank Lampard join Crystal Palace or Bournemouth?

Football Insider revealed earlier this month that Lampard would snub a move away from Coventry despite Crystal Palace’s attempts to snatch him.

Bournemouth are the latest side to have considered his future after announcing Iraola’s departure, but it looks like the answer will be the same.

Coventry and currently in a very strong position to achieve promotion to the Premier League, and they hope Lampard will remain in charge next season.

Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “I would be very surprised if Lampard was to leave Coventry City now.

“You’ve got the likes of Bournemouth who are looking for a new manager, Crystal Palace looking for a new manager, I’m sure Lampard is somebody who has been under consideration.

“But Coventry are quite hopeful and quite relaxed that Lampard will want to continue with them in the Premier League.

“He is still part of their project, they want to have Lampard leading them out in the Premier League next season and then consolidating them in the future.”

Do Coventry have plans if Lampard leaves this summer?

While it remains highly unlikely that Lampard will leave Coventry, it has been suggested he could be lured away should the Chelsea job become available.

Liam Rosenior is facing growing pressure on his position at Stamford Bridge, and the former Blues boss has been linked with a surprise return if that takes place.

As a result, Football Insider exclusively revealed on 9 April that Coventry have plans in case Lampard leaves, with a number of alternatives on their radar.

The Sky Blues view John Eustace as a top contender to potentially replace their current boss as he ranks highly on their shortlist of options.

The Derby County boss is believed to be ready to jump at the chance to take over at Coventry, although it remains unlikely that any change will take place as things stand.

The post Sources: Crystal Palace consider hiring ex-PL manager as Oliver Glasner replacement appeared first on Football Insider.

With European dreams still well and truly alive, Everton return to action this weekend to take on Liverpool off the back of their Champions League exit.

Pressure is mounting on Arne Slot to keep his job, while the Toffees could move up to sixth with a win against their rivals.

Everton have failed to win any of their last three clashes with the Reds, last securing victory in 2024 when Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were on the scoresheet.

However, Beto’s recent upturn in form for Everton may hand them a boost to end that run, and to always rewrite his own history against Liverpool.

Beto’s record against Liverpool

Beto has been in excellent form lately, as showcased by the fact that he has had a hand in five goals in his last five appearances for the Toffees.

However, if he is to add to that this weekend, he will need to do something he has only ever done once before.

In the four encounters that Beto has had with Liverpool, he has managed just one goal, but the biggest concern is that he has never been on the winning side.

Three of those have ended in defeat, while the other was a 2-2 draw last season, in which Beto was on the scoresheet.

It may be a small sample size, but Beto has never lost against Liverpool when he has scored against them, and that could happen again this weekend.

David Moyes is one game away from repeating Carlo Ancelotti trick

A win for the Toffees would be huge for their chances of Europe, but it would also see them hit the 50-point mark.

The last time Everton achieved that was back in the 2020-21 season, when Carlo Ancelotti was in charge.

Everton accumulated 59 points by the end of that campaign, meaning they would need to pick up 13 or more points from their last six games to reach that tally.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

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The Friedkin Group look fairly powerless to do anything about Senesi’s move to Tottenham, which is said to be progressing well.

The Bournemouth centre-back is set to become a free agent this summer, and would have fit the bill for what David Moyes is looking for, with the Blues also missing out on a cheap transfer masterclass.

There is one stumbling block in Senesi’s proposed move, as it currently depends on Tottenham’s ability to maintain their Premier League status.

However, Everton don’t have time to waste with Gatti, who could be the next best option.

Reasons for Federico Gatti’s potential sale will interest Everton

Senesi isn’t 100 per cent guaranteed to join Tottenham due to the uncertainty of their top-flight status, but even then, the Toffees would have to battle it out with Leeds and other interested Premier League clubs.

The centre-back has been in fine form for the Cherries these last two seasons, and would have no doubt been some pick up by the Friedkin Group.

However, Juventus are said to be open to selling Gatti this summer due to financial reasons, as the Toffees may be able to strike some shrewd business anyway.

According to David Ornstein, this Friday, Tottenham are in “advanced talks” for Senesi, who will walk away from the Vitality as a free agent this summer, but nothing is finalised yet.

Everton have reported interest in Gatti, which dates back to 2023, and it may be finally time for the defender to leave Serie A for the Premier League this summer.

Everton still unlikely to sell centre-backs; here’s why

Everton have the likes of James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, Jake O’Brien, and Michael Keane on their books heading into the summer window.

Branthwaite would have most likely demanded transfer interest this summer, but a season of injury issues will most likely keep clubs at bay.

O’Brien has played the majority of the campaign as a right-back, but with the Toffees close to European qualification, his versatility could be vital for different competitions next season.

Keane and Tarkowski are unlikely to leave Hill Dickinson, while the need for another central defender is still there.

Gatti isn’t a priority, but if the Friedkin Group see an extreme need for a new centre-half, then the Italian could be a good option instead of Senesi.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

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David Moyes has confirmed that the Argentine midfielder is back in training, with the Blues boasting an almost fully fit squad for the first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium on 19 April.

Jack Grealish is the only player still sidelined at the Toffees after picking up a long-term injury and it remains to be seen whether he will play any part in the final six games of the season.

As things stand, the Scottish manager finds his team five points behind fifth-place Liverpool and are fully focused on climbing further up the table to qualify for Europe.

Myes can get the better of Arne Slot in L3 and put more pressure on the Dutch manager, whose future remains uncertain after a disappointing campaign with the Reds.

David Moyes handed Tyrique George dilemma for Everton vs Liverpool

The pressure is on Moyes to win the first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium and solidify the Toffees’ chances of qualifying for Europe.

Against Brentford, Tyrique George came on and changed the game as Dwight McNeil struggled to have much of an impact in the 2-2 draw away from home.

Iliman Ndiaye also didn’t look his best playing on the left-wing at the Gtech Community Stadium, leaving the Scottish manager with a decision to make over shifting the Senegalese attacker to the right and bringing the Chelsea loanee into the starting lineup.

The 20-year-old could possibly provide a constant threat to Liverpool’s backline by taking on defenders and cutting inside to take shots, and the extra yard of pace he possesses over McNeil may come in handy.

Speaking to the media on 17 April, Moyes said, “Alcaraz is back training now. I think we’re as much close to full fitness as we possibly can be.”

Hill Dickinson Stadium have obvious new hero in Premier League

Beto has been instrumental in Moyes’ recent success at Everton, pipping Thierno Barry in the pecking order.

The Guinea-Bissau striker has cemented his place in the starting lineup and could be the catalyst to push the Toffees further up the table.

Having started the last five Premier League matches, the 28-year-old has scored four goals and provided one assist, becoming the target man the Scottish manager has been crying out for.

With Beto leading the line in fine form, fans in L3 will anticipate the Blues to be a serious goal threat as Liverpool visit a raucous Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

The post David Moyes shares Everton team news vs Liverpool as player back in training appeared first on Goodison News.

The Toffees played out a 2-2 draw with Brentford last time out, keeping the two sides locked on points as they battle for a continental spot.

Goals from Beto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall would see David Moyes‘ side come from a goal down twice, after a brace from Igor Thiago.

Sitting eighth in the standings, they host Merseyside rivals Liverpool for the first time at their new stomping ground.

Heading into Sunday’s derby, Opta’s supercomputer has made the prediction that a big statement is on the cards for the Blues.

Everton are most likely winners vs Liverpool

Last season, Everton secured a big result on home soil against the Reds, with James Tarkowski rattling in a late equaliser, sending Goodison Park into raptures in the final derby at the iconic venue.

This season, they would fall to a 2-1 defeat at Anfield in the reverse fixture, and will be looking to avenge that result on Sunday.

Before the international break, the Blues finally ended their run without successive wins at their new stadium, with a 3-0 triumph against Chelsea following a 2-0 win against Burnley.

And with this in mind, Opta’s supercomputer has made the prediction that Moyes and his men are about to extend that run to three in a row.

Having not lost to Liverpool on home soil since 2022, the verdict is that Everton are set to get the perfect derby start at Hill Dickinson Stadium, while making a huge statement regarding their European ambitions.

Everton have a base to build on after a fantastic season

At the start of the campaign, Blues fans would have snapped your hand off for a relatively simple and stress-free mid-table finish.

After a turbulent period battling at the wrong end of the division, a term without relegation worry would have provided a complete reset after making their long awaited stadium move last summer.

Instead, the Toffees are now aiming for their first European adventure in almost a decade, indicative of just how good a job Moyes has done since rejoining the club.

With European football potentially on the cards, Everton have the opportunity to keep building, with rewards coming in the form of finance and stature.

A big win on Sunday would set them up for a strong end to what has been a fantastic season, while showcasing the ability to compete against the established elite in the Premier League.

Moving forward, the Toffees could well be set for further progression that sees them compete higher up the standings on a consistent basis, and a positive run from here to the end would get the ball rolling quickly.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

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The Argentine midfielder turned his loan into a permanent stay last summer, but it has been miserable for all parties.

The former Southampton man has made just 18 appearances in all competitions this season, with one goal and one assist.

The Blues want to bring in Kebbal from Ligue 1 side Paris FC, and he would cost under £11million, according to a report from L’Equipe on 16 April.

If Everton bring the Algerian star to Merseyside, it will surely spell danger for Alcaraz and his future in L3.

Why Kebbal interest may end Alcaraz’s time at Everton

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is Alcaraz’s main competition at Everton at the moment, and he cannot get into the team over the former Chelsea ace.

If Kebbal, another attacking midfielder, is added into the mix, then surely there will be no need for the 23-year-old anymore.

David Moyes may well decide that the best move for all parties is to allow the Argentinian to depart, his days may well be numbered.

How do Kebbal and Alcaraz compare?

Kebbal compares favourably to Alcaraz, as he has scored eight goals and notched four assists in 24 Ligue matches this season.

The current Toffees ace has failed to score and notched one assist in 16 league matches, which is a dismal record by comparison.

The Algerian also comes out on top in underlying metrics, as he takes more shots per game (1.9) to Alcaraz’s 1.1 and more key passes per game (2.0) than the Blues star’s 0.6.

Kebbal also contributes defensively, with 1.3 tackles per game and 4.7 ball recoveries, compared to Alcaraz’s figures of 0.8 and 2.6 in those respective metrics.

The four-cap international looks like a huge upgrade on the outcast, and it would make perfect sense to bring him in and try to sell the underperforming flop, especially given the fee that he is available for.

Alcaraz has just not hit the heights expected of him, and it is time for the club and the player to move on, as there are clearly better, more experienced options on the market for the Merseysiders.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

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The Lilywhites are now said to be in advanced talks to sign Senesi, who is out of contract with the Cherries this summer.

Tottenham have had the 28-year-old high up on their transfer list in the past couple of months, and an agreement will depend on their ability to avoid Premier League relegation.

Nothing has been finalised, as per David Ornstein, this Friday, and other top-flight clubs have interest in the Argentine.

Tottenham are leading the race to sign Senesi, and it all but confirms that Romero will be on his way out of North London shortly.

Marco Senesi is a superior defender to Cristian Romero

It goes without saying, but Spurs have had an awful season, but things could look much brighter next term, if Premier League security is confirmed.

Part of the reason for Tottenham’s struggles has been Romero’s stupidity and recklessness both on and off the field.

Romero is said to have multiple clubs interested in his signature, and it’s already been announced that he will likely leave Hotspur Way this summer.

However, considering that Tottenham could be signing a better defender in Senesi, they will benefit for multiple reasons.

A major bonus would be that Romero could be sold for big money, while Tottenham could get an improvement for free.

The now-injured Spurs defender is headed for a sour exit from N17, and fans will be quick to move on if Senesi joins.

What does Roberto De Zerbi value in his centre-back’s?

The club weren’t lying when they said that Roberto De Zerbi is here for the long-term, as they are nearing a first signing for the Italian.

Though it may entirely depend on their Premier League status, Senesi would be a perfect fit for the former Brighton boss’s system.

De Zerbi values defenders who can invite pressure while being able to play short incisive passes to break forward and midfield lines.

Lewis Dunk was a good example of this for Brighton, who had big shouts for an England call-up when under the management of De Zerbi.

Senesi could be the same, but it may come down to Premier League survival.

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Daily Record journalist Keith Jackson believes the Gers came close to making a monumental mistake, as the Belgium international could have been sold for cheap after an apparent falling out with Russell Martin.

There’s also a possibility that the Light Blues may get automatic qualification to the Champions League’s League Phase next season if they win the William Hill Premiership title, and the 25-year-old midfielder will arguably play a major role in achieving that.

Playing in the UCL could possibly bring in around £60million, and add the loss they arguably would have made by selling Raskin prematurely, the American owners barely avoided a massive error at Ibrox.

There’s no doubt Cavenagh will now back Danny Rohl again in the summer after what the Glaswegian outfit have been able to achieve in the current campaign, but things could have been drastically different had the Govan side’s hierarchy listened to Martin.

Nicolas Raskin takes initiative as Rangers in dreamland

It was Raskin who turned up to training under Martin and decided that he wanted to stay at the Gers.

The Belgian ace has now scored five goals and provided seven assists in the league, leading the Light Blues to victory in the 6-3 comeback win over Falkirk.

At one stage of the season, Hearts were 13 points clear of the Govan side, but Rohl has closed the gap to just one with five games to go post-split.

If the Glaswegian outfit win every game until the end of the campaign, the title will be theirs, something that wasn’t conceivable at one point.

Speaking on Hotline Live on 16 April, Jackson said, “If you put yourself in Cavenagh’s shoes today, he must be thinking, ‘Wow, how close was that?’ One, about his potential transfer value in the market this summer or after the World Cup.

“And two, imagine Rangers do manage to get over the line and Raskin is the guy that drives this over these next five days. It’s looking more and more like, with each passing week, that Rangers would then go automatically into the Champions League.

“You’re looking at a mistake that would be made there that ultimately could be the difference. What’s it now for the Champions League? It’s £60m just for the Champions League alone and then if you look at whatever millions Martin would’ve wiped off the transfer value, it’s astonishing. And that’s how close Rangers came to a monumental mistake.”

Andrew Cavenagh laughing all the way to the bank at Ibrox

Raskin can lead Rangers to glory in Scotland and could then be part of the Belgium national team’s plans as they look to pull off something special at the 2026 World Cup.

The midfielder has the opportunity to catch the eye on the international stage, and if he succeeds, Cavenagh may have a multi-million-pound player on his hands.

In the summer of 2022, Calvin Bassey became the Gers’ record player sale, moving to Ajax for £19.6m, but Raskin could potentially shatter that record.

Cavenagh is slowly starting to get things right in Govan and fans are anticipating exciting times ahead at the Glaswegian outfit.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.

The Gers are battling for the championship with Derek McInnes’ side, with just one point between the sides heading into the split.

A lot of neutrals want the Jambos to pip the Light Blues and Celtic to the crown, as they are sick of the Old Firm sides dominating.

However, McCoist is not one of them, and he fired back after the ex-Chelsea man claimed that the Bears legend would want McInnes to lift the title.

McCoist’s loyalty to Rangers is unquestionable, and he made that clear with his response.

What did Morris and McCoist say about Rangers title chase?

McCoist was vocal about his concerns on Rangers and Celtic’s fixtures after the split, but he is resolute in his desire for his former side to win the league.

Morris used the former Scotland international’s connection with the Tynecastle boss to try to argue that he would like him to win it over the Gers, but he was having none of it, and stuck with the club that he loves.

Speaking on talkSPORT on 17 April (08:46 am), he said: “I know you’re Rangers, but you must want Hearts to get over the line, come on, he is our mate.”

McCoist hit back, saying: “There’s something happening with the line mate, you’ve lost your marbles if you think I want the Jambos to win the league before the Teddy Bears, come on Jody, man, no chance.”

Morris ended his point, saying: “Listen, I am Rangers as well, but I definitely want Del to get over the line, what an amazing job he has done, we are lucky to be pals with him, it would be brilliant if they could split the Old Firm up for one year.”

The one scenario that would have McCoist rooting for Hearts

There is only one scenario where McCoist would want his pal to win it all.

If the G51 side are out of contention on the final day, then he will surely not want Martin O’Neill’s side to be holding the trophy up at the end of the campaign, and to go ahead of them, with both sides on 55 titles at the moment.

Hopefully, that does not happen, and Danny Rohl‘s side are firmly in with a chance on the final day, but if it was not the case, a Jambos victory is the only acceptable outcome for the Auchenhowie side.

No matter what happens, there is plenty to be excited about in the blue half of Glasgow, as Rohl has completely changed their fortunes, and he will be backed by the 49ers Enterprises group and Andrew Cavenagh to improve his squad further in the summer.

If the Gers win the title, it will be a brilliant achievement, but if they do not, it is not all doom and gloom.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.

Arsenal have been left with several selection issues before facing Man City in the Premier League title showdown

Gunners have some major question marks ahead of crunch title showdown at the Etihad

A draw would keep Arsenal in charge of the title but a win for Manchester City would mean they could knock the Gunners off top spot

The 21-year-old has spent much of the season on the bench, injured or not even registered, amid a difficult start to life in England.

On Thursday, however, the Brazilian was brought into the starting line-up as Nottingham Forest beat FC Porto 1-0 to qualify for the Europa League semi-finals.

The home side had an immediate advantage when Jan Bednarek was dismissed for a late and high tackle on Chris Wood. Morgan Gibbs-White’s winning goal would come just four minutes later.

Nottingham Forest’s good form appears to come at the perfect time, with Vitor Pereira’s side now set for a Europa League semi-final clash against Aston Villa.

Jair Cunha proves his worth vs FC Porto

Former Manchester United scout Mick Brown exclusively told Football Insider last month that Liverpool are keen to sign Murillo this summer.

The centre-back has been hugely impressive for Nottingham Forest again this season and will attract a sizable fee if he leaves, with three years left on his contract.

Decision-makers at the City Ground will be desperate to keep hold of Murillo, but they will also know that they may well have a ready-made replacement in Cunha.

Thursday was just the defender’s eighth appearance in a Nottingham Forest shirt, and it came in one of their biggest games of the season.

With Nikola Milenkovic sitting on the bench, the 21-year-old was starting on merit, and proved exactly why.

Cunha was composed and confident, completing 91 per cent of his passes, all four of his attempted long passes, and even creating a chance on the night.

And defensively, he was dominant. The centre-back made two tackles, two clearances and won all but one of his duels.

Despite the slow start to Cunha’s Nottingham Forest career, £10m is starting to look like an extremely good piece of business.

Nottingham Forest fans applaud Cunha

Sean Dyche’s lack of trust in Cunha led many Nottingham Forest fans to believe that the 21-year-old was not ready for action yet.

Opportunities since the arrival of Pereira have called those decisions into question, however, with fans left massively impressed after Thursday’s display.

“Didn’t notice him at all… which is just about the biggest compliment I could pay a CB,” wrote one supporter on X about Cunha. “Absolute gem of a signing!”

Another wrote: “Jair Cunha is going to the very, very top, absolute star boy”.

The post Nottingham Forest: Jair Cunha’s superb stats vs FC Porto prove he was well worth the wait appeared first on Football Insider.

City were interested in versatile midfielder Maza last summer, but he instead made the move to Leverkusen from Hertha Berlin for a fee of around £10.5million.

The 20-year-old has featured regularly throughout his debut season at the BayArena, with five goals and assists each in 38 appearances across all competitions so far.

As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, City remain interested in Maza and could make another move to sign him this summer.

Man City’s plans to sign Maza could accelerate after news of Bernardo Silva’s impending exit went public earlier this week.

Man City weighing up Ibrahim Maza move for second successive summer

Recent reports have claimed that other Premier League clubs are also interested in Maza, but he seems most likely to end up at the Etihad Stadium this summer due to City’s existing interest.

He has also impressed on the international stage this season, with two goals and an assist at the Africa Cup of Nations for Algeria in December, and Pep Guardiola could give the green light to a move in the coming months.

Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “(Maza) is a player that’s been on the radar for a while now.

“They did look at him last summer before he ended up moving to Bayer Leverkusen from Hertha Berlin, and I’m sure they’ve continued to keep tabs on his progress at Leverkusen.

“They saw him up close and personal when he played against City in the Champions League earlier this season. He set up a goal for Patrik Shick in their shock win at the Etihad.

“They’re well aware of Maza, who has had a really good season for Bayer Leverkusen.”

Tijjani Reijnders among three senior stars who could leave Man City

Changes are afoot in midfield for Guardiola’s side as Silva prepares to depart and Rodri is linked with a move to Real Madrid.

Sources have exclusively told Football Insider that Reijnders could leave Man City this summer alongside the likes of Savinho and Omar Marmoush.

The Netherlands midfielder started the season strongly after his big-money move from AC Milan, but has failed to nail down a place in Guardiola’s midfield over the last few months.

He could be moved on as City look to cut their losses, with Maza being a potential replacement, as they both play in similar positions.

The post Revealed: Man City ready summer move to sign Bundesliga star they've watched 'up close and personal' appeared first on Football Insider.

That is according to former Aston Villa chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking to Football Insider, who believes the club would prefer to sell to PSG rather than a Premier League rival.

The Villans have no plans to let Rogers depart, but their financial restrictions in the transfer market mean the funds would boost their position with profit and sustainability rules.

Rogers could demand a big price tag, as the 23-year-old has been a standout performer for Unai Emery’s side this season.

Champions League qualification could strengthen Aston Villa’s position to keep Rogers at the club, with Emery’s squad currently on track to achieve that aim.

Aston Villa ‘walking PSR tightrope’ as ‘big’ Morgan Rogers bid expected

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Rogers could flourish at PSG.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks Aston Villa will prioritise the sales of other players over Rogers.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “If they are forced to cash in, then it’ll be for the highest price.

“I’ve heard from a good source that PSG are the ones that will make the big bid and come in for Morgan Rogers. Now that makes sense to me.

“Rogers is their style of player. He would benefit really well in the Champions League with PSG. I could imagine a Morgan Rogers in that squad playing that type of football that PSG have been playing. So that makes some sense to me.

“Certainly domestically, Villa would loathe to sell to another rival, certainly in the top half of the table. Of course, Villa will be doing all they can not to sell Morgan Rogers, and they’ll be looking to see how they can make that up with other sales.

“They’re walking that tightrope just now with PSR, and we’ve just got to see, but if he has to go then that big number will come from PSG.”

Aston Villa plot contract talks with star

If Rogers leaves Villa Park, then it could be important for the club to tie Emi Buendia down to a new contract.

Sources have told Football Insider that Aston Villa will hold contract talks with Buendia at the end of the season, with his current deal expiring in 2027.

The 29-year-old has forced his way back into Emery’s plans this season, and has contributed seven goals and seven assists in all competitions.

The Argentine could play a greater role if Rogers departs, whilst he has the versatility to play in the number 10 position or out wide.

The post 'I've heard from a good source....' - Keith Wyness drops Aston Villa intel on 'Big Bid' for summer transfer appeared first on Football Insider.

The Lilywhites are said to be in advanced talks for the signing of Bournemouth defender Marco Senesi on a free transfer this summer.

The 28-year-old has starred for the Cherries this season, and is the subject of interest throughout the Premier League.

Roberto De Zerbi’s team could still be relegated and currently sit in the drop zone, with the move subject to the North London club’s Premier League status.

Tottenham transfer chiefs hope to equip their new manager with a strong squad next season, but will be currently working on the basis of two different shortlists depending on their fate.

Cristian Romero set for Tottenham exit

Football Insider exclusively revealed last week that Romero is attracting interest across Europe, after it was revealed that he has a release clause in his Tottenham contract.

The defender’s father revealed the clause in an interview earlier this month, with several clubs monitoring the situation.

Romero’s season was brought to an end last weekend when he was injured in Tottenham’s 1-0 loss to Sunderland.

The Argentine has picked up a knee injury and is expected to miss up to eight weeks with a partial tear of his MCL, placing his chances of going to the World Cup with Argentina in doubt.

The immediate concerns will be with Tottenham’s safety. Romero has been a liability at times this season, picking up needless red cards and making frequent mistakes.

He remains among their most important players, however, and they are undoubtedly a better team with him at the back.

But after Friday’s news, the 27-year-old may well have played his final game for Tottenham. David Ornstein reports that decision-makers are in “advanced talks” to sign Senesi, with the North London club seen as the leading contender.

Marco Senesi is a calmer replacement

Senesi shares a nationality with Romero, and the pair could still be on the same plane to this summer’s World Cup.

The similarities stop there, however. Senesi lacks the aggression of Romero, preferring to bide his time before making a tackle.

He may well be the better-suited partner for Micky van de Ven, although it remains to be seen how he would adapt to De Zerbi’s style.

On the face of it, Senesi’s ball-playing ability would make him a perfect candidate. Years of playing under Andoni Iraola will have prepared him for exactly that.

Where the 28-year-old boasts strong ability alongside Romero, he lacks the Tottenham captain’s leadership. That will not be so easy to replace.

The post Cristian Romero has played his last game for Tottenham as ‘advanced talks’ for Marco Senesi begin appeared first on Football Insider.

That is according to former Everton, Aston Villa and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, who exclusively told Football Insider the EFL should “make an exception” for the Championship club.

Sheffield Wednesday will be playing in League One next season following their relegation, having been deducted 18 points for breaching the EFL’s regulations after going into administration.

Arise Capital Partners, which comprises Storch, his son Michael and Tom Costin, was granted preferred bidder status to seal a takeover at Hillsborough last month. 

However, Storch has now confirmed the Owls will begin next season with a 15-point penalty in League One. 

How Sheffield Wednesday are being punished for Dejphon Chanisiri’s mistakes

In a statement on Wednesday (15 April), Storch said his group wants the EFL to recognise the “unique” nature of Sheffield Wednesday’s situation, adding that they “fundamentally disagree” with the decision.

The 15-point penalty will be enforced due to Arise’s offer not meeting the league’s requirement to repay creditors 25p in the pound, with former owner Dejphon Chansiri needing to be paid £15million of the £60m he loaned the Owls to avoid a points deduction. 

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Wyness discussed the decision to hand the South Yorkshire club a further points deduction next season.

“The EFL will probably say that this is the way that they want to apply the rules consistently across all situations,” said Wyness.

“However, this is punishing the club and not punishing a bad owner in Chansiri. That is the attitude that they have got to take. They are now actually doing everything that the EFL and the new independent regulator said they don’t want to do.

“This is about supporting football clubs and rescuing football clubs, and now what they are doing is making that harder and harder.” 

Why EFL clubs should be supporting Sheffield Wednesday

Wyness insisted Chansiri should not receive any help to recoup his funds following his failed ownership at Hillsborough.

“Although Chansiri did try hard at the start, he proved to be a bad owner in the end,” said Wyness.

“He should not be rewarded or given any help with his investment.

“I’m afraid that the EFL has got to look at the rulebook and find a way to make an exception in this case, and that should be welcomed by other clubs in the EFL. 

“That is the way forward, to support clubs themselves and make sure the punishment is not on the club but is on the owner that creates the problem.” 

The post Club adviser blasts EFL over Sheffield Wednesday latest, they 'said they don’t want to do' that appeared first on Football Insider.

David Moyes’ side are keen to bring in new recruits in the summer to continue their ascent up the Premier League table.

The Blues are among a number of clubs that are interested in the Paris FC attacking midfielder, per L’Equipe.

The report on 16 April states that it would take between £8.7-10.5million to seal a deal for the 27-year-old.

Everton could do much worse than bringing Kebbal in, as he has notched eight goals and four assists so far this season.

Who is rivalling Everton for Kebbal transfer?

Everton have rivals for the majority of their transfer targets, and that is the case again with the Algeria star who will cost less than £11m.

The report claims that English clubs such as Brentford, Crystal Palace and Fulham are also interested in his services.

It also states that Rennes, Monaco and Lyon, along with Saudi Arabian clubs, are also attracted by the player.

Why Kebbal would be a brilliant signing for Moyes

Moyes would love to work with Kebbal as the report describes him as “one of the most tireless players in our league.”

The Scotsman loves a player who is willing to fight for the team, and put in the effort required to make sure that the team get the result that is required.

It seems like the Algerian would fit right in at the Hill Dickinson Stadium if the Blues decide to make their move and can beat their rivals to his signature, which will not be an easy task.

He is not just a workhorse, though, as he is also labelled as a creative and flair player, which is similar to Jack Grealish, who has become a fan favourite on Merseyside very quickly.

Perhaps Kebbal could do the same if he ends up in L3, donning the famous blue shirt, but only time will tell whether that is the case, or he signs for someone else.

The Toffees may be able to offer European football, which some of the other clubs in the running would not be able to do, so that could be an advantage that tempts him to pick Moyes’ side.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

The post Everton target open to offers, deal would take no more than £11m - report appeared first on Goodison News.

Heading into Sunday’s fixture at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Everton appear to be in a somewhat tranquil state, whereas all is not well at Liverpool.

After being dumped out of the FA Cup and Champions League this month, pressure is ramping up on Arne Slot, as question marks mount over his future.

A win for the Dutchman against Everton would go a long way to allaying those fears, but David Moyes‘ side will feel the Reds are ripe for the picking.

Everton will fancy their chances against Liverpool, but the Toffees will not underestimate a side that are three places and five points better off than them.

Everton’s unwanted statistics

According to BBC Sport, eighth-placed Everton have won just one of their last 14 Premier League home games against Liverpool, but 10 of those have been draws.

Indeed, this is their first meeting at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Everton hoping that their new stadium can be their lucky charm.

Heading into this contest, Everton have won a measly five of their last 52 Merseyside derbies in the league since the start of 2000. They have a 9.6 per cent win rate, with 20 draws, and 27 losses.

Incidentally, Liverpool have won at 59 of the 61 grounds they have visited in the Premier League.

If they beat Everton, who have had a mixed record at home this term, they will become the first team to win at 60 different stadiums in the history of the Premier League.

Victory for Everton would see them hit the 50-point mark in a Premier League season for the first time since Carlo Ancelotti achieved that in the 2021-22 season (59 points).

And a defeat for Liverpool would see them lose more than 10 league games in a season for the first time since 2014-15, when Brendan Rodgers was in charge.

Europe on the line for both teams

A win for either side will greatly boost their chances of playing in Europe next season, with Everton most likely to qualify for the Conference League, while Liverpool are targeting the Champions League.

This is a good time for Everton to play Liverpool, particularly with striker Hugo Ekitike suffering a long-term injury.

For Everton, they want to return to European football for the first time since 2018. For Liverpool, not making it into Europe’s elite competition is likely to signal the end for Slot at Anfield.

If Moyes’ side comes out on top, they could even dream of Champions League football. Either way, a raucous atmosphere is expected on the blue side of Merseyside on Sunday.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

The post View: Everton must end unwanted Merseyside derby stats as Liverpool target niche history appeared first on Goodison News.

The Blues are looking to compound the negativity currently swirling around Liverpool at the moment. After crashing out of Europe, the Reds will no doubt be vulnerable.

Arne Slot’s side have been hit with a major injury blow to Hugo Ekitike as well, with Alexander Isak’s fitness still unclear. He was only able for 45 minutes midweek.

It is the perfect opportunity for the Toffees to get one over their city rivals and perhaps send Liverpool tumbling as the season comes to a close.

David Moyes’ side are in the fight for Europe, and three points in the Merseyside derby would go a long way, and Sutton originally thought they could do it.

What did Chris Sutton predict for Everton vs Liverpool?

There are plenty of season-defining games on throughout the whole of the Premier League from both the bottom and top ends of the table this weekend.

However, for both Blues and Reds, the only focus will be on Sunday’s clash with more than just bragging rights on the line.

Both sides can inflict damage to the other’s season while boosting their own chances. It is a perfect outcome for whoever comes out on top.

However, while Sutton did originally think Everton would secure the three points, he has now admitted to backtracking on his thoughts.

Writing in his BBC Sport prediction column, Sutton stated: “An Everton win was actually my first thought here, but I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to sit on the fence instead.”

In the end, he predicted a 1-1 draw.

With rumours circulating around the future of Liverpool’s manager, Everton could hand a brutal blow to Slot, if they end up completing Sutton’s initial prediction.

History is on Chris Sutton’s favour for Merseyside derby prediction

Recent history does suggest that Sutton is right to lean away from a Liverpool win. In the last three home derbies, Everton are unbeaten.

However, over the last 14, 10 of those have ended with the spoils being shared and the Toffees winning just one.

All signs certainly point to another stalemate in that regard, but this time, feelings around both sides are flipped, even if Jordan Pickford is not looking too much into the Reds’ form.

Over the last few years, it has been Everton’s rivals that have come into these matchups with more positivity, but now it is the Blues with the optimism.

That could ultimately be a difference maker, and the chance to make Hill Dickinson a ground Liverpool hate to visit is another reason why Everton could have more to play for.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

The post 'I've changed my mind' - Chris Sutton torn on Everton's Merseyside derby chances appeared first on Goodison News.

Although winning the league qualifies you for Europe’s premier competition, it is not guaranteed the Gers will be put straight in.

If Danny Rohl’s side taste domestic success, they could have to feature in the play-off rounds to reach the Champions League’s league phase.

However, those worries could be cast aside based on results throughout the remaining games in European competition this season.

More specifically, Rangers’ auto Champions League hopes could rely on Crystal Palace making the Conference League final.

How Crystal Palace could affect Rangers’ auto Champions League qualification

Crystal Palace will have a massive role to play in Rangers’ chances of being put straight into the Champions League phase.

Based on UEFA coefficients, as it stands, if the Gers win the Scottish title, they will not have to feature in the play-off rounds which saw them knocked out by Club Brugge this season.

There are only a set amount of these auto-spots open, and with Olympiacos currently trailing in their league, it is an advantage to the Gers.

However, the rise of Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Conference League threatens to overtake the Glasgow outfit.

If the Ukrainian side makes the final, they could already be above Rangers or have the chance to do so.

According to Football Meets Data, the Ukraine side would have a higher UEFA coefficient than the Bears if the following happens in the final rounds of the Conference League:

• Shakhtar win one game and draw one game
• Shakhtar draw three games (Draw both semi-final legs and win on penalties and win the final on penalties)

So, there will certainly be many Rangers fans cheering on Crystal Palace as the season begins to come to a close.

Of course, the Gers will have to get their side of the deal done as well by winning the Scottish Premiership.

Jack Butland will be egging his former teammates on at Crystal Palace

Jack Butland still has many teammates at Selhurst Park from his three-year stint for the London side, including the likes of Jean-Phillipe Mateta.

The Rangers goalkeeper will no doubt be watching on as his former employers chase European glory. Three years on from leaving, the Eagles will have yet another say in his career.

Hopefully, all can go well, and Rangers fans will have no fears about their Champions League participation.

Avoiding a repeat of the Club Brugge clash would be ideal as the Gers have failed to get past the qualifying stage in four of their last five Champions League runs.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.

The 23-year-old completed a temporary switch to Ibrox in the summer to add to Russell Martin’s defensive options at the time.

He came in and has played a semi-regular role after facing competition from the likes of Dujon Sterling and James Tavernier.

Things have certainly turned around for the Light Blues since the introduction of Danny Rohl, and the full-back has played a role in that.

Just as things have got going, Meghoma will soon return to Brentford after his loan spell ends, as we assess what we know about his current deal at the Gtech Community Stadium.

What is Jayden Meghoma’s contract situation at Brentford?

The 19-year-old came in from the Bees in the summer as another young loanee from the Premier League alongside Mikey Moore.

After initial frustration over bettering the other side’s young talent, fans have taken to the full-back somewhat as the season has gone on.

The Englishman has already made 42 appearances for the Gers and could have a key role between now and the end of the campaign.

It is a make-or-break period for Rohl’s side, and the loanee has to continue to perform if he wants to secure a Scottish Premiership title.

That could all happen before his Brentford return, where his future seems secure as his current deal lasts until the summer of 2028, with the option of a further two years.

As part of that deal in West London, he is reportedly paid a weekly wage of £15,000 and a yearly salary in the region of £780,000.

Meghoma still has work to do at Rangers, but there will be questions over a potential return heading into the summer window.

Could Meghoma sign for Rangers permanently?

There have been mixed reviews of the young defender this season, but he certainly has room to grow.

That may be enough to tempt the Light Blues in over the summer if there is a deal to be done with Brentford.

An alternative for James Tavernier will be required at some stage, as he isn’t getting any younger, but Meghoma may not be that guy.

It will ultimately be interesting to see what Rohl wants to do and whether he thinks he can find another Tuur Rommens in the summer.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.

The Belgian midfielder has been one of the Gers’ best players this season, but he was not a part of Martin’s plans at the start of the season.

He featured just 14 times under the Englishman after a dramatic dispute between the two parties, and it looked like he would leave Ibrox.

Luckily, the former Southampton manager was dismissed from his post in October after a disastrous reign, and Raskin stayed put.

Rangers are now reaping the benefits, as he transformed into a world-class operator for Danny Rohl‘s side.

What did Ferguson say about Raskin/Martin beef at Rangers?

Ferguson has previously called the decision to bomb Raskin out of Rangers squad as “crazy”, and he has now gone into further detail.

He revealed that while the 11-cap international is not the easiest player to deal with, he could not understand and was baffled by the call from Martin.

Speaking to the Daily Record on 17 April, he said: “Nico’s a brilliant boy, but he is someone who will question you at times, and I like that.

“It showed me that he wanted to learn. He was interested in getting the answers.

“Obviously, that became an issue when I left and the next manager took over and Nico has spoken about that this week.

“All coaches have their own way of playing and that’s fine, but what took me aback was the realisation that Nico probably wasn’t going to be a part of his plans going forward, I genuinely couldn’t understand what he was thinking.

“Look, was Nico a teacher’s pet or was he easy to work with at times? No, he wasn’t, and, yes, there were times when I wanted to kick him up the backside!

“but I loved working with him and I could see there was so much more to get out of him, deep down he’s a brilliant kid with brilliant attributes and I didn’t like seeing how he was being treated earlier this season.”

How has Raskin performed this season?

Rohl has brought the best out of Raskin since he replaced Martin in the dugout, and the midfielder will play a key role in the title chase.

He has featured a total of 33 times under the German, with five goals and five assists in those matches, showing that he has gotten the best out of him in a more advanced role.

Raskin averages 1.5 shots per game, 1.4 key passes per game and loses possession 12.3 per game, according to Sofascore.

He also helps out defensively, making 2.5 tackles per game, 4.7 ball recoveries per game and 1.9 clearances per game.

In terms of duels, he wins 55% of his battles on the ground and 53% in the air, showing that he is not afraid to fight for the ball.

His development under Rohl has been magnificent and makes Martin’s idea to throw him out of the squad look even more ridiculous.

Thankfully, the Belgium star stayed put, and the manager who nearly ended his Light Blues career was given the boot, as it would have been dismal if it were the other way around.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.

Spurs have just six games left to save their Premier League status, but with all of the teams around them in form, it’s certainly looking like their fate is already sealed.

Nevertheless, De Zerbi will be looking to do what the majority of recently appointed Tottenham managers have done in their first home game in charge, which is to seal victory, and this time, against his former club.

The Seagulls are in fine form heading into the clash, while Spurs are looking just as lacklustre as they have all season.

However, Sarr’s inclusion in Tottenham’s starting 11 could make all the difference this weekend.

Pape Matar Sarr omission was a huge error vs Sunderland

You can look at the decisions that went against Tottenham in their defeat to Sunderland all you like, but the truth of the matter is that they did not do enough to warrant a result.

And the majority of that stemmed from their inability to control the game in midfield, which was dominated by Granit Xhaka.

The Spurs midfield lacked bite, which changed completely when Sarr was introduced to the game, albeit far too late to have an impact.

He won two duels in the 29 minutes he played, which was only one fewer than the starting midfield combined.

Sarr also completed 15 passes, which was over double what Lucas Bergvall achieved, and just three fewer than Archie Gray.

The 23-year-old may not be a game-changer, but he is the type of midfielder who can get control in a game, which will be needed against Brighton.

Who could Sarr replace vs Brighton?

The most obvious choice would be Bergvall.

While the Swede has had an excellent season individually, he was comfortably the most anonymous player on the pitch against Sunderland, and at this stage, Spurs can’t afford to carry anyone.

Sarr’s inclusion would improve their ability to defend transitions, while also adding a calming influence in possession.

It’s a clear call to make, but whether it is one that De Zerbi is willing to make in his second game in charge remains to be seen.

The post View: De Zerbi must avoid Tottenham error vs Brighton after horror show vs Sunderland appeared first on Tottenham Hotspur News.

The Italian’s departure violated a club policy, it transpires

Liverpool splashed up to £204m on Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak, but after the French forward’s season-ending injury, Slot hopes the Swedish international’s return can prove timely in the battle to finish inside the top five

In the fourth episode of our new World Cup podcast, Copa Independent, Lawrence Ostlere, Miguel Delaney and Richard Jolly discuss the highs and lows of USA 94 and the tournament’s lasting legacy

With Premier League survival almost secured, Daniel Farke is now preparing for the upcoming campaign.

A new striker is reportedly one of their biggest targets in the summer transfer window, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s form falling off.

Now, Calcio Mercato.it has claimed that Leeds are showing interest in Openda, in what could be a loan deal with the option to buy.

While his form has dipped dramatically in the last couple of seasons, Farke’s work with Calvert-Lewin proves that Openda could be a sensational Leeds signing.

Daniel Farke could turn Lois Openda into a star

There is no question that Openda has fallen off in recent seasons.

The 26-year-old has only found the net twice this campaign for Juventus, and netted only 13 goals last season for RB Leipzig.

In comparison, in each of his previous three seasons, he found the net at least 21 times.

However, if Leeds do go through with the transfer, there is every chance that he would become a hit.

Upon the Peacocks bringing in Calvert-Lewin in the summer, the striker was in a similar situation and had not scored double-figure goals for four straight campaigns.

🚨⚪️⚫️ The obligation to buy for Lois Openda at Juventus has been authomatically activated.

€46m package deal for RB Leipzig between loan fee and permanent transfer, plus salary coverage.

Juve will still try to find an exit solution for Openda this summer. pic.twitter.com/maQbDkkhkR

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 13, 2026

So far for Leeds, he has netted 11 times, and there is still plenty of time left this season for this to increase further.

Therefore, Farke has already proven that he can take an out-of-form striker and turn him into a massive asset, and this could easily happen with Openda.

What do Leeds’ striker ambitions mean for Joel Piroe

Football Insider has exclusively revealed that Joel Piroe will be allowed to leave Leeds in the summer.

Piroe has struggled for opportunities at Leeds this season, despite firing them to the top flight last term with 19 league goals to win the Championship golden boot.

To date, he has only played 13 times in the Premier League, with only two of these being starts.

As a result, if a new striker, such as Openda was to move to Leeds, his game time would only be slashed further.

Therefore, it looks extremely likely that the star will be moved on from Elland Road this summer.

The post Leeds United: Daniel Farke’s work proves Lois Openda transfer can be massive success despite dwindling form appeared first on Football Insider.

The two Premier League sides join Braga and Freiburg in the semi-finals after their victories on Thursday.

Now, Villa will be preparing to face Forest in their semi-final, with at least one English team set to get to the final.

However, with Unai Emery being a European specialist, and the Birmingham outfit doing well in the Premier League, many have tipped them to overcome Forest and win the competition.

Opta on 16 April agrees with this assessment as Villa continue to progress with ease.

Aston Villa backed to win Europa League

It is no secret that Villa have found the Europa League fairly simple this season.

The club came second in the league phase, and have now simply dispatched Lille and Bologna to reach this stage.

As a result, Opta have insisted that they are heavy favourites to go on to lift the trophy come the end of the season.

The supercomputer has given them a 44.29 per cent chance of winning the competition, the highest by far.

Four stellar match ups in Europe 💫 pic.twitter.com/h7EGPWsyu2

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2026

Following this is Freiburg at 20.10 per cent, with Nottingham Forest closely behind at 18.44 per cent.

Braga are seen as the least likely to win the trophy at 17.17 per cent, despite their recent comeback against Real Betis.

How much have Aston Villa earned from the Europa League?

Football Insider exclusively revealed that Villa have bagged around £24million after beating Bologna on Thursday, with a place in the semi-finals earning them an extra £3m.

The Europa League hands out prize money for each round you get to, plus where the club finished in the league phase and how many victories they picked up.

As a result, the Birmingham outfit could land themselves with millions more if they can get into the final in a few weeks, or even win the competition.

This would no doubt be a big boost for Villa, especially after they missed out on qualifying for the Champions League last season.

However, it remains to be seen if Emery can pull this feat off and finally end Villa’s major trophy drought in the coming weeks.

The post Europa League: Supercomputer predicts winner after Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest results  appeared first on Football Insider.

The 23-year-old is expected to be ruled out until 2027 in what has come as a major blow to Arne Slot’s plans ahead of the summer transfer window.

This comes as Alexander Isak has also suffered a long-term injury this season, while the Reds are bracing to lose Mohamed Salah, and concerns are mounting.

As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, Liverpool are determined not to enter next season with Isak as their only recognised centre-forward.

The recruitment team at Anfield have already begun working behind the scenes to identify potential replacements for Ekitike in what will be another busy window for Liverpool.

How will Hugo Ekitike absence impact Liverpool?

Football Insider reported on 15 April that Liverpool expect Ekitike to miss around nine months through his latest blow after being stretchered off against PSG.

An achilles rupture is a notoriously difficult injury to come back from, but Reds fans can take solace from the likes of Eberechi Eze, who returned to his best at Crystal Palace.

However, while there are concnerns about the long-term impact of the injury, Liverpool are being forced to consider their options to replace him immediately.

Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “It was a serious injury to Hugo Ekitike, I feel for the player because he’s facing a long spell on the sidelines.

“It’s a major blow to him because he’ll miss out on the World Cup and he was having a great debut season at Anfield as well.

“Liverpool have had their injury problems as well, Alexander Isak has missed a large chunk of the season after picking up that bad injury as well.

“With Mohamed Salah leaving this summer, his departure and Ekitike’s injury does leave Liverpool very short of attacking options.

“The recruitment team don’t want to be going into next season with just one recognised number nine in Isak, and they won’t really want to take any risks in case anything happens to him, so I’m sure it’s something they will be looking at.

“It’s a big concern for Liverpool and it does definitely affect their transfer plans because the injury to Ekitike does leave them very short up front.”

Which attacking reinforcements are Liverpool considering?

Given the short time since the injury blow, not many out-and-out strikers have been linked with the Liverpool move, but they have already considered some options.

Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Liverpool want to sign Anthony Gordon, having been long-term admirers of his.

While he has previously been viewed as a replacement for Salah rather than Ekitike, the Newcastle star has also filled in through the middle at St James’ Park.

Eddie Howe’s side have struggled with their own striker concerns, forcing Gordon to fill in, and he could provide a makeshift option for Liverpool if needed.

There is a growing feeling he could be allowed to leave Newcastle this summer, and with Liverpool already keen, Ekitike’s injury could force their hand.

The post Sources: Liverpool set sights on new striker signing after Hugo Ekitike blow appeared first on Football Insider.

The match is a massive game for Daniel Farke’s side, as they could all but secure survival with a victory.

Monday’s 2-1 win over Manchester United has seen the club go six points clear of Tottenham Hotspur in 18^th, and this could be extended to nine points by the end of the game week.

However, while many players at Old Trafford were fantastic, Dominic Calvert-Lewin left much to be desired as he missed several fantastic opportunities.

As a result, Farke must take a gamble on Piroe for Leeds’ vital clash against Wolves.

Joel Piroe needs to start in Leeds United vs Wolves

Piroe has had a tough time at Leeds since their promotion to the Premier League.

Despite being a vital player last season, scoring 19 goals, he soon found himself benched for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with the majority of his appearances coming from the bench.

However, with the England international now struggling for form, now is the perfect chance to give Piroe a start.

While the game is no doubt a must-win, Wolves are a poor side and could have their relegation confirmed on the weekend.

Therefore, given their leaky backline, there is every chance Piroe will have a decent chance to end his goalless streak on the weekend.

💬 𝗗𝗙 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀: “Everyone who was available for the last game are ready for this game. Joe Rodon, Daniel James and Anton Stach are not back in team training yet.” pic.twitter.com/424k7JCrc9

— Leeds United (@LUFC) April 16, 2026

The long-term implications of him getting a goal are massive as well. It is looking increasingly likely that he will be sold in the upcoming summer transfer window as Leeds target another striker.

As a result, if Piroe can net against Wolves, his price tag could increase as well.

Where could Piroe move to in the summer?

Ex-Aberdeen, Aston Villa, and Everton chief executive Keith Wyness exclusively told Football Insider that Piroe could move to Rangers in the summer.

The striker has been linked with a move to Ibrox in the past, with the club having attacking troubles.

Given that both teams are linked by the 49ers, it could be a relatively simple transaction if it went ahead.

However, it remains to be seen if Farke would be willing to let Piroe go in the summer, especially if he hits form in the remaining matches of this season.

The post Leeds United must take Joel Piroe gamble vs Wolves amid Dominic Calvert-Lewin concern appeared first on Football Insider.

The victory sealed the club’s place in the Europa League semi-finals in style as they blew away the Italian side.

As a result, Villa have edged closer to a first major trophy this millennium as they look to secure Champions League football.

However, the game also showed how valuable Watkins can still be for the Birmingham outfit, as his early goal allowed the floodgates to open.

With Watkins linked with a sale in the summer, Villa simply cannot let him depart, and his recent performance showcases why.

Ollie Watkins was superb vs Bologna

While the striker’s goal was perhaps the easiest he will ever score, tapping the ball into the net mere yards from the goal line, it was yet another one to add to the tally for the England international.

The 30-year-old has now scored four times in his last four games, and continues to impress in Europe in particular.

According to Fotmob on 16 April, on top of his goal, he had a great game, only misplacing one pass, creating one chance, completing all of his dribbles as well as 75 per cent of his ground duels.

While Villa have been linked with a sale of Watkins, this simply must be blocked.

Against Bologna, the striker has shown across two legs that he can still perform to a high standard against European opposition, and this is something that the club is inevitably going to need next season.

Who wants to sign Watkins?

Former Aston Villa scout Mick Brown exclusively told Football Insider that Everton were looking to sign Watkins.

The Toffees have had troubles up top themselves this season and are without a consistent scorer in their lineup.

With Everton also battling to qualify for Europe, a move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium may be appealing to the striker.

However, it remains to be seen if Villa will let Watkins go in the summer, especially to a fellow Premier League rival such as Everton, who could be fighting them for a European place next season.

The post Ollie Watkins: Stats vs Bologna show why Aston Villa simply cannot sell England international appeared first on Football Insider.

With just six games to play, Everton are sitting eighth in the Premier League table, just five points behind bitter rivals Liverpool in fifth.

As such, Moyes’ men will know that a win in the Merseyside derby this Sunday would go a long way to helping them secure their place in Europe for next season.

Everton supporters probably won’t mind which competition that’s in either, as it’s been almost a decade since they last saw their team take on the continent’s best.

But with the competition really bunched up for those few spots, every point won or dropped could make all the difference for Everton between in this final run-in of games.

Everton’s 2016-17 team compared to David Moyes’ 2025-26 side

European football would be financially huge for Everton, as well as giving their supporters the chance to follow their team on some unique and brilliant away days across the continent.

With three wins from their last five and their only defeat in that time coming to Arsenal, this 2025-26 team are certainly ending the season in the right way to get into one of those coveted spots.

Indeed, it was Koeman’s team of 2016-17 that were the last Everton side to qualify for Europe, finishing seventh on 61 points that year.

So, how does that team compare to Moyes’ team of 2025-26, and are there any similarities between the two that helps points toward why the Toffees will make Europe this season?

As per Sofascore, the 2016-17 team averaged 1.6 goals per game, had 5.0 shots on target per game, kept 13 clean sheets and conceded 1.2 goals per game.

Meanwhile, Everton’s 2025-26 side have averaged only 1.2 goals per match, registered just 3.7 shots on target per game, have kept 11 clean sheets but have the exact same goals conceded per game average of 1.2.

Koeman’s team also had an awful lot more possession, with 52.1 per cent compared to 43.6 per cent from this Moyes side, but were also considerably more direct too, with 29.1 accurate long balls per game to the current team’s 12.1 respectively.

Do Everton’s 16-17 and 25-26 teams have personnel similarities?

On the face of it, seeing Everton’s 2016-17 team have higher possession stats as well as being significantly more direct than this current side looks confusing, but it’s actually fairly clear as to why that was the case.

Firstly, Koeman had Romelu Lukaku leading the line that season, and his 25 league goals that year were second only to Harry Kane’s 29, as the gameplan was to get the ball to the powerful striker as much as possible.

However, in central midfield, the Toffees had an engine room that consisted of the likes of Gareth Barry, Idrissa Gueye and Morgan Schneiderlin – all of whom were defensive minded and excellent ball retention players.

Ahead of them you had Ross Barkley though, and he was Everton’s creative node through middle of the pitch.

In central defence, Everton’s current pair of Michael Keane and James Tarkowski were similar to Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka in that Koeman side: big, tough, no-nonsense.

Obviously, Gueye is still turning out for Everton in midfield, so there’s an obvious connection there too, whilst Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish are both cut from a similar cloth to Kevin Mirallas, with all three of them being aggressive, skilful and fearless wingers.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has a bit of that early Barkley feel to his game this season as well, and so there are definitely some comparisons to be drawn between some of the players that made up these two teams.

Both Moyes and Koeman’s philosophies of being strong at the back and launching fast attacks are similar too, but the former does so mainly through quick passing counter-attacks, whereas the latter was more direct through the air.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

The post View: Everton's last European 16-17 team have similarities to Moyes' current side appeared first on Goodison News.

The Toffees are preparing to play host to their Merseyside rivals on Sunday in the first derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

After the recent struggles that Arne Slot’s side have faced, the Blues come into the clash hopeful of sealing all three points.

David Moyes’ men are firmly in the hunt for European qualification and need to maintain their recent progress if they are to achieve their goals.

Things may not be straightforward for Everton against Liverpool, especially if Mykolenko’s struggles continue in L3.

Vitalii Mykolenko struggled vs Liverpool last time

The Ukraine international isn’t the most-loved figure on the blue side of Merseyside, as he is seen as an upgradeable area of the current squad.

That hasn’t stopped him from being a regular this season and throughout his career after joining the Toffees from Dynamo Kyiv.

His showings are steady and have helped maintain a consistent backline under Moyes since his return.

That wasn’t truly the case in the last Merseyside derby as the 26-year-old was taken off early in a 2-1 defeat at Anfield.

He misplaced seven passes and had a zero per cent cross accuracy, despite swinging in four attempts.

That isn’t helped by a failure to complete any of his attempted dribbles, while also losing five duels and committing three fouls.

Mykolenko has recently been out injured for Everton, so a match-up against Mohamed Salah may represent a concern in L3.

Mohamed Salah can target Mykolenko vs Everton

The Egypt international may not have scored against the Blues last time, but he still has a stellar record in the derby.

In 14 appearances, he has scored eight and assisted three, while winning seven and drawing five, representing a true villain for Everton.

The 33-year-old also found the net with an excellent effort in his latest Premier League outing, so he will be keen to add to his six-goal tally for the season.

Considering he has already done well against Mykolenko this season, there have to be concerns over the Ukrainian in the upcoming clash.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

The post View: Everton star poses risk for Moyes after previous form vs Liverpool appeared first on Goodison News.

The Blues announced that the Hill Dickinson Stadium is set to be taken over by Upper Deck Golf from 16 July to 19 July.

The stadium will be transformed into an interactive golf experience, and there will be coverage of The Open Championship, which takes place at Royal Birkdale, just a few miles away.

Fleetwood, a Toffees supporter, and Rose will be competing in that tournament, and the latter suggested they should play in the L3 arena first.

Everton have made a clever move, given that it will coincide with the competition.

What did Rose say to Everton fan Fleetwood?

Fleetwood is one of the most prominent celebrity Everton fans, and he may well fancy the challenge given his association with David Moyes‘ side.

Rose took to X on 16 April to send a message to Fleetwood, claiming the Blues will likely sort them a time to play.

He said: “I’m in the area that week!!

“Fancy a match Tommy Fleetwood, before The Open??

“Sure, Everton can sort us a tee time!!”

How the Friedkin Group pulled off another masterclass

The Friedkin Group have constantly shown their business acumen since taking over on Merseyside, and they have done it once again, making the most of the new stadium.

Golf is a very popular sport in the United Kingdom, and given that The Masters has just finished and the Open Championship is held locally this year, they have tapped into that and will probably make a decent profit.

It is not a surprise that they are in touch with the sport, as they run the Congaree Golf Club in South Carolina, which has held events for the PGA Tour.

The ownership has shown that they are willing to do whatever it takes to secure extra revenue for the L3 club, especially when it comes to using the stadium to their advantage.

It is brilliant to see competent decision-making that uses the facilities that are available to make the most money that the club can from its state-of-the-art arena, as they should.

Hopefully, it will all work out and Moyes’ side will qualify for Europe this campaign, only increase their commercial opportunities, and get to a point where they are challenging for the biggest honours once again after years of misery.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

The post Justin Rose sends Tommy Fleetwood message after Everton announcement appeared first on Goodison News.

Keith Wyness believes that the price rises were enough to raise eyebrows in L3, insisting that it was somewhat unnecessary given the increased revenue from the new stadium.

Despite that, David Moyes has also transformed Everton into a squad fighting for European qualification instead of battling relegation in the Premier League.

Everton take on Liverpool next, before Manchester City and Sunderland travel to Merseyside for the final home games of the season.

Let’s hope European football is secured to justify the change in prices.

Everton price rises called out at Hill Dickinson

Wyness insists that the prices over 12 months have increased significantly compared to others, but most in the Premier League are doing the same right now.

Speaking exclusively to Goodison News, the ex-Everton CEO admitted that, despite it being somewhat unnecessary, he believes the Friedkins will get away with it.

“Well, it’s caused a few little raised eyebrows, but then again, nearly every club that I’m seeing in the Premier League is coming out with these sorts of issues right now,” Wyness said.

“I think the biggest one that sort of made me think twice was that if you’re going to pay over 12 months, and by the way, a lot of people will have to pay over 12 months because it’s a big chunk now, the season ticket.

“They’ve charged you now, got up from £30, I think, to £69, which is a pretty big increase. And of course, if you’re paying over 12 months, you’re already strapped for cash.

“I didn’t really see the need for that sort of increase. But then again, that’s that one.

“Overall, it’s coming up, I think the increase is coming up to about £2 a game overall. So probably livable.

“Now, of course, you know the problem, of course, for fans have got is that if the teams play well they’re going to want to be there next season, if there’s European games coming up they’re going to want to be there next season, so of course that’s where everybody plays praise on this loyalty and so we’re going to have to see but overall I think there could have been a few little adjustments.

“They’ve kept the young prices low as well.

“So overall, I think they’ll get away with it. There isn’t as much animosity towards this as there is certainly at the Liverpool side of things. And I think if they win the derby on Sunday, then I think all the fans will be happy, and they’ll be there next season.”

Everton fans will still show up in their numbers

With that record turnover of nearly £200million set to increase even further with the new stadium, it seems highly unnecessary that these changes were made.

Football is a business, though, and unfortunately, the die-hard loyalty of fans is usually exploited, but that isn’t a new thing in the Premier League.

One thing is for sure: Everton fans will be packing out the Hill Dickinson Stadium every week, regardless.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

The post 'I didn't really see the need' - Ex-Everton CEO: Friedkins will likely get away with change if Liverpool beaten appeared first on Goodison News.

Since Roberto De Zerbi was appointed as Tottenham’s new head coach last month, not much has gone right for Spurs.

Before his first game in charge, Mohammed Kudus suffered an injury setback after being sidelined since early January with a quad problem. And in the 1-0 loss to Sunderland, Cristian Romero picked up a knee injury of his own.

That is in addition to being without the likes of James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, and more.

As Tottenham hope for some more positive injury news, some less favourable updates have emerged at Palace as Spurs cling on for any positives over their rivals.

Advantage West Ham over Tottenham

Tottenham haven’t won in the league since 28 December, with their current 14-game winless run their worst stretch since 1935.

That spell, which has seen Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor dismissed, has seen an injury-hit Spurs fall to 18th in the Premier League, two points behind West Ham in 17th.

With six games to go, Tottenham need everything to go their way. One downside for Spurs was that Palace have just a few days to recover from their Conference League exploits away at Fiorentina on Thursday.

The Eagles went through to the last four but ended up losing defender Maxence Lacroix and midfielder Adam Wharton to injury in the first half.

Both played a key role in Palace’s FA Cup success last season, with the pair among a contingent of vital players for Oliver Glasner’s team.

Naturally, many Tottenham fans have despaired at this turn of events as Palace’s chances of beating a much fresher West Ham take a hit on Monday evening.

Moreover, striker Jean-Phillipe Mateta did not return for the second half after starting ahead of Jorgen Strand Larsen.

Palace have won three of their last five league games, but this is a big blow for the south London outfit and maybe an even bigger one for Tottenham.

Tottenham seek unwanted history

Tottenham are the only Premier League side without a win in 2026, drawing five and losing nine from 14 matches.

Their current run is nearly as bad as Swindon Town in 1993 (15), Sunderland in 2003 (17), and Derby County in 2008 (18).

To make matters worse for Tottenham, all three of those teams were relegated in those respective campaigns.

Tottenham’s wretched run is one of the worst in the club’s storied history. Many pundits keep saying Spurs will stay up, just maybe because of the size of the north London outfit.

But at this rate, they seemed destined to go down. They need inspiration and fast.

The post Tottenham’s bad luck continues as Crystal Palace stars suffer injuries ahead of West Ham showdown appeared first on Tottenham Hotspur News.

Tottenham a throwing a De Zerbi reunion party in N17 this Saturday, as he welcomes one of his former employers in Brighton to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

However, there won’t be much of a party feel inside the ground come kick-off, as Spurs fans are pretty fed up with this team at the moment, and just want to see three points no matter what.

That’s going to be easier said than done though, as Brighton are in excellent form in the Premier League at the moment, with five wins from their last six.

Tottenham are 14-matches without a win in the league, which is the second longest in the football club’s history, and so they’ll take a good omen of a victory wherever they can find one heading into the weekend.

What is Tottenham’s record with Stuart Attwell as referee?

Brighton are favourites to beat Tottenham for fairly understandable reasons, with Fabian Hurzeler’s side the in-form team in the division right now.

The two sides played out a 2-2 draw at the AMEX back in September last year, and whilst that wouldn’t be the worst result in the world for Spurs this time round, three points would be a whole lot better.

So, with the odds stacked against Tottenham against the Seagulls, any nugget of hope is worth holding on to ahead of Saturday.

And, in Attwell’s refereeing record in Tottenham games, Spurs fans and De Zerbi have found one.

That’s because of the 25 times Attwell has taken charge of Spurs matches, the Lilywhites have won 16 times, with only five defeats and four draws.

His very first Tottenham game in which he took charge of came all the way back in December 2009, when he oversaw a 1-0 loss to Wolves in the Premier League.

Remarkably, Spurs went on a seven-game winning run with Attwell as referee between February 2022 to January 2025, which included their League Cup semi-final first leg victory over Liverpool last year.

Since then, however, Tottenham have failed to win their last to with Sunday’s referee in charge, with a defeat to Fulham on matchday 13 of this season followed by a 1-1 draw with Sunderland on 4 January this year.

What is Brighton’s record with Attwell as referee?

Heading over to Tottenham’s opposition then for this Saturday, do Brighton have a similarly strong record with Attwell when he’s refereed their games?

Well, it’s not bad, but it’s certainly not as good as Spurs’, with the Seagulls winning 13, drawing seven and losing 10 of their 30 matches with him in the middle.

He’s also shown Brighton players five total yellow cards in that time, whereas he’s never produced a single card of that colour to any Tottenham player, as per Transfermarkt.

Albion have also lost their last three-straight with Attwell as referee, with their last win under his watch coming against Bournemouth in November 2024.

The post View: De Zerbi will be happy with Premier League decision for Tottenham vs Brighton appeared first on Tottenham Hotspur News.

Danny Rohl‘s side are pushing hard to be the first Rangers team to lift the Scottish Premiership title since 2021, but they’re being made to work for it by Hearts and Celtic respectively.

Gers’ fortunes have changed drastically since Rohl arrived at Ibrox last October, and he was the toast of the Ibrox faithful after his brilliant tactical tweaks saw his side run out 6-3 winners over Falkirk last time out.

However, as we now reach the split, things are getting very real indeed at the top of the table, with one misstep from anybody likely to cost them their chances of being crowned champions.

So, with just five games to play, there are a number of Rangers stars who definitely have more riding on how they finish the season than others.

James Tavernier needs to convince Rangers of contract extension

Tavernier’s Rangers contract expires this summer, meaning we could be witnessing the final five games of one of the all-time great Ibrox careers.

Now 34, the evergreen right-back has started 23 of his 31 league outings this season, contributing eight goals and four assists to the cause.

Despite perhaps not being at his brilliant best for Rangers this season, he’s still performing at a very good level for a player of his age.

However, there’s a chance Ibrox chiefs don’t see it that way, and with his age and potentially a desire to embrace the future at that position this summer, Tavernier isn’t guaranteed to be handed a new deal.

But, he could very much shift the odds in his favour with a big final five games, especially if he can inspire Rangers to a Premiership title.

Mohamed Diomande needs to win starting role back

A player who has split opinion among Rangers fans since he first signed on loan back in January 2024, Mohamed Diomande has endured a down year at Ibrox in 2025-26.

Having started 16 of his 26 league appearances, the Ivory Coast international has lost his grip on a starting role over recent weeks.

Indeed, his last inclusion in Rohl’s starting XI was against Celtic in the Scottish Cup quarter-final on 8 March, whilst he’s not started in the league since the 1-1 draw with Motherwell on 11 February respectively.

Contracted with Rangers until 2028, the 24-year-old shouldn’t fall into the trap of feeling safe in a long-term contract, as Rohl has a plethora of midfield options at his disposal now moving forward.

Therefore, unless he can win his starting role back before the end of the season, or at least show some form, then Diomande could well be on the chopping block this summer.

Andreas Skov Olsen’s Rangers transfer is hanging in the balance

Signed on loan from Wolfsburg with a permanent option in January, Andreas Skov Olsen hasn’t quite had the impact many Rangers fans were hoping to see from him.

The 26-year-old is now in the prime years of his career, and has some top pedigree with the likes of Wolfsburg, Club Brugge and Bologna on his CV respectively.

However, the Danish international has blown hot and cold for Gers so far, with one goal and three assists from his eight league outings so far a solid return, but certainly by way of goals, more was expected.

And, with the likes of Oliver Antman and Djeidi Gassama for company on the right, Skov Olsen needs to enjoy a big end to the season if Rangers are to feel confident of triggering his costly permanent option this summer.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.

Two former members of Iranian women’s team have been training with A-Leagues club Brisbane Roar after being given humanitarian visas

Manchester City welcome Arsenal to the Etihad in the Premier League on Sunday in a titanic tussle that will go a long way to deciding the title race.

Our Liverpool fans' jury have their say on the Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain and this weekend's massive Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium

Ollie Watkins says he is targeting a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England World Cup squad this summer, after rewriting the Aston Villa record books against Bologna.

Brian Clough was still orchestrating moments of magic the last time Nottingham Forest competed in a European semi-final.

It was a fantastic night for the Reds as they progressed into the Europa League semi-finals relatively simply.

Morgan Gibbs-White scored the only goal of the game in what was a dominant performance from the hosts.

However, it could have gone completely differently, with Bednarek being sent off early on for a reckless challenge on Chris Wood.

Nevertheless, Hackett believes that the decision was the right one, as Forest earned a memorable win.

Keith Hackett: Referee right to send off Jan Bednarek vs Nottingham Forest

Within the opening exchanges, Wood and Bednarek both attempted to get control of a loose ball that was flying through the air.

Both players proceeded to raise their legs, but the Porto star would then make contact with Wood’s ankle, causing him to go down in pain.

While the referee did not initially give a card for a challenge, VAR recommended that he review the footage, which eventually led to Bednarek being sent off.

Upon examining the challenge, Hackett has exclusively told Football Insider that the decision was the right one.

Jan Bednarek sees red after a challenge on Chris Wood inside the first 10 minutes of the quarter-final ❌

📺 Stream with TNT Sports on HBO Max pic.twitter.com/DAewPpipCt

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2026

He said: “Referee in a good position to see the challenge and correct to issue a red card for serious foul play.

“High late and into the player studs showing. Certainly reckless with excessive force.”

Nottingham Forest take a step closer to Champions League football

Former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson has told Football Insider that Nottingham Forest could mitigate their drop in Premier League prize money by winning the Europa League this season.

There is no question that their domestic campaign has been concerning, with the Reds still having the potential to get relegated.

As a result, their Premier League prize money is set to take a substantial hit compared to last season.

Nevertheless, if they can go all the way in the Europa League, this is likely to be forgotten, as the club would qualify for Champions League football.

However, it remains to be seen if they are able to achieve this, as they now face a tricky semi-final against Aston Villa later this month, as they hope to lift the trophy.

The post Ex-PGMOL chief drops verdict on Nottingham Forest vs Porto red card controversy appeared first on Football Insider.

It was the perfect start for the Reds when Jan Bednarek was sent off after a VAR check for a reckless challenge on Chris Wood.

The hosts soon took advantage, and Morgan Gibbs-White put Forest ahead 12 minutes in thanks to a deflected strike.

From here, the host had a wealth of chances to go further ahead, but couldn’t find the back of the net.

Nonetheless, they managed to see the rest of the game out to secure a memorable Forest victory.

Morgan Gibbs-White the difference maker vs Porto

After a dreadful game against Porto in the first-leg, Gibbs-White really turned it on at the City Ground.

In the centre of the park, he was dominant, with the visitors struggling to contain him throughout.

While he perhaps got fortunate with the opener, it came at the right time, as he pounced on the shock of the red card to give Forest an early lead.

From here, he continued to be the catalyst in attack, and his runs caused Porto all kinds of problems.

Hopefully, these types of displays can continue both in the Premier League and Europa League until the end of the season.

Igor Jesus struggles to find the net for Nottingham Forest

Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown exclusively told Football Insider that Forest were tracking a replacement for Jesus, and off this performance, it is no surprise.

Coming on for the injured Wood, Jesus was presented with a wealth of chances to put the game to bed for the hosts.

Through to the @EuropaLeague semi-finals! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/QnFpjwBbuO

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) April 16, 2026

Yet, every time he failed to convert, with his missed header in the first half being particularly disappointing.

While he was unlucky with some chances, in an important game like this, Forest needed Jesus to step up, something he failed to achieve.

Nottingham Forest player ratings vs Porto

• Stefan Ortega – 6/10
• Neco Williams – 8/10
• Murillo – 7/10
• Jair Cunha – 7/10
• Ola Aina – 7/10
• Nicolas Dominguez – 7/10
• Ibrahim Sangare – 7/10
• Dan Ndoye – 6/10
• Morgan Gibbs-White – 8/10
• Omari Hutchinson – 6/10
• Chris Wood – n/a

Substitutes

• Igor Jesus (on for Wood, 16’) – 5/10
• Callum Hudson-Odoi (on for Hutchinson, 46’) – n/a
• Nikola Milenkovic (on for Ndoye, 65’) – n/a
• Morato (on for Murillo, 72’) – n/a
• Dilane Bakwa (on for Hudson-Odoi, 72’) – n/a

The post Nottingham Forest player ratings vs Porto – Morgan Gibbs-White the hero, Igor Jesus underwhelming appeared first on Football Insider.

While plenty of youngsters will have their sights set on making the grade at Rangers one day, Afzal is not one of them after the Championship side won the race to sign the left-back from Queen’s Park.

The defender will officially leave the Scottish Championship outfit in the summer, before heading to the Premier League promotion-hopefuls.

Rangers and Celtic were reportedly trying to sign the promising teenager, but Southampton have pipped them to the post.

Rangers will have to look at other transfer targets as a worrying trend continues to emerge between English and Scottish football.

Harris Afzal wanted England move

Following his arrival at Southampton, the youngster made it clear how he wanted to head south of the border to further his career.

That might be a damning indictment of where the direction of travel is for teams in the United Kingdom.

The fact that he is yet to make his first-team debut for Queen’s Park suggests he is a long way from making the grade at senior level.

But Afzal, who had a trial at the Saints earlier this year, clearly sees a pathway to the first team at Southampton.

He told the Saints: “I’m really excited. It’s something that I’ve always wanted, to get a move to England, so it’s good that the hard work’s paying off now.

“When I came down, I thought it was a really good atmosphere, I liked all the lads and the coaches, and I thought it was a really good set-up. I feel like that’s where I can see myself progressing.”

Southampton’s Director of Group Talent Strategy, Andy Goldie, added that Afzal will “enhance” their under-18 squad next season.

But the fact that he chose Southampton over Rangers should, perhaps, sound alarm bells for the Gers.

Scottish Premiership at a big disadvantage

After Steven Gerrard led Rangers to the Scottish Premiership title in 2021, the ex-England international admitted he was surprised by the jump up in quality following his move to Aston Villa later that year.

And if anything, the divide between the two divisions is only getting worse due to the sheer amount of money pumped in.

Indeed, the Scottish Professional Football League agreed a £150m live broadcast deal with Sky Sports for 2025-29. For the same period, TNT Sports and Sky signed a £6.7billion arrangement in England.

Rangers posted record revenues of £94.1million in their accounts for the year ending May 2025, whereas Gerrard’s old team, Liverpool, raked in £703m in that same financial year.

How can Rangers and Celtic compete with that? The answer is simple, they can’t.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.

The Eagles are now just 120 minutes away from a European final

Morgan Gibbs-White’s 12th-minute goal, shortly after Porto’s Jan Bednarek was sent off, was enough to give a nervous Nottingham Forest a 1-0 win and a semi-final against Aston Villa

Crystal Palace were beaten 2-1 in Fiorentina but progress to the Europa Conference semi-final with a 4-2 aggregate victory

Brazilian outlet RTI Sport recently reported that Leeds are among several top-flight sides keeping tabs on Southampton star Scienza ahead of the summer window.

He has been key to the Saints’ promotion charge this season and is believed to have a £25million release clause in his contract after joining from FC Heidenheim last year.

Scienza has been impressive in his debut campaign in English football, but Leeds’ interest is misplaced as Gelhardt also shines on loan at Hull.

Gelhardt currently looks set to leave Elland Road this summer, but he should not be included in Leeds’ transfer plans if they are targeting a move for Scienza.

Leeds should keep Joe Gelhardt rather than move for Leo Scienza

Gelhardt has never truly managed to nail down a place in Leeds’ first team squad, despite making his senior debut for the club back in 2021.

The 23-year-old finally looks to be realising his potential at Hull this season, as he has been a key part of their unlikely promotion push under Sergej Jakirovic.

Gelhardt has registered the seventh-most goal contributions in the Championship, with 17, yet looks set to leave Leeds this summer with one year left on his contract.

Sources have exclusively revealed to Football Insider that Rangers are front-runners to sign Gelhardt as it stands, but Farke should keep him on if they are looking to sign Scienza to bolster a similar position for next term.

Gelhardt has outperformed the Brazilian playmaker in numerous metrics in the Championship this season, and would simply return to the club for free rather than cost around £25m.

With Leeds looking to build and improve next season if they avoid relegation, Scienza does not necessarily feel like a signing that will move the needle and clearly improve their starting side.

It would, therefore, make little sense to sign him for a relatively sizeable fee when they already have Gelhardt on their books, who is four years younger, knows all about Farke’s demands, and has shown similar levels in the same league this season.

What has Gelhardt said about his future at Leeds and Hull?

Gelhardt has spoken openly about what could happen regarding his next move this summer, with Hull fans surely pleased to know that he has not ruled out a permanent move to the KCOM Stadium.

Speaking to BBC Humberside at the start of this month, he said: “It’d be stupid to say no (to joining Hull permanently) because I’ve played my best year of football here; it’s obviously more difficult than just making a decision, but yeah, pretty much.

“I’m enjoying it that much, yeah, I love playing for this club. Nothing’s certain in football, and things change, but we can only take it game by game. I think everyone knows how much I love it here.”

Gelhardt also admitted that he has not spoken to anyone at Leeds since the start of this season, so a decision on his future is clearly being put to one side until the summer.

The 23-year-old should certainly be considered as an option for the Whites next season, especially as they target the best of the best in the Championship.

The post Leeds United: Joe Gelhardt deserves another chance as stats show him outperforming Leo Scienza appeared first on Football Insider.

Clearly, this dependable, old-school defender has no desire to stand still. With David Moyes‘ side just five points behind the Champions League places, what was once thought an impossibility is now in fact possible at the end of this truly staggering campaign.

Tarkowski, now 33 but showing no signs of succumbing to the dying of the light, believes two more “special days” should see the Toffees into Europe, and with their Merseyside rivals up next, and sitting in fifth place, they will have no better chance to lay down the gauntlet.

Last time out, they were made to settle for a 2-2 draw with Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. Tarkowski will know that he was at least partly culpable for the hosts’ opening goal, and that could see Moyes decide to recall Michael Keane.

Either way, with a shaky Liverpool seemingly on the ropes after crashing out of the Champions League, Everton simply must grab this opportunity with both hands.

Should James Tarkowski start vs Liverpool?

Moyes will likely have pointed the finger of blame at Tarkowski in private after his side took a point away from West London. While Igor Thiago’s third-minute penalty was brought about after Jordan Pickford’s foul on Kevin Schade, the centre-back was caught ball-watching.

It was a surprising slip-up that belied the veteran’s years of experience excelling in the top-flight, but it should also be pointed out that it was not an isolated incident. Even with Jarrad Branthwaite, his usual sparring partner restored next to him, Tarkowski was shaky.

Replays (screenshot below) showed the former Burnley man moving at a jogging pace when he needed to be much more aggressive. That hesitation allowed the hosts to slip through Schade, who was then clumsily brought down. Thiago made no mistake from the spot.

Statistics reveal that Tarkowski has made six errors leading to a shot and one directly resulting in a goal this season. That grand total of seven puts him at the top of Everton’s squad, with Pickford in second place with three.

The gap between them will surely be ringing alarm bells.

But what will worry Moyes the most is the fact that Tarkowski’s six mistakes before shots are the most in the Premier League this season, according to Sofascore.

Indeed, there have been a string of sloppy and avoidable errors. Ironically, one of the most glaring came in the 4-2 home defeat by Brentford back in January. His poor pass out from the back was snatched up by Vitaly Janelt, before he swung in a cross for Thiago to score.

These mistakes will be taking a toll, both on Tarkowski and, on a wider note, Moyes’ game plans. But equally, he has balanced them out with his frequently heroic defending. At Brentford, he boasted a 100 per cent total duel success while making 14 defensive actions.

The big question is whether Moyes decides to start Keane against Liverpool. He averages 0.06 tackles more than Tarkowski per 90, as well as 0.12 more blocks, 0.52 interceptions and 0.39 more clearances, and stepped in admirably during Branthwaite’s absence.

Tarkowski still unwavering Everton servant

Regardless of how the rest of the campaign plays out, Tarkowski’s cult hero status at Everton is already secure. That much was confirmed after he thundered home the stoppage-time equaliser that denied Liverpool victory in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

He was the first signing conducted by former director of football Kevin Thelwell, but arguably remains his best. The Toffees are believed to have elbowed away stern competition to sign the centre-back on a free transfer, and the effect on the dressing room has been seismic.

According to various reports, Aston Villa and Newcastle had also been chasing Tarkowski’s signature. In the end, though, Everton came out on top, reinforcing their squad with a player capable of impressing as a starter or acting as a trustworthy back-up over a long campaign.

Branthwaite and Jake O’Brien will eventually become Moyes’ first-choice pairing, but for now, Tarkowski and Keane are playing well enough to push their younger peers to the bench. The fact that the manager is in no hurry to make the transition is a testament to both veterans.

It speaks volumes that the club were so keen to hand him a new two-year deal back in October. His old contract had been set to run down at the end of the season, but now, his future is secured until June 2028, the least he deserves for his unwavering loyalty.

Now, he wants to play a part in the new era at Hill Dickinson Stadium and is determined to help Everton qualify for European competition.

“It’s the manager’s goal, it’s our goal as a team and we’ve started pretty well,” he told Everton TV in October. “Of course, it could have been better, but we’ve had a decent start. We’re striving to get into those European spots and bring European football to our new stadium.”

Thanks to his efforts, that dream is now tantalisingly close. However, he must also crack down on unnecessary errors, with the margins in this race increasingly fine.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

The post View: Error-prone Everton ace still crucial under Moyes, he could even decide Euro fate appeared first on Goodison News.

In January 2025, there were talks of the Guinea-Bissau international possibly leaving the club after struggling for game time, but David Moyes came in and revived his career at the Toffees.

In the previous transfer window, the centre-forward was once again linked with an exit after being behind Thierno Barry in the pecking order, but he has managed to work his way into the starting lineup in recent weeks.

Beto’s importance at Hill Dickinson Stadium has become evident, but his current contract at the Blues enters the final year at the end of the season and they may want to protect his value.

The Friedkin Group should sign a new striker for Moyes in the summer, as they lack depth in that area, but that could see speculation about the former Udinese number nine’s exit grow again midway through the upcoming campaign if he isn’t first on the team sheet.

Beto can’t expect sympathy at Everton

Beto seems to come alive toward the latter stages of the season, but he can’t base his entire reputation on it.

Moyes has been crying out for a reliable goalscorer for several months now as Barry and the Guinea-Bissau striker failed to shoulder the Toffees’ attacking burden.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Blues pursue a quality number nine in the summer, which could lead to transfer deja vu around Beto.

While the 28-year-old is considered a hard worker at the Merseyside outfit, he needs to show more to cement his place as the first-choice number nine.

Speaking to the media after Beto’s brace against Chelsea last month, Moyes said, “I think he’s earned it a little bit from his work. I’ve always said, he never complains, he gets his head down. He’s an incredibly humble boy. He’s last off the training ground just about every day, he wants more, he wants people to try and improve him.”

David Moyes to resist Beto transfer offers

Even if Everton sign a new striker for the 2026-27 campaign, Beto shouldn’t be allowed to leave.

The Toffees are competing to qualify for Europe and if they achieve that goal, Moyes will need as much quality as he can get to compete on all fronts.

As things stand, the Blues already lack depth in the number nine position and it wouldn’t make sense to sign someone in that position and then sell the Guinea-Bissau star.

The Scottish manager will surely want a competitive squad for next season and the Merseyside outfit should prioritise contract talks with Beto rather than thinking about letting him go.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

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David Moyes‘ side will fancy their chances of beating their local rivals, given the fact that the Reds have lost 17 games already this season.

The Blues are chasing a European spot and aiming to finish above Arne Slot’s side for the first time since the 2012/13 season.

Keane believes that they will walk away from the Hill Dickinson Stadium with a point on 19 April, as he made his prediction on the Stick to Football podcast.

That in itself is not the issue, Everton may well draw with Liverpool, but it is what he said to Gary Neville after he went first that exposed his hypocrisy.

Why is Keane a hypocrite after Everton vs Liverpool prediction?

Everton will believe that they can take three points away from Liverpool, but Neville thinks it will be a 1-1 draw.

After his former Manchester United teammate had made his prediction on the 16 April edition of the podcast, Keane said: “Don’t sit on the fence”.

However, he then proceeded to call a 2-2 draw when it was his and Ian Wright’s turn, and he led the suggestion of that result.

Everton can use it as motivation to mastermind Liverpool win

Everton can use the predictions as extra motivation for the contest, not that they should need it at all, given what it may mean for their campaign.

It is a chance to take a real step towards their ambitions of qualifying for Europe, and also to impose their new stadium as a fortress over their local rivals, as it will be the first time the fixture is played there.

As an added bonus, it could also put Slot under much more pressure on the red half of Merseyside, and take him a step closer to losing his job, and leaving the Anfield side in a very difficult position heading into the new season.

The Blues fans need to make a brilliant atmosphere, and immediately the already weak Reds side, that have shown that they can crumble easily this season.

If they can do that, they may make both Neville and Keane look silly, for only backing them to secure a draw.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

The post View: Keane's hypocrisy is obvious after Everton vs Liverpool prediction appeared first on Goodison News.

For Everton to be in the European conversation ahead of the final six games of the season is a testament to the work done by David Moyes.

However, it also showcases just how much some players have improved as the season has gone on, and Beto is among them.

He’s been involved in five goals in his last five games for the Toffees, with no striker in the Premier League having scored more goals than him within that period.

With that said, Beto had been linked with an exit from Everton, and his recent return to form could have a knock-on effect for Barry.

Everton could fall into costly Beto trap

We’ve seen it before when a player has offered very little all season, but found a purple patch of form and went on to play a crucial role.

That is Beto at Everton as of right now, and it is certainly aiding their chances of qualifying for Europe.

However, this isn’t out of the ordinary for him, having done the same last season, and the Toffees simply can’t afford to fall into the trap of thinking he is the one to lead the line for them beyond this season.

But if they do, it will have only negative effects for Barry, who is likely to become the third choice at Everton, presuming that they sign a new striker in the summer.

What is the best course of action for Barry?

At his age, Barry needs to be playing regularly, and having shown a lack of quality at Everton so far this season, he’s unlikely to get that in the Premier League next campaign.

The Toffees may look to keep him around as depth, but the best option may be for him to depart on loan and rekindle the form that ultimately earned him a big-money move to Hill Dickinson.

It would, in some way, be an acceptance of an error for Everton, but it may need to happen for them to ever get the best out of him.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

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The former Burnley defender is out of contract at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in the summer, and there has been no update on potential terms.

The Blues were linked with Estoril centre-back Kevin Boma in the winter transfer window, but a move did not materialise.

They are not expected to immediately return for the 23-year-old as their interest has dwindled after he suffered a season-ending injury, per Portuguese outlet Record.

Keane could now have a repreive for his Everton career, after the latest update on Boma’s future from Portugal.

Why Keane decision is vital for Everton

If Everton are not going to return for the defender, then that could force them to keep Keane around for the foreseeable future.

He has proven himself as a capable option when stepping in for Jarrad Branthwaite, who was injured for the majority of this season, and surely a new contract would cost less than a potential new addition.

Any signing from abroad, like someone from Liga Portugal, would have to learn how to cope with the pace and physicality of the Premier League, something the veteran already knows all about.

Why keeping Keane is the best option for Everton

Keeping the 33-year-old for an extra season may be the best move for David Moyes’ side, as his experience and leadership could be vital if they qualify for Europe.

The chance to sign Boma will still be there, the following season, as his contract is due to expire in the summer of 2027.

So, a short-term deal for Keane, with the Togo star lined up as a replacement in the long-term, makes perfect sense for all parties.

The Friedkin Group can save money by getting him in on a free transfer, which they could use on other areas of the squad in L3 this summer, to truly bolster the squad for a campaign fighting on more fronts than usual.

They will ultimately need to move on from the 12-cap England ace eventually, but it may not be the right time at the end of the season, especially if they are not fully convinced on Boma’s recovery as the report suggests.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

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Moore has been in sensational form on loan at Rangers, with six goals and three assists in 42 appearances north of the border.

Williams-Barnett is rated very highly at Hotspur Way, just like Moore, and there have been calls for him to be handed a first-team opportunity.

However, there are doubts over whether he is ready for that level of scrutiny at the moment, as he has made just one appearance for the senior side.

Tottenham are set for a very bright future in terms of their youth products, but it may not involve the 17-year-old, just yet.

Why should Williams-Barnett follow Moore example at Tottenham?

John Wenham has previously labelled the Tottenham youngster as “outstanding”, but he does not think that he is ready for a senior berth yet, and believes that he should follow in Moore’s footsteps.

Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, he said: “I still think Williams-Barnett would probably be better suited by trying to get a first loan next year, look at Mikey Moore.

“He’s only one year older than Luca, but he’s got 40-odd appearances for Rangers now, in a club where the expectation is that you go in there to win.

“You go in there each game, and it’s probably a higher expectation at Rangers among their fans than there is playing for Tottenham.

“It’s the reality, in terms of they’re expected every week to go out and dominate and win.

“He could have gone off to Reading or whatever, and it’d be a cakewalk for a first loan, go over to Reading and get 15 goals and play in front of three sides of the stadium empty, or you go to Rangers, where they demand the best from you, and he’s done that.

“He’s another one who, I think, if De Zerbi had a look at him in the summer, could break into the squad.

“He’s another one where all he has to do is play a handful of games for Spurs, everything’s going well, and suddenly you’re backing him for England and everything.”

What should Williams-Barnett do?

A similar approach to Moore would probably benefit Williams-Barnett the most, as he would learn the rigours of senior football.

If he could find a place at a club where the expectation is similar to the Glasgow side, that would help his development tremendously.

It would allow him to prove his quality in difficult circumstances and put him in a position where he would be ready to succeed with the Lilywhites.

The post Tottenham expert backs ‘outstanding’ talent to follow in Mikey Moore’s footsteps as England call-up mooted appeared first on Tottenham Hotspur News.

With good reason, too. Since arriving in North London from Juventus back in January 2022, the Swede has been one of the club’s outstanding performers. How he has been sorely missed during Spurs’ worrying slide into the Premier League relegation zone this campaign.

Fortunately, Kulusevski is in bullish spirits and is confident he will be back fitter and stronger than ever. “It’s the driving force I have,” he told Viaplay. “It’s a challenge that I haven’t been able to overcome so far, since I’m not healthy.” This will be music to Roberto De Zerbi‘s ears.

But by the time he does make his comeback, Spurs could be in the Championship. That raises questions over whether he will set out on his mission to get back to his best in N17, or elsewhere. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, he will stay regardless, and that is good news.

Kulusevski’s knee injury and shortage of fitness would certainly make him too big a gamble for clubs this summer, likely meaning De Zerbi can build his project around him.

When will Dejan Kulusevski return for Tottenham?

Spurs’ new head coach is said to appreciate Kulusevski and will therefore be keen to watch his progression during pre-season training. Before that, he has a job to do: saving the club from relegation. What was once thought an impossibility is now dangerously probable.

It is deeply unfortunate that Kulusevski has not played a part this season. In fact, he has not featured at all since sustaining a knee injury against Crystal Palace last May.

For his problem has been more complicated than first thought. Rather than damaging his ligament, the 25-year-old injured his right patella after colliding with Marc Guehi. He stood up and tried to run, but instead was forced to hobble down the tunnel, clearly in pain.

Three days later, he underwent knee patella cartilage surgery, which was expected to put him back on the road to recovery. Instead, his nightmare only worsened. The setback, far more complex than a conventional knee issue, effectively put a lengthy pause on his career.

Kulusevski looked in good spirits while watching Spurs’ Europa League final triumph against Manchester United in Bilbao, albeit with the aid of crutches. It was cruel that he had been ruled out, having arguably been Antonio Conte and Ange Postecoglou‘s best player.

Understandably, his absence began to affect him. He relishes playing football; much of his life is centred around it. For a while, there looked to be no end to the tunnel.

He went under the knife again for an arthroscopy in March, a minor procedure designed to clean up the knee that has consigned him to the treatment table for almost a year. That was the explanation for why Kulusevski was limping in Sweden’s training camp that same month.

In a significant boon to Spurs, Kulusevski said the surgery had been successful. “Went in and took out what was not suppose[d] to be there,” he wrote on Instagram. “Knee is great now.” That may well be the case, but he isn’t expected to be back to full fitness for quite a while.

Tottenham will hope that he will be in contention for the start of next campaign, and if reports are to be believed, he will stay put this summer even if they are relegated.

Spurs sorely missing Kulusevski

Kulusevski has scored 25 goals and registered 30 assists in his 146 appearances in North London, and was influential last season before his knee woes. According to Sofascore, he netted seven times and notched four assists in an otherwise miserable domestic campaign.

An examination of his overall stint in North London shows an impressive consistency, too.

In his maiden year at Spurs, he scored five goals from just 10 shots on target across 20 appearances, and also chalked up eight assists. In 2022-23, he also boasted eight assists to his name. Then, in 23-24, he netted eight times in all competitions.

It is obvious, then, that Tottenham are a much worse team without him. That is a major problem for De Zerbi, and one which can only be corrected with time. Ironically, that is exactly what Spurs don’t have, with just six games remaining.

• He has played 72 games in central midfield and 52 games in attacking midfield
• Kulusevski has played 115 games as a right winger in his career
• Kulusevski can also play as a second striker and left winger

His versatility across several positions will undoubtedly make him just as influential under the Italian. Postecoglou was able to get the best out of him as a No 8, having delved back through his career after taking the job.

Kulusevski has never looked like a natural winger. He lacked the turn-and-burn pace of others in the position, but instead, was more wily and intelligent. He is surprisingly strong and aggressive, too, making him perfectly suited to operating centrally.

Clearly, Spurs will be desperate for him to return as soon as possible. But De Zerbi and supporters will have to wait before being able to watch him work his magic again.

The post View: Tottenham ace can become new De Zerbi talisman even after relegation appeared first on Tottenham Hotspur News.

Not only to keep the Lilywhites in the Premier League, but also to avoid having his own name alongside some of the worst records in the top flight since it began.

Spurs have had a horrid campaign, and they head into Saturday’s clash with Brighton winless in 2026, having suffered defeat away to Sunderland in De Zerbi’s first game in charge.

Sitting just two points behind Chelsea in sixth, the Seagulls have aspirations of European football ahead of the final six games of the season, meaning this encounter will be no mean feat.

However, if Tottenham fail to beat Brighton on Saturday evening, then De Zerbi will find himself just one game away from going down in the history books.

Tottenham edge closer to record-breaking winless run

For any side to have gone 14 games without a win in the Premier League is concerning enough, but it demonstrates just how wrong things are going for that team to be Tottenham.

They’re the only side yet to win three points this year, which, when taking into account we are now halfway through April, is quite remarkable, and not in a good way.

As of now, it is the second-longest winless run in their history, only beaten by the one they endured between 1934 and 1935, which lasted 16 games.

Defeat to Brighton, or even a draw, would see Spurs move one game closer to renewing that record, which would be a harsh mark to have on De Zerbi’s CV, given the time he has had in charge.

To make matters worse, Brighton have lost just one of their last five in the Premier League, with that being against Arsenal at the start of March.

Roberto De Zerbi out to avoid Igor Tudor repeat

Typically, recently appointed Spurs managers have fared well in their first home game since taking over.

Only one of their last 13 permanent managers have suffered defeat in that scenario, though that one manager was, in fact, Igor Tudor.

Tottenham fell to a 4-1 home defeat against Arsenal in the North London derby, which was one of six defeats in a row for the Lilywhites.

The post View: De Zerbi could be stained with 91-year Tottenham low as Brighton clash up next appeared first on Tottenham Hotspur News.

Craig Moore can’t believe that the Belgium international ended up staying at the Gers despite apparently not being wanted by Russell Martin.

It was the midfielder who turned up to training a few days before the summer transfer window closed and basically decided to stay at the Light Blues.

Martin was sacked by the Glaswegian outfit a few weeks later and the club were wise not to sell the 25-year-old at the Scottish manager’s behest.

Raskin is now thriving under Danny Rohl as the Govan side look to win the William Hill Premiership title this season.

Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises minimise Rangers damage

Andrew Cavenagh gave Martin time to implement his ideas at the Gers, but it became increasingly obvious that he wasn’t fit for the job.

The Scottish manager was sacked after one win in his seven league games in charge and his record may end up being inconsequential in the grand scheme of things if Rohl can lead the Govan side to the title.

Apart from replacing Martin, the Americans also got rid of Kevin Thelwell and Patrick Stewart as fans turned their ire to the management.

It looks like Cavenagh pulled the trigger on some decisions at the right moment to minimise the obvious damage that had been done at the Glaswegian outfit at the start of the season.

Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show on 15 April, Moore said, “I’ve also seen some comments about his conversations with Martin. Rangers are very lucky to have him still at the club because he was definitely wanted out and decided he was going to turn up two days before the window, that ‘No, I’ll be in training’. Incredible story that has come out in recent days.

“Basically, there was a conversation with Martin and he wasn’t part of the plans and he was feeling he was being pushed out the door.”

Danny Rohl has plan to survive without Nicolas Raskin

Raskin may leave Rangers for a hefty fee in the summer, but Rohl already has the personnel to fill his absence.

Tochi Chukwuani has made a place for himself in the starting lineup, often playing in a deeper midfield role, which has given the Belgium international the licence to roam.

Connor Barron fulfilled that role admirably before his injury and the former Sturm Graz star’s arrival in the winter transfer window.

Chukwuani has shown his ability to contribute for the Glaswegian outfit in the final third and his partnership with the Scotland international may become more prominent once the Govan side sell Raskin.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.

Alex Rae was being slightly mocked for picking the Gers’ “second choice” right-back in his Team of the Season, but he hit back, highlighting the English defender’s 14 goals and six assists in all competitions.

While Danny Rohl has preferred Dujon Sterling in his starting lineup when he has been fit, the 34-year-old captain’s influence at the Light Blues can’t be diminished.

With the Glaswegian outfit’s striker failing to score regularly, other players have had to chip in to keep their hopes of winning the William Hill Premiership alive.

Tavernier continues to have an impact at Ibrox and there’s no doubt has been a catalyst for the Govan side’s success in recent months.

James Tavernier’s Rangers teammate also in Alex Rae’s team

Rae included Emmanuel Fernandez in his Team of the Season, with the Nigeria international coming into his own after struggling at the start of the season.

The centre-back has formed an impressive partnership with Nasser Djiga in recent weeks and his aerial threat in both boxes makes him an influential player.

There’s no place for the likes of Nicolas Raskin and Mikey Moore in the team, but it has been one of those campaigns where several players have proved their worth.

Rae had Cammy Devlin, Benjamin Nygren and Elijah Just in the middle of the park, with Tawanda Maswanhise, Lawrence Shankland and Claudio Braga up top.

Speaking on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard on 15 April, Rae said, “I wish I were a second-choice right-back because I’m looking at the stats. I’ve gone pure stats here. Fourteen goals and six assists. So 20 goal involvements and the guy hasn’t played the majority of the games.”

Danny Rohl is a shoo-in for next year’s Team of the Season

Tuur Rommens has been brilliant for Rangers since signing from Westerlo in the winter transfer window.

There’s an argument that, had the left-back signed last summer, he would certainly have been in contention to be the best in his position in Scotland.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see him in everyone’s best eleven next year if he continues to put in similar levels of performance in the 2026-27 campaign.

Rohl has built a team that could go on to do what was once considered impossible and win the league title this season, which should further improve the stock of some of the players in Govan.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.

With five games to play this season, Rangers have a huge chance of being crowned Champions of Scotland for 2025-26.

Riding a four-game winning run, Rohl’s side continue to breathe hotly down the necks of Hearts, with their task being a simple one: just win your remaining five matches.

No Gers fan would argue that things haven’t improved under Rohl since he replaced Russell Martin back in October last year, and supporters were heard signing his name in the 6-3 win over Falkirk last time out.

However, he’s not the finished article yet as a coach either, and there remains one element of his Rangers team that could cost him and the Club dearly if not addressed in the title run-in.

Danny Rohl’s Rangers have conceded a lot of goals recently

Rohl has been urged to stick with a 4-4-2 after he switched to this formation at half-time in the aforementioned game against Falkirk.

However, this was no doubt a spontaneous decision, as he wouldn’t have been expecting to find his side 2-0 down after just 26 minutes.

Gers’ potent attack force were able to bail out a poor first-half performance in defence with five goals in the second half, but that’s not the first time this has happened in recent weeks.

Indeed, Rangers have conceded 12 times from their last seven league games, shipping three to Falkirk, two to Dundee United, one to Aberdeen and two to Celtic, Livingston and Hearts respectively.

Rohl’s side have conceded at least two goals in five of their last seven Premiership outings, and can perhaps count themselves very lucky that their attack has been firing during this time period.

This element of Rangers’ recent performances has maybe been lost slightly amidst the joy of all the goals being scored at the other end, but as we now enter the split, their defence is now facing five of the best attacking teams in the division.

Rohl to answer defensive questions if Rangers aren’t champions

So, it’s quite clear where Rangers’ strength lies at the moment, and that’s in attack.

And, conceding a collective six goals to Aberdeen, Dundee United and Falkirk over the last three games isn’t the ideal defensive form as you prepare to play five excellent attacking sides between now and the end of the season.

If Rangers are to fail in their quest to be crowned Champions of Scotland this season, then the brunt of the blame looks likely to fall on their defence, but Rohl would have to shoulder a lot of that too.

It’s not as if he’s got bad defensive options, quite the opposite in fact, but not being able to find a way to make his team less top-heavy would raise valid questions over his ability to set his team up at the back.

Rangers have played 14 Scottish Premiership games in the calendar year of 2026, and they’ve kept just five clean sheets: that’s not a particularly great return.

Rohl may have to rely on his forward line to fire his team to the title, but for the amount of quality options he’s got in defence, that shouldn’t really be the case.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.

That’s what former teammate Ryan Jack believes after seeing his former teammate hit ‘another level’ against Falkirk.

The Belgium international was the catalyst of the Gers’ comeback in 4 Stadium Way, getting three crucial points in the 6-3 victory.

Despite the 25-year-old’s impressive performances of late, Jack feels the former Standard Liege star can go up a level or two and compete at the top.

Danny Rohl trusts Raskin and the German manager’s belief in the midfielder has paid off as the Glaswegian outfit find themselves in a position to win the league title this season after being 13 points off the top at one point.

Nicolas Raskin numbers can be better at Rangers

Raskin has scored five goals and provided seven assists in the William Hill Premiership this season.

While the Belgian star’s shift to a more attacking role has brought out the best in him, the midfielder could have even better numbers in the league, having missed six big chances and created 11 big opportunities, according to Sofascore.

Raskin has recorded 0.4 shots on target per game, but his goal against Falkirk showed that he should pull the trigger more often, as he’s a better finisher than given credit for.

The midfielder has also averaged 1.4 key passes per game in the league, and if he had better finishers ahead of him, fans in G51 might see an even better version of him.

Speaking to the Daily Record on 16 April, Jack said, “Honestly, that second-half performance from Nico was on another level for me. That’s why I think he’s got another two or three gears still to go up where he could play at a really high level, especially if he’s still playing for Belgium.”

Andrew Cavenagh has perfect time to cash in on Nicolas Raskin

Rangers should expect a massive profit from Raskin’s sale in one of the upcoming transfer windows after his rise at club and international level.

The Belgium international will enter the final two years of his deal at the end of the season and will surely play a big role for the Red Devils at the 2026 World Cup.

If the midfielder thrives on the big stage in the summer, it may be the right time for the Glaswegian outfit to cash in, considering the possible hype around him and his contractual situation.

Andrew Cavenagh will have a major decision to make in the upcoming transfer window, one that could lead to a significant exit from Ibrox.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.

Manager’s grounded attitude has helped the free-scoring German giants set up a tantalising Champions League showdown and de facto final

Kansas City have revealed their reasonably-priced transport plans amid controversy of spiralling costs at the World Cup

Lionel Messi is now the owner of a club in Barcelona, the city where he made his name

The Premier League club suffered a 4-0 defeat on aggregate, with the French champions winning both legs 2-0.

It’s the second campaign in a row where Liverpool have been dumped out of the competition by PSG, having exited in the round of 16 last season. 

The Ligue 1 side’s victory has landed them an extra £13.1m in prize money for reaching the semi-finals, where they will face Bayern Munich for a place in the final.

However, Liverpool have still benefited financially from the Champions League due to the riches on offer in European football’s elite club competition. 

How much have Liverpool earned from Champions League?

In terms of how the numbers break down, each team will receive a guaranteed £16.1m for competing in the Champions League this season. 

Meanwhile, Swiss Ramble reported Liverpool would earn £37m from Uefa’s value pillar system, which is split into European and non-European segments based on their coefficient ranking and the market pool. 

Clubs were awarded £1.8m for each win in the league phase, meaning Arne Slot’s side banked £10.8m after securing victories in six of their eight fixtures.

They also received £9.5m for qualifying automatically for the round of 16 as well as £1.7m for finishing in the top eight.

The 36 clubs competing in the Champions League this season are handed an additional amount based on their individual ranking in the league phase.

Kairat Almaty earned £238,000 after finishing bottom, while a third-place finish landed Liverpool a further £8.1m.

Progressing to the quarter-finals added an extra £10.9m to the Reds’ prize money, ensuring they banked £94.1m before being eliminated by PSG.

How much did Liverpool earn from Champions League last season?

Liverpool earned around £82m in prize money from the Champions League last season before their round-of-16 exit.

That windfall – alongside their Premier League title success – helped them post a new club-record revenue in 2024-25.

The Merseyside giants’ turnover increased from £614m in 2023-24 to £703m, which was the highest total in the top flight last season. 

Liverpool are in a battle to qualify for the Champions League this time around following their disappointing domestic campaign.

Slot’s side currently sit fifth in the Premier League table, four points above sixth-place Chelsea heading into the final six games of the season. 

The Reds are now preparing to take on Everton in the first-ever Merseyside derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday (19 April).

The post Revealed: Liverpool hit by £13m blow as prize money details emerge appeared first on Football Insider.

The 25-year-old has endured a turbulent season so far, going long spells without finding the net while also enjoying periods of huge impact under Eddie Howe.

Newcastle’s own struggles this season have contributed to his lack of consistency, and there is now a feeling he will be keen to move on to pastures new.

Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Bayern Munich’s interest in Gordon comes as no surprise, but they will face competition from Liverpool.

The England international will have no shortage of suitors, and while it will take a significant fee, Newcastle could look to sell in what will be an important window.

How do Newcastle feel about selling Anthony Gordon?

Brown first told Football Insider in January that Newcastle are preparing to let Gordon leave in the near future and are prepared to entertain offers.

His lack of consistency has led to suggestions that they could upgrade on him with some clever recruitment, while they are reluctant to keep unhappy players.

There have been suggestions that the winger’s head has been turned by the level of interest in him, including long-term interest from boyhood club Liverpool.

“Talk about Anthony Gordon’s future isn’t going away,” Brown told Football Insider.

“He’s a player with a lot of talent and quality, but he’s had spells this season where he’s gone 15 games without a goal, then he comes back and has a good run, then he fades again.

“For a club like Newcastle, you’re relying on your best players to be fit and firing week in, week out, and if they’re not then you end up in the situation they are in.

“On that basis, if clubs come in with a big offer for him, I expect they’re ready to let him go.

“It doesn’t surprise me to hear there is interest in him from clubs like Bayern Munich and Liverpool as well, because he’s got the quality to be a top player.

“Liverpool are losing Mohamed Salah and they’ve always had an interest in Gordon, so they could make a move for him if he’s going to be available.

“Then, you have to question what he’s thinking, because it has always been hinted that he would like to move to Liverpool, so he could be keen to move on too.

“It might be time for a parting of the ways for both him and Newcastle if these big offers are going to come in, because it’s been a frustrating season for them.”

Could Liverpool return with a new move for Gordon?

Liverpool’s interest in Gordon has been long-standing, but it seemed that interest may have faded after what was a big summer for the Reds in 2025.

The record signing of Alexander Isak from Newcastle was the biggest deal done, and seemingly had put an end to any suggestions that Gordon could follow.

However, Brown told Football Insider on 3 April that Liverpool remain interested in signing Gordon and could make a move when the summer window opens.

Mohamed Salah’s imminent departure has forced them to consider their wide options, and the England international is already well-known to the recruitment team.

Arne Slot’s side have been long-term admirers of the winger, and may finally be tempted to step up their interest should his availability become clear.

The post Ex-PL scout: Newcastle ready to accept big-money offer for star in summer appeared first on Football Insider.

Storch is leading the Arise Capital consortium that has been named as Wednesday’s preferred bidder in the last few weeks.

They have seemingly been edging ever closer to completing a takeover and becoming the new owners, but the EFL’s latest action has plunged the move into uncertainty.

Arise have been informed that the Owls will start next season on minus 15 points in League One as their purchase price of £20million falls well short of the 25p in the pound owed to unsecured creditors.

Storch is clearly not happy about that prospect, and Ashley could well be back in contention to seal a deal to take over at Hillsborough soon.

David Storch could pull out of Wednesday deal with Mike Ashley a potential replacement

Storch took to X on Wednesday to release a statement detailing his grievances with the EFL and their plan to impose another hefty points deduction on the club next season.

The American businessman dismissed the proposals as “deeply frustrating” and insisted that the Arise consortium will do all they can to reverse it.

He stated that their “absolute intention” remains to complete a takeover deal, but the statement certainly had an air of uncertainty about it, and Arise could well walk away if the EFL do not budge.

The potential for that to happen surely leaves Ashley primed and ready to return to the table for the Owls, after previously being named as a front-runner to be their preferred bidder last year.

He would not be a popular choice among Wednesday supporters, but would likely still proceed with a deal even if they head into the third tier on minus 15.

Not only that, but the fact that he was outbid by Storch and Arise would surely not matter, as the EFL are planning to deduct those points regardless, with even the highest offer not being enough to fulfil their financial requirements for exiting administration.

What do Wednesday fans think of Storch’s statement?

Speaking to Football Insider last month, former Everton CEO Keith Wyness slammed Wednesday’s administrators for how slowly the takeover process has taken.

Storch and Arise want to complete a deal for the club by 1 May, with many Owls supporters still keen to see them take over.

In response to his statement on X, one fan said: “My heart stopped for a second, I thought you were pulling out! I can assure you that you have our backing, you’re saving our club, of course we can have patience.”

Another added: “Stick with us! Give us sensibly priced tickets and we’ll turn up in MASSIVE numbers and give those players EVERYTHING! After the past 8 years of neglect, we don’t mind a longer term plan for progression!”

Those supporters could end up desperately disappointed if Storch and Arise do walk away from the deal and Ashley returns to contention soon, which seems more likely than ever if the EFL continue to hold their current stance.

The post Sheffield Wednesday: Mike Ashley will be waiting in the wings as David Storch uncertainty looms appeared first on Football Insider.

Villa are eyeing new attacking signings in the upcoming summer window amid uncertainty over the futures of their existing stars.

Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott each look set to depart at the end of their loan spells, while the respective futures of both Morgan Rogers and Leon Bailey seem unclear.

Nwaneri’s own future at Arsenal is also up in the air as he fails to make an impact during his loan spell with French giants Marseille.

The Gunners are reportedly considering selling him to raise funds this summer, and so Unai Emery should include Nwaneri in Villa’s transfer plans as he looks to keep building a squad capable of challenging on all fronts.

Villa should be interested in Ethan Nwaneri this summer

Nwaneri has failed to make an impact in France after leaving Arsenal in the January window, but the reason why that is the case has not been made fully clear.

The 19-year-old began life at Marseille with a bang, as he bagged a debut goal against Lens inside 13 minutes and was handed three successive starts by then-boss Roberto De Zerbi.

The Italian was sacked in February after a 5-0 loss to PSG and replaced by former Villa man Habib Beye, who has not seen eye-to-eye with Nwaneri since his arrival.

He has not started a league game under Beye, despite scoring against Lille and registering an assist against Lyon, and a new report from L’Equipe has claimed that his “persistent nonchalance” has not impressed the new boss.

Nwaneri is not expected to stay at Marseille beyond this season, and recent reports on these shores have claimed that Arsenal could look to sell him and teammate Myles Lewis-Skelly for pure profit in the summer window.

Villa should be all over a deal for the 19-year-old, even despite his struggles in France, as he has obvious quality that a top coach like Emery could coax out of him in the years to come.

They are in clear need of new attacking signings, with numerous players possibly on their way out, and while a transfer would not come cheap, he would add brilliant depth to the Villa squad as they prepare to return to Champions League action next season.

Arsenal’s interest in Rogers could impact potential Nwaneri move

It is no secret that several of Europe’s biggest clubs are interested in signing Villa star Rogers this summer, with Arsenal known to be keen admirers.

Sources have told Football Insider that Villa want £100million for Rogers, which is a figure that the Gunners could be put off by, given how much they spent last summer.

It would surely make sense for all parties, then, to include Nwaneri as a sweetener in a deal for Rogers, with Arsenal also parting with some cash.

He would be close to a direct replacement for the England man, as he can play on the left or as a number 10 and possesses great dribbling skills, balance and composure.

The post Aston Villa should offer Arsenal exit route to Ethan Nwaneri after Marseille nightmare appeared first on Football Insider.

The former Aston Villa chief executive, speaking to Football Insider, believes the match could be a big success financially for the club.

The Villans will meet Bayern Munich in Hong Kong, marking their first trip to the region for 15 years, whilst they are preparing to announce further pre-season friendlies in Asia soon.

Taking place at the Kai Tak Stadium, up to 50,000 fans will be able to watch the match, which will take place just two weeks before the start of the 2026-27 Premier League season.

The match could boost Aston Villa’s finances, as the club continue to look at ways to grow revenue to benefit themselves in the transfer market.

Aston Villa to generate ‘commercial bonuses’ from Bayern Munich match

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes there will be a full crowd for the friendly between Aston Villa and Bayern Munich.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks the club are guaranteed to be making £5m upwards from the game.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Apparently, there are a couple of other games in Asia as well. Certainly, Bayern Munich will attract a crowd.

“They’ll be making five million upwards. I know the facility they’re playing at in Hong Kong, the new Kai Tak Sports City. It’s been open just a year now. One of my good friends was the chief executive and opened up the facility. And it is rather special.

“It’s one of the best destinations in the world now and will attract full crowds, no problem at all. There could be some other potential commercial bonuses. It could go up to seven or eight million if everything goes right for them, depending on how it works around the actual tour itself.

“Having Harry Kane, Bayern Munich against Aston Villa, it’ll attract football fans to come, especially if Kane has a great World Cup, or Morgan Rogers. It could be a very appealing pre-season depending on how the World Cup goes and what the timing is of this pre-season tour.”

Champions League return to boost Aston Villa on and off the pitch

Aston Villa’s revenue will be boosted by a return to the Champions League this season, which will significantly help the club in the transfer market.

The club are on course to return to Europe’s top competition, either through the Premier League or by winning the Europa League.

Former Manchester City financial advisor Stefan Borson told Football Insider that it would be a “major achievement” if Aston Villa can qualify for the Champions League.

Unai Emery has been widely praised for the job he has done at Villa Park, due to the financial restrictions that the club have had to deal with to compete at the top of the Premier League table.

The post Ex-Tony Xia ally predicts multi-million windfall for Aston Villa after latest fixture news appeared first on Football Insider.

The Blues host the Anfield side at Hill Dickinson Stadium on 19 April in a clash that could define both side’s season.

The Reds are still pushing for a Champions League qualification place, while the Toffees are trying to qualify for European football themselves.

Victory for David Moyes‘ side could start the “beginning of an end” according to Daily Mirror reporter Andy Dunn.

That should give Everton extra motivation for the contest, as they could set a chain in motion that would leave their rivals in chaos.

What was said about Everton and Slot’s future?

Everton have a genuine chance of beating Liverpool, as the Reds have not been up to their usual high standards this season.

Slot has presided over 17 defeats, but even a heavy loss, similar to the 5-2 one that saw Marco Silva sacked by the Blues in 2019, would not see him dismissed, per Dunn’s report.

He said: “Even if Slot suffers the same sort of Merseyside derby defeat that saw Marco Silva’s Everton tenure immediately terminated – a 5-2 Anfield thrashing in December 2019 – it will not be the immediate end for Slot.

“But anything less than a full-blooded response to the recent disappointments will be the beginning of an end that will come very soon after.”

Could Everton finish above Liverpool?

Everton could end up finishing above the Reds for the first time since the 2012-13 season, if results go the right way in the final few matches.

The Blues are currently five points behind, but Slot’s side have a difficult last six matches, with games against fellow top-five contenders, Manchester United, Chelsea and Aston Villa.

Moyes’ side would likely need to be flawless to overturn the gap, and it may be a hard ask with the likes of title-chasing Manchester City and Tottenham, who may need to win to avoid relegation, still to come.

However, it is not beyond the realm of possibility at all, given the contrasting fortunes between the sides at the moment.

The atmosphere surrounding the 20-time champions is dismal and has the potential to turn toxic, while Toffees fans feel their club is on the start of an upwards journey.

If they get the right result in the derby, it could swing the balance in their favour and push them on to go and record a historic end to the campaign, and heap even more misery on the Dutch manager and his team.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

The post View: Everton have extra motivation for Liverpool clash after Arne Slot latest appeared first on Goodison News.

The Togo international picked up an injury and is expected to be sidelined until the end of the current campaign.

Record reports on 16 April that the Toffees were unsuccessful in their pursuit of the 23-year-old in the winter transfer window, but his fitness issue has led to a decline in interest in the player.

Teams will likely want to see how Boma does next season before reigniting their pursuit of the defender, and the Blues could once again be in the race to sign him.

David Moyes could lose Michael Keane at the end of the season, but an immediate approach for the Estoril centre-back wouldn’t be sensible after a long injury layoff.

David Moyes has obvious Michael Keane solution at Everton

Keane has been pivotal to the Toffees’ success this season, deputising well in the absence of Jarrad Branthwaite.

The 33-year-old has shown that he can still contribute a lot at Hill Dickinson Stadium, making a short-term contract extension a no-brainer.

If Boma ends up staying at Estoril and doesn’t renew his contract, the Togo defender will have one year left on his deal with the Portuguese outfit, potentially giving the Blues a chance to pull off a bargain deal.

The Merseyside outfit have decent options at centre-back with James Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Keane and Jake O’Brien, and there are clearly other areas they should focus their budget on.

Writing in Portugoal.net in August 2025, freelance scout Andre Lopes said, “He’s a cool-headed defender, sometimes even a little reserved in his communication, but his focus and concentration are evident throughout the match. Confident in his own abilities, he knows how to use his best attributes to control opponents.”

Dan Friedkin risks Hill Dickinson Stadium unrest with transfer repeat

Dan Friedkin was reluctant to sign players at Everton in the winter transfer window despite the need for reinforcements in a few departments.

Supporters in L3 will now be looking towards the summer to see how much money The Friedkin Group are willing to spend.

With qualification to Europe a real possibility at the Blues, they must build a competitive squad for the upcoming campaign, which will surely require the Americans to loosen their purse strings.

If TFG fail to invest a significant amount in the Merseyside outfit’s squad ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, fans will have a lot to say about it, especially inside Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

The post View: Everton to reignite interest in 'cool-headed 'defender after return from injury appeared first on Goodison News.

The threat of relegation isn’t going anywhere after falling to a 1-0 defeat away to Sunderland in Roberto De Zerbi’s opening game.

With West Ham and Leeds United both winning, the North London club are now sitting inside the bottom three with just six games to go.

That has unsurprisingly kick-started exit rumours for various stars who are unlikely to play Championship football if they fall into the second tier.

There could be a mass exodus from N17 this summer, with Sarr potentially set to leave Tottenham for a sizable fee.

Pape Sarr attracting interest from European elite

The Senegal international has been one of the better performers at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season, although that isn’t saying much.

He has been a regular under various managers and continued that as he came off the bench in the defeat against Sunderland in De Zerbi’s first outing.

Things obviously didn’t go well at the Stadium of Light, and now a drop out of the Premier League looks increasingly likely.

That has piqued the interest of various European giants in Sarr, with Real Madrid, PSG, and Bayern Munich all keeping tabs on his future, according to Caught Offside.

The online outfit has suggested that Spurs don’t want to sell the 23-year-old, but a departure could still be on the table in the summer.

A fee in the region of £50million may prove to be enough to break Spurs’ resolve and allow the midfielder to depart.

Tottenham could sanction an exit for Sarr regardless of division as they begin to accept the reality of their current situation.

When could Sarr leave Tottenham?

It doesn’t appear that the Senegalese ace is pushing for a summer exit, but his hand may be forced by the Lilywhites.

Relegation to the Championship would force a hard reset at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the sale of a £50m player would go some way towards making up for the financial blow.

That could prompt Sarr to join one of Real Madrid, PSG, and Bayern Munich when the window opens at the end of the season.

If Spurs can avoid relegation and remain in the Premier League, they may be able to keep hold of the midfielder for the long term.

There are plenty of decisions to make, but it will all hinge on what De Zerbi can do with this squad between now and the end of the campaign.

The post Tottenham: Relegation cracks already starting to show as £50m exit mooted for Pape Matar Sarr appeared first on Tottenham Hotspur News.

Given their current predicament, it’s bizarre that Spurs have handed no minutes to any of their younger players, especially given the mentality that has been on show domestically.

The injection of yotuh would almost certainly give everyone the boost they need ahead of the final six games of the season, though it seems as though it won’t be coming.

Among those certainly deserving of a chance under Roberto De Zerbi is Russell-Denny, who has had a fine campaign in the Premier League 2.

However, Tottenham’s unwillingness to use youth points to a bleak future for several of those in North London.

Reiss Russell-Denny loan exit would benefit all parties

With 10 goal involvements in 21 appearances this season, Russell-Denny has certainly showcased his worth at youth level.

However, he has yet to be rewarded for that form with a single appearance in the first team, and that seems unlikely to change this season.

At 19 years old, and soon to be 20, he needs to be getting access to senior minutes, which is looking unlikely to arrive in North London anytime soon.

Relegation to the Championship may open the door for that to change for him at Tottenham, but as of right now, a summer loan exit certainly seems more likely, and it would be of benefit to all involved.

Why haven’t Tottenham utilised Russell-Denny?

With 20 completed dribbles and 10 big chances created, Russell-Denny ranks among the top few players in the Premier League 2 this season.

His fearless mentality and willingness to drive forward have been key behind that success, with both things absent in the first team.

The decision to keep him in the Under-21s has been baffling, especially given the lack of attacking threat posed by the Lilywhites.

There’s a case to be made that their inexperience is the reason behind his continued snub, though in the current circumstances, that may actually be a good thing.

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Having been named on Rangers‘ bench for their trip to Falkirk, the striker had every reason to be disappointed. Little did he know, though, that he would help to inspire a second-half comeback that propelled the Gers to within just one point of the Premiership summit.

Before heading out, Rohl told Miovski to be ready, knowing his side would likely need him. Need him they did, having returned to the dressing room trailing at the break.

While results have largely been solid under the head coach, too many performances have lacked quality and fight. That was also the case at Falkirk. The home side had battered their opponents, scoring twice early on before Tochi Chukwuani halved the deficit.

Making himself the hero, Miovski scored twice to keep Rangers’ title ambitions on track, and also proved to Rohl that playing with two strikers looks to be the way to go.

Rangers should stick with 4-4-2

You wouldn’t have known that it was the Light Blues who were fighting to win the league, judging from the opening 45 minutes. They crawled out of the blocks and were truly dismal for large swathes. Falkirk blitzed them and should have scored more goals.

Fortunately for Rohl, his tactical tweaks during the interval paved the way for a quite stunning turnaround. Admittedly, it also helped that Rangers’ unpredictable Jekyll and Hyde tendencies went in their favour on this occasion.

With the wind machine cranked up to 11, Nico Raskin‘s cross was eventually buried by Chukwuani before half-time. Rohl then switched the shape to a 4-4-2, replacing Mikey Moore with Miovski. He had wanted to stop Falkirk’s long balls and give his side more of a threat.

The gamble paid off handsomely. Youssef Chermiti tapped home the equaliser two minutes after the restart, and suddenly, the visitors sensed blood in the water. Four of their six goals came in a breathless 16-minute flurry that completely turned the showdown on its head.

Tellingly, with Chermiti and Miovski in tandem, Rangers recorded an xG of 3.7, their second-highest of the season and just shy of the 3.89 xG created against Dundee United.

After the change, Nico Raskin suddenly found himself unleashed. A player possessed, he was at the heart of almost all of the Gers’ attacks in the second period, driving them forward relentlessly. He also had the Midas touch, scoring the goal that completed the comeback.

Other than Chermiti, Miovski has impacted games more often than anyone else this season. So why not play them together against Motherwell at Ibrox next time?

Bojan Miovski to benefit the most

Miovski in particular benefitted from his side’s newfound creativity at Falkirk. His darts in behind and impressive hold-up play helped to flip the script entirely and ensured he snatched his opportunity with both hands. Now, he is setting his sights on bigger targets.

“I work hard and wait for my chance,” he said. “So when my chance comes, I’m ready to take it. Every striker wants to score goals and win titles.

“So, of course I would like to help the team to win the title.”

However, the North Macedonia international also admitted it is up to Rohl to decide whether to play him as a lone striker or as part of a front two. He is, though, confident that either role would suit him, and proved as much at Falkirk Stadium, where he was near untouchable.

Rohl has seemingly been reluctant to fully trust him to get the job done, but Miovski’s uptick in form has arrived at the perfect time. Indeed, he has played a crucial role in the last three matches. Rangers scored 14 goals during that period, with the ace bagging three of them.

• Miovski has an xG of 5.92 in the Premiership this season.
• He has scored seven goals, with a conversion rate of 23 per cent
• He averages a goal every 176 minutes.

His statistics over the course of the campaign are certainly reasonable. He has played 1231 minutes in total in the Premiership, registering eight goal contributions. When broken down, that leaves the 26-year-old with a goal or assist every 158 matches – a reasonable return.

But of course, as much as individuals have managed to lift their levels, there are still resounding lessons to be learned from the scare at Falkirk. Tactics alone will not be enough to win the title. Players must also show the right mentality and commitment.

Last time out, they didn’t put up a fight for the opening 45 minutes. That simply cannot be allowed to happen again. There were no scraps over lost causes to change the tempo. It was all too passive, as if they were happy to let their Premiership ambitions drift away.

Rangers desperately need to show more daring and ambition if they are to leapfrog Hearts, and perhaps Rohl can set the example by persisting with using two strikers.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.

Signed by Rangers for a reported fee of £3.5million from Atalanta in the summer of 2023, Lammers was expected to do big things at Ibrox.

He’d come through at one of Dutch football’s best academy systems with PSV Eindhoven, and had represented the Netherlands at various youth levels too.

A 19-goal campaign for SC Heerenveen in 2018-19 really put him on the map across European football, but he never scored more than three goals in a single season after that before joining Rangers.

Unfortunately, that form was to repeat itself in Glasgow, and Rangers didn’t get value for money with their permanent transfer for Lammers.

How has Sam Lammers performed for FC Twente this season?

Lammers signed for FC Twente in the summer of 2024, with the Eredivisie outfit reported to have paid just £2.5m to secure his services.

He’d spent the first half of the 2023-24 campaign with Rangers, before being loaned out in January 2024 to Dutch side FC Utrecht, where he scored 11 goals in 20 games.

His two goals and two assists from 31 career Rangers outings ensured he went down as one of the Club’s most disappointing transfer flops in recent times, but FC Twente saw an opportunity with him.

And, they’ve been greatly rewarded for taking a chance on the now-28-year-old, as he’s been in superb form for them in Eredivisie this season.

Lammers has scored five goals and provided seven assists from 21 Eredivisie games, and is currently on a run of form that’s seen him produce seven goal contributions in his last five matches.

As per Sofascore, he’s created 10 big chances in the Dutch top flight this term, whilst also playing 1.4 key passes per game and has an expected goals (xG) of 8.84.

His goal return could be significantly higher too, as he’s missed 11 big chances and posted a goal conversion of 12 per cent, showing how easily he could be in double figures this season.

Rangers may have given up on Lammers too soon

Hindsight always wins, but Rangers’ decision to axe Lammers after just one season – half of which was spent out on loan – looks to have potentially been a mistake.

The striker has been in brilliant form since his return to the Eredivisie, and is set to continue playing a key role in Twente’s push to finish second in the Dutch first division this season.

Danny Rohl may have been able to get the best out of him at Rangers, and especially alongside a player like Youssef Chermiti.

But, we have also seen numerous examples of players coming to these shores from the Netherlands and not taking to it, so he could just be a player that works in Eredivisie but not really anywhere else too.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.

Keith Jackson has been impressed by the former Peterborough United defender’s growth since his initial struggles at Ibrox.

The Daily Record journalist believes the centre-back is catching the attention of top teams in Europe and has branded him as potentially the next big thing.

John McGlynn revealed scouts were present at Falkirk Stadium during the Gers’ 6-3 victory, possibly watching players from the Glaswegian outfit, and the Nigeria international may have been one of them.

Andrew Cavenagh will surely be delighted with Fernandez, who cost the Glaswegian outfit around £3million last summer and the Govan side will undoubtedly be confident about making a hefty profit on his sale in the future.

Rangers to face Emmanuel Fernandez summer transfer dilemma

Hotline Live host Daniel Caw expects the Gers to make a fortune off of Fernandez in one of the upcoming transfer windows.

The 24-year-old has gone from strength to strength since moving to Ibrox and the defender’s presence in both boxes arguably makes him an influential asset.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see top teams vying for the centre-back’s signature sooner rather than later, leaving the Light Blues with a decision to make over his future.

While the Glaswegian outfit would probably like to keep Fernandez for a few more years before eventually moving him on, an enticing offer may force their hand to sell.

Speaking on Hotline Live about their 2025-26 team of the season on 15 April, Jackson said, “Fernandez, self-explanatory. He didn’t start the season well, but he has become such a threat in both boxes. Defensively, a lot more secure than he was. And even when he came into the team, he was a bit problematic at the back. What he offered in the opposition box was almost impossible to defend against.”

Caw interjected, “I think he can make Rangers a fortune,” and Jackson continued, “John McGlynn let slip that the likes of Feyenoord and other European clubs, Leverkusen. People are watching. I think that’s what their eyes are on. I think people are looking at him as potentially the next big thing.”

Danny Rohl to have Emmanuel Fernandez and Nasser Djiga demand at Ibrox

Danny Rohl has brought Rangers into a position to win the William Hill Premiership title this season, something that was considered impossible just a few months back.

The German manager seems to have finally found his preferred starting lineup at Ibrox, with Fernandez and Nasser Djiga a part of it.

John Souttar appears to be struggling for confidence, which has led to the Nigerian defender and the Wolves loanee forming an impressive partnership at the back.

Rohl certainly wouldn’t want to lose Fernandez in the summer and the former Sheffield Wednesday boss may demand Djiga’s return to the Glaswegian outfit to lay the foundation for their success.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.

The game’s governing body has moved to play down complaints from local politicans justifying a huge price hike in public transport for fans to host city stadiums

Declan Rice has insisted Arsenal must be better at Manchester City on Sunday if they are to press their title claims but said: ‘The boys are ready’

Officials from the Palestine Football Association have been denied entry to Canada ahead of a pre-World Cup meeting of Fifa’s member associations to be held in Vancouver this month

The demands on professional footballers have grown more intense over the years, meaning proper preparation and rest have grown more important than ever.

For a team like Liverpool, who go far in every competition every season, players can sometimes be asked to play up to three games in seven days, increasing the risk of fatigue and injury.

Wearable devices like WHOOP have entered the market as a gadget to directly combat those problems by tracking health and optimising recovery.

Liverpool’s injury issues have been severe this season, but it not by luck that 34-year-old Van Dijk is yet to miss a single game through issues pertaining to fitness.

How WHOOP assists Virgil van Dijk’s staggering recovery

Football Insider exclusively revealed in January that Liverpool will not sell Van Dijk this summer, with the defender set to see out his contract.

The Netherlands international will go to the World Cup and captain his nation in North America, in yet another example of his ridiculous levels of fitness.

Van Dijk likely will have made 400 appearances for Liverpool by the time he leaves, should he remain a key part of the defence next season.

Considering he spent a season out after tearing his ACL, that would mean the 34-year-old will have made an average of 50 appearances per full campaign during his time at Liverpool.

Few players can claim to have that level of fitness, and WHOOP undoubtedly has a part to play.

A wearable device, WHOOP – which recently announced a long-term partnership with PSG – is worn 24/7 and constantly measures and monitors your sleep, stress, strain, recovery and even more.

With that data, you will receive recommendations to optimise your recovery and preparation, ultimately paving the way for stronger performances and better health.

Van Dijk, as well as other Liverpool stars such as Gakpo, have credited WHOOP with the optimisation of their schedules.

And what’s more incredible is that WHOOP products are available for non-footballers to use, too, to help manage their own lives.

How WHOOP aided Van Dijk’s ACL return

When Van Dijk was ruled out for nine months with an ACL injury in 2020, fans feared the worst.

Would the centre-back come back as the same player? Yes, and emphatically, making 51 appearances as the Reds did the Cup double and came within a whisker of doing the quadruple.

Van Dijk says WHOOP played a part in his recovery, as he sought to come back as soon as possible.

“You’re playing a game every 3 days so you’re doing everything possible in order to be ready,” he explained in 2022, when asked about how he uses the technology.

“If you’re getting that extra information, in this case from WHOOP, it’s just so beneficial. I’m addicted to looking at it in the morning and making sure that I’m doing the right stuff.”

Van Dijk looks set to leave Liverpool in 2027, but he is committed to ending his career on his terms and he is showing no sign of slowing down.

It still feels as if the defender has a final chapter in his career yet, and WHOOP is standing with him, hand-in-hand, as he takes those steps.

The post Liverpool: Inside how Premier League-winning stars like Virgil van Dijk recover between games appeared first on Football Insider.

That is the view of former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking to Football Insider, who believes a deal is “done” for Mainoo to stay at Old Trafford.

Interim manager Michael Carrick said he was “positive” that Mainoo would sign a new contract, with his current deal expiring in 2027.

The 20-year-old is seen as one of the club’s brightest prospects, but the midfielder was on the verge of leaving after being frozen out under former boss Ruben Amorim.

Man United now have no plans to sell Mainoo, who has been revitalised since Carrick took charge, and has fought his way back into the England squad.

Kobbie Mainoo backed to have ‘long future’ with Man United

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes the Man United fans will be most pleased about Mainoo staying at the club.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks it would have been a “mistake” allowing Mainoo to leave.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “It’s basically done already, and the fans will be pleased to see it.

“They’re begging for him to be back on the pitch as well. It’s as good as done. They’re not going to make a mistake like what almost happened with Mainoo going earlier in the season under Amorim.

“They need to tie him up. He is a player that could have a future, a long future with Man United and the fans would like to see it, and it’s basically done, so I expect an announcement very soon.”

Michael Carrick’s future at Man United uncertain

It was believed that Carrick would be the favourite to land the position of Man United manager on a permanent basis, but that might not now be the case.

Former chief scout at Old Trafford Mick Brown told Football Insider that Man United have doubts over Carrick following their 2-1 defeat at home to Leeds.

That followed a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth, as performance levels have dipped in the last two games under Carrick, meaning the club are continuing to explore other options.

Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann is believed to be a contender, whilst a move could also be made for former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino.

The post Club adviser: Man United set to announce big-name player's new contract imminently - 'It's basically done' appeared first on Football Insider.

The 26-year-old has struggled to make an impact since his mid-season move from Atletico Madrid and could be let go at the earliest opportunity.

He is also believed to be on a significant wage in North London, making him a prime candidate to move on as they seek to revamp their squad come the end of the season.

Former Spurs scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that things haven’t worked out for Gallagher at Tottenham, but clubs are willing to take a gamble on him.

As a result, they could make their money back from his sale this summer, in what will be a busy transfer window for Tottenham either in the Premier League or Championship.

Tottenham make new plan to sell Conor Gallagher

Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider that Tottenham are preparing for a busy summer as they aim to back Roberto De Zerbi in the market.

That busy window will involve both incoming and outgoing deals as they aim to shift some deadwood, and Gallagher is expected to be among those on the way out.

His short spell at Spurs has proved to be a difficult one, and while he has time to impress the new manager, he could be allowed to leave for the right price.

“It hasn’t worked out at all well for Gallagher at Tottenham,” Brown told Football Insider.

“Sometimes that happens, he’s come into a difficult situation there and for one reason or another he’s struggled to make any real difference.

“Maybe questions should have been asked at Tottenham about why he wasn’t a regular at Atletico Madrid, and why they were willing to let him go.

“But Conor Gallagher is a player who will always have interest from clubs in the Premier League because of the attributes he has at his disposal.

“Tottenham could look to cash in on him at the end of the season, admit things haven’t worked out, and then look to get their money back.

“Even if they stay in the Premier League, his performances this season haven’t suggested he has a big role to play in the future, so it might be best to move on.

“As I say, there will be clubs willing to take him away, so it’s definitely a real possibility.”

Which clubs are interested in signing Gallagher?

Despite his struggles since joining Tottenham in January, the England international still has a number of admirers in the Premier League and could stay in the division.

Aston Villa came close to signing him in the January transfer window, going as far as agreeing a deal with Atletico Madrid, before Spurs poached him from under their noses.

Brown told Football Insider in January that Unai Emery is a big fan of Gallagher and was keen to add him to his squad to bolster his midfield options.

Despite missing out just three months ago, there is a feeling Villa could return for the midfielder this summer should they be made aware of his availability.

Crystal Palace have also been long-term admirers of Gallagher since his loan spell in South London, while Man United were among the clubs considering a move in January.

The post Insider: Tottenham plan to accept new Conor Gallagher offer from PL rivals appeared first on Football Insider.

Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, believes that Moyes has earned the opportunity to continue as manager of the Toffees.

Moyes’ current deal expires at the end of next season, with talks over his contract situation set to take place in the summer.

The 62-year-old is enjoying his second spell on Merseyside, with Everton still in the fight for European qualification with just six games remaining this season.

There are no plans to replace Moyes at Everton, as the club continue to settle into Hill Dickinson Stadium, and grow revenue behind the scenes.

David Moyes’ new Everton contract outlined

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – knows from experience how Moyes will handle contract negotiations.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness believes the two parties can come to an agreement quickly.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I’ve had the pleasure of negotiating with David on a few contract situations.

“I know how things might go from his side, but I’ve got no idea how the Friedkins will look at it. What should happen is that David should get a 20 per cent increase. There should be another two-year contract with an option.

“There should be another new bonus structure. All those things are achievable. He’s deserved them. All parties could live with that and it could be happy. I would expect there to be a pretty quick resolution.

“That’s the sort of way I would be approaching it if I were there right now. And that’s pretty much how they’re going to be thinking about it as well.”

Everton could face challenging transfer window

Everton and Moyes could face a financial hurdle if they were to qualify for the Europa Conference League this season.

Former Manchester City financial advisor Stefan Borson told Football Insider that Everton would face the same spending restrictions as Champions League clubs.

Moyes could be restricted as to how much he could spend in the summer transfer window, with plans already in place to strengthen the squad.

A new striker and another full-back are just two of the priorities for Moyes in the summer, whilst he faces a challenge keeping hold of his star players.

The post Keith Wyness: I've negotiated with David Moyes before and this is the contract Everton should offer him appeared first on Football Insider.

Ortega joined Forest from Man City in January after failing to make an appearance in the first half of the campaign.

He made his Reds debut under Sean Dyche against Leeds on 6 February and has since gone on to make seven appearances, with a particularly impressive showing against Porto last week.

Despite his decent showings, Forest are not set to extend his contract beyond the summer after he only signed a short-term deal following his winter move.

Ortega looks set to leave as Forest plan to sign a new keeper in the next window, but further progression in the Europa League would surely push Pereira into keeping him on past this season.

Stefan Ortega is playing for his future in the Europa League

Sources exclusively told Football Insider last week that Forest are not planning to keep Ortega and Pereira wants Matz Sels to be his number one if they survive in the Premier League.

He then went on to shine in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Porto, making seven saves and preventing 1.98 expected goals as they came away with a 1-1 draw.

He has barely put a foot wrong in the competition so far, with other key showings against Fenerbahce and Midtjylland to help the Reds to this late stage.

Sels has continued to be preferred in league games by Pereira, but has largely flattered to deceive this season and has certainly not shown the form that won him the Premier League Golden Glove last term.

Ortega looks set for another start as Forest aim to progress in the Europa League against Porto, and he could well earn a new contract at the City Ground if his strong form continues and they go all the way in the competition.

What is Sels’ contract situation like amid Club Brugge interest?

Sels signed a new contract last summer to keep him tied to Forest until 2027 after he played every league game last season in their fantastic campaign under Nuno Espirito Santo.

His performances have certainly dropped off this season compared to the last, however, and his own future at the club seems uncertain after recent reports.

Belgian outlet Het Laatste Nieuws reported earlier this month that Club Brugge are interested in snapping Sels up this summer after a lacklustre campaign at the City Ground.

He could well decide to move on if they are relegated from the top flight, with Ortega then in an even better position to earn a new contract, provided he is content to play in the second tier.

The post Nottingham Forest: Europa League success could see Vitor Pereira make Stefan Ortega U-turn appeared first on Football Insider.

The Toffees are preparing to welcome their local rivals to Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time since moving out of Goodison over the summer.

A first Merseyside derby since September comes at arguably the best time for the Blues, but the worst time for Arne Slot and Co.

The Anfield club have just been dumped out of the Champions League and are in a poor run of form in the Premier League.

Everton can be confident of a win against Liverpool, with McCoist standing firm on what has made the L3 outfit so good recently.

Ally McCoist won’t apologise for David Moyes love

There has been so much positive to say about the Toffees since David Moyes came in to replace Sean Dyche in the dugout.

The Scot’s second spell as manager has been as good as the last and has made the former Burnley man look amateurish.

He has helped build a squad that is well on its way to European qualification, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, James Garner and Iliman Ndiaye leading the charge.

That has lead to rave reviews for the ex-Manchester United boss, who could lead his side into the Europa League or Conference League next season.

McCoist has now spoken out for his love of Moyes on talkSPORT and refused to back down on his opinion.

He said: “I keep going on about it, and I make no apology for it; the job that Moyes has done at Everton is absolutely incredible.”

Moyes will be hopeful of an Everton win over Liverpool and has received backing from his fellow countryman ahead of the derby.

McCoist backs Everton to win Merseyside derby vs Liverpool

Although qualifying for continental football would be a superb achievement, winning against the Reds would be massive.

The Toffees last won a derby clash in 2024 and have secured victory in just three of the last 34 in all competitions.

Even with that poor record behind them, McCoist has suggested that he wouldn’t be surprised if Moyes secured victory over Slot on Sunday.

He continued on talkSPORT, “The biggest thing is, it would not be a shock if Everton beat Liverpool at the weekend.

“Would it be a shock if they finished above them in the league? You think what’s happened with Liverpool’s injuries, Ekitike’s one is a disaster.”

Three points over the Anfield club would be massive for Everton and could be the inspiration to send them on their way to a top-seven finish.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

The post Ally McCoist won't apologise about 'incredible' Everton verdict ahead of Merseyside derby appeared first on Goodison News.

According to Walfoot on 15 April, the Jupiler Pro League outfit will have a tough time holding onto the defender as the race to sign him heats up.

The news outlet reports that while the Toffees have been linked with the 24-year-old Morocco international, a move to St James’ Park seems like a real possibility.

Fans in L3 will hope the Magpies’ pursuit of El Ouahdi will give the Blues fresh encouragement to pursue their target and get a deal over the line in the summer.

The Friedkin Group must back David Moyes financially at the end of the season and build a competitive squad to progress further in the coming months.

Everton have edge over Newcastle United in Zakaria El Ouahdi chase

Moyes has turned things around at the Toffees since taking over from Sean Dyche and is now competing for a European spot in the Premier League.

The Scottish manager has his team one point behind sixth-place Chelsea in the table with six games to go in the league.

Newcastle have had a mixed campaign so far and find themselves in 14th and it doesn’t look like they’ll be playing in Europe next season.

If the Merseyside outfit manage to get into the Europa League, they’ll certainly be a better prospect for El Ouahdi over the Magpies, where Eddie Howe’s future seems uncertain.

David Moyes transfer priority obvious at Hill Dickinson Stadium

Jake O’Brien has been the Everton right-back for several months now, but the Republic of Ireland international has been forced to play out of position.

Seamus Coleman’s contract at the Toffees expires at the end of the season and the 37-year-old’s persistent fitness issues make him an unreliable option.

Moyes doesn’t seem to trust Nathan Patterson, with Adam Aznou in a similar boat, leaving Vitalii Mykolenko to shoulder the burden at left-back.

The Merseyside outfit should make reinforcing the defence their top priority in the summer and El Ouahdi appears to be the perfect player to bring flair to their backline.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

The post View: Everton surely get encouragement to sign defender after report in last 48 hours appeared first on Goodison News.

The England international certainly doesn’t have the best reputation at Hill Dickinson Stadium after his move to Newcastle United.

Despite making a £45million move in January 2023, he still faces hostility whenever he returns to face the Toffees on Merseyside.

That culminated in a massively celebrated penalty miss at Goodison Park as his struggles against his old side continued.

Gordon could now be on the move to Liverpool, and as controversial as that would be, it would bring in a welcome financial boost for Everton.

Liverpool could sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United

It has been an up-and-down season for the winger, but it has still been his best in front of goal at this stage of his career.

With 22 goal involvements across all competitions, he has been one of the best players in a difficult campaign for Eddie Howe.

That is always going to prompt transfer interest, especially with so many sides being in desperate need of new wide options right now.

The 25-year-old has emerged as a target for several Premier League sides, with Anfield a potential destination.

The Telegraph reported on Thursday that Liverpool could turn their attention to Gordon after Hugo Ekitike suffered a suspected Achilles injury.

That could rule the France international out for around nine months and leave the Reds in need of a versatile attacker, like the Newcastle man.

As a boyhood Liverpool fan, the forward would reportedly jump at the chance to join the Anfield outfit if the opportunity came.

A move to the red side of Merseyside for Gordon could land Everton a payday in the perfect boost for David Moyes and Co.

Everton hold sell-on clause for Gordon

It is unclear how much Newcastle could demand for their star man when the summer window opens.

There have been reports suggesting the Magpies may set a price tag in the region of £87m, which is a wild figure.

A sale at that figure would land Howe’s side a profit of around £42m, but part of that would be on its way to Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Sky Sports confirmed previously that Everton inserted a sell-on clause into the deal that saw Gordon move to St James’ Park in 2023.

Even if that comes in at 10 or 15 per cent, the Toffees could seal a windfall of between £4.2m and £6.3m, which would be a welcome boost.

Liverpool could land a new signing while also helping their nearest rivals in the process.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

The post View: Liverpool look increasingly likely to hand Everton multi-million cash boost this summer appeared first on Goodison News.

Ekitike was forced off on a stretcher and looked distraught, seemingly already aware that he had ruptured his Achilles tendon. He will miss the rest of the season and won’t return for at least nine months, condemning him to watch France’s World Cup campaign from a distance.

But his setback is another man’s opportunity. Step forward, Tottenham Hotspur‘s Randal Kolo Muani, who finally, after so many abject performances, has a reason to stand up to be counted this season. If he does, he may well save Spurs from relegation.

However, his spot in Didier Deschamps’ squad is far from a foregone conclusion. Jean-Philippe Mateta and Christopher Nkunku will also be in the running for a place, and it certainly doesn’t help that he has been a shadow of himself in North London.

That has effectively already confirmed that Kolo Muani will be leaving Tottenham at the end of the season, the club having absolutely no plans to turn his loan deal permanent.

Time for Randal Kolo Muani to step up at Spurs

There are perhaps a handful of Tottenham players who can escape criticism over the club’s woes this campaign. Kolo Muani is not among them. Indeed, he has been one of the biggest disappointments, having failed to make any sort of impression since arriving from PSG.

While there have been flashes of his old self, with his hat-trick against his parent club in the Champions League his only real highlight, he has done little to win hearts, let alone minds. Damningly, supporters have often accused him of looking uninterested during matches.

It quite frankly beggars belief that at a time when Spurs need total commitment, Kolo Muani has one foot out of the door. Fortunately for Roberto De Zerbi, though, the 27-year-old now has no choice but to buck up his ideas, if not for himself or Tottenham but for his country.

He has occasionally stood out. But like too many of his team-mates, he is also guilty of ghosting through games. He played the full 90 minutes in De Zerbi’s first match in charge, the 1-0 defeat by Sunderland, but did nothing to stake his claim for regular starts.

So, how did Tottenham get into this mess in the first place?

Well, in the club’s defence, the deal made perfect sense in the summer. It was telling that he was linked with Manchester United and Chelsea before deciding to move to N17.

Kolo Muani spent the second half of last campaign on loan at Juventus, scoring 10 goals in 22 games. That tally saw him become the first player since Roberto Baggio back in 1990 to net in his first three Serie A matches for the club – an impressive achievement.

He won two Ligue 1 titles with PSG, playing alongside the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Goncalo Ramos and Bradley Barcola at the Parc des Princes.

He is strong, two-footed and good at sniffing out danger across the width of the frontline. It is just a crying shame that he hasn’t proven it at Tottenham.

Kolo Muani has made 35 appearances in all competitions, scoring five goals and registering four assists, but he will ultimately be judged on his Premier League form.

According to FotMob, he has an xG of just 1.82 in the top-flight, having mustered up only three shots on target all season. It goes without saying that this is nowhere near enough to make any sort of impact, especially not for a club teetering over the trap door.

His pass success is just shy of 70 per cent, but he has created 18 chances, suggesting his team-mates have been just as wasteful. But it is his all-round flaws that will worry De Zerbi the most. His meagre dribble success of 34 per cent will be of particular concern.

Despite being renowned for his physicality, he has fallen woefully short on this front in North London, winning 32.9 per cent of his total duels.

Should Tottenham look to keep Kolo Muani?

There are, of course, caveats to Kolo Muani’s dire Tottenham form. They haven’t quite got runners around him as Eintracht Frankfurt did. It is also obvious that every forward has been a victim of the sluggish movement and sterile creativity across the whole team.

But Kolo Muani hasn’t offered as much as Dominic Solanke and Richarlison. The former is more involved in build-up and chance creation, while the latter can conjure up magic from very little. In contrast, the loanee has done next to nothing.

It comes as no surprise that he has no intention of staying at Spurs, and Tottenham will have almost certainly decided not to sign him permanently several months ago.

As soon as his loan deal runs out, he will be on the first flight back to Paris. He will just hope that when he does, he will also be clutching his World Cup plane ticket in his hand.

Whether he will deserve it is a different matter.

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The on-loan Brentford man has lost his place in Danny Rohl‘s starting eleven since the winter window, and it’s now clear to see why the German head coach has his favourites.

Rommens has been missing since Gers’ 4-1 hammering of Aberdeen back in March due to a muscle issue, and his absence has seen the Bears ship a concerning amount of goals.

Despite wins over Dundee United and Falkirk without the Belgian star, Rohl’s side has still conceded five goals between the two games, and that’s a worry considering the circumstances.

Meghoma has looked out of sorts, and Rommens’ return cannot come any sooner now.

These stats show Jayden Meghoma can’t match Tuur Rommens

Meghoma was dubbed “rotten” for his performance in the Europa League loss to Brann this season by Steven Thompson, who perfectly summed up the left-back’s lack of quality going forward.

Thompson said: “It was poor from Meghoma. He’d got the break of the ball on the left-hand side, he’s got 20 yards to drive into, he does so, but then it’s all about the delivery. And, the delivery was rotten.”

As seen in the table above, the 19-year-old had two poor FotMob ratings in the games against Falkirk and Dundee United recently, and a lack of match sharpness isn’t an excuse to use in this instance.

He has shown a lack of ability to dribble and has had a low 33 per cent success rate in duels, most recently against Dundee United, while conceding five goals in total.

The Englishman should be working hard at Auchenhowie in preparation for when his chances do come, as now, Rohl may not have any patience left with the young man.