Marco Silva may technically still be in the hot seat at Goodison Park but time appears to be wearing thin.
The pressure has ramped up on the Portuguese coach after a 2-0 defeat against Norwich last weekend and various replacements have already been sounded out.
David Moyes and Eddie Howe are two potential successors, according to Sky Sports. However, Football Insider have claimed that Mikel Arteta is a top contender to take over at Everton. The Mirror have further supplemented those suggestions by saying he is indeed a target.
The 37-year-old has no prior experience of managing a side but he has been learning from one of the best in Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Since hanging up his boots, the Spaniard has been the former Barcelona manager’s assistant at the Etihad.
Speculation surrounding a potential swoop for Arteta has been greeted positively by supporters who are keen to see him return to Merseyside.
One fan went as far as saying he’s someone that every Evertonian would want while another made reference to his work under Guardiola.
Other individuals hoped that Arteta would arrive with Tim Cahill as his assistant.
Here’s the best of the reaction from Twitter.
In other news, here’s how Everton fans responded to another managerial target being lined up…
As Manchester City gear up for a game that could prove to make all the difference in the Premier League title race, they could be forced to fight for three points without one of their most influential players.
Man City injury news
Ask any previous title winner and they’ll say that injury luck certainly plays its part where the silverware ends up come the end of the campaign. It is a lesson centred around squad depth that so many sides have learned in the past and one Manchester City took on board the last time they missed out on Premier League glory in the 2019/20 season.
Man City tracking £80m+ Bernardo Silva successor from famous youth academy
Man City have their eye on a player who Bernado Silva loves.
ByBrett Worthington Sep 19, 2024
Unlike that campaign four years ago, Manchester City have so far not skipped a beat in pursuit of a fifth Premier League title win in a row to extend an unprecedented record and further cement themselves among the very best – possibly the best – sides that English football has ever seen.
Standing in their way for a third consecutive season, meanwhile, is likely to be Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side, who may have just been handed the ultimate boost on the injury front ahead of this Sunday’s vital clash at The Etihad.
As reported by the Evening Standard, Kevin de Bruyne is now facing a race to be fit for Manchester City’s game against Arsenal this weekend in what could be a major blow for the Cityzens looking to go five points clear after just five games.
Kevin De Bruyne for Manchester City.
The Belgian limped off at half-time against Atalanta and whilst Pep Guardiola remained coy on the severity of the injury, he did admit that the club’s medical staff deemed it serious enough to force the change at the break. Of course, Manchester City have coped without De Bruyne in the past, but in their biggest game of the season so far, they could be left ruing his latest injury blow.
Man City would give Arsenal hope without "unique" De Bruyne
Whilst defeating Manchester City at The Etihad is an almost impossible task, De Bruyne’s potential absence at least gives Arsenal some hope to build on come Sunday’s clash. But Guardiola will be far from fazed without the £400,000-a-week star. After all, his side battled to win a historic fourth title in a row without De Bruyne in the first-half of the campaign, so they’re well equipped to do so again this weekend.
That said, Guardiola was quick to praise De Bruyne on his return to City’s side last season, telling reporters via the Evening Standard: “Kevin helps to win games and there are few (like him) in the world. We can play good football-wise but Kevin, (Erling) Haaland, Phil (Foden), Julian (Alvarez) – these guys win games.
“That’s why it’s so important to have him back. Kevin is exceptional, he is unique. He was a long time out with surgery. His first minutes, the quality of the assist for the Jeremy (Doku) goal – it’s really good to have him back.”
Facing a nervous wait over the midfielder’s injury, Manchester City could be forced to rely on stars such as Phil Foden and the returned Ilkay Gundogan to step up as they have done so many times in the past.
Regis Le Bris will be anticipating a response from his Sunderland troops today in what could be a fiery midday Championship contest against near neighbours Middlesbrough.
Michael Carrick’s men, much like the Black Cats, will harbour promotion hopes of their own, but have started this season slower than the hosts with only two league wins picked up from five.
Regis Le Bris for Lorient.
Whereas, Le Bris’ oufit have four victories next to their name so far and will be confident about challenging near the top all season long for a spot up to the Premier League, despite unexpectedly coming up short against Plymouth Argyle last time out in a 3-2 defeat.
Daniel Ballard might well found he’s out of the Sunderland lineup for today’s relatively local affair at the Stadium of Light, owing to the fact he did hobble off injured at Home Park at the end of the 90 minutes after a dire showing.
Ballard's performance vs Plymouth
While the suggestion is that Ballard will be fit to feature, it might well be time for Le Bris to change up his centre-back options anyway, as the former Arsenal youth product struggled in Devon.
Ballard would unfortunately start Sunderland’s downfall on their travels by accidentally scoring an own goal to give Wayne Rooney’s Pilgrims a lifeline back into the game at 1-1, before two further goals for the home side allowed Plymouth to make an unbelievable 3-2 win a reality.
The 24-year-old’s nightmarish afternoon didn’t end at the embarrassing own goal, however, with Ballard also giving away the penalty that allowed Ryan Hardie to level proceedings for his side by clumsily clattering into the striker, before Joe Edwards then bagged a last-gasp winner to pile on the misery.
He did win nine duels in the contest away from just being an unlucky presence but the damage had already been done, with Sunderland Echo journalist Phil Smith handing out a low 5/10 rating to Ballard in his post-match musings, stating that the 6 foot 2 defender will definitely feel ‘frustrated’ with his display.
Dom Ballard
Le Bris might gift Chris Mepham his debut in Ballard’s place, with the Black Cats snapping up the Welsh defender on loan late into the transfer window, whilst Eliezer Mayenda will also fear for his starting spot after a forgettable offering at Home Park from the young striker.
Mayenda's performance vs Plymouth
Mayenda did have two goals and two assists in the league next to his name going into this clash, but never really looked like scoring or creating an opening for a teammate versus Plymouth.
From his lacklustre 79 minutes on the pitch, the promising 19-year-old would only muster up a poor 18 touches of the ball, with the Plymouth defenders very rarely feeling threatened by the teenager when he powered forward.
Stat
Mayenda
Minutes played
90
Goals scored
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
Big chances missed
1
Touches
18
Accurate passes
4/6 (67%)
Total duels won
4/11
Glancing at the table above, it was a quiet day at the office from the Sunderland number 12, to say the least, with Mayenda only managing four accurate passes when played into the contest.
In truth, the still-raw attacker was isolated for large patches of the game and did shine on occasion with one big chance missed, but Le Bris could well feel a tweak up top is necessary to get the better of Carrick’s Boro this lunchtime.
Mayenda would end up receiving the same 5/10 rating as Ballard by Smith, who labelled his time on the pitch as ‘relatively quiet.’
Wilson Isidor could be gifted his first start for his new club in the 19-year-old’s place, therefore, having been substituted on at Home Park.
Or, Nazariy Rusyn will be lucky and emerge out from the periphery under Le Bris to lead the line, having scored against Boro last campaign at the Riverside Stadium.
Whatever does happen later today, the alarm bells won’t be sounding just yet, as Sunderland strive to get back to winning ways after getting their first hiccup under their new French boss out of the way.
Sunderland thought they had their own Alan Shearer, now he's without a club
Sunderland were left underwhelmed by what this dud actually offered.
Representatives of a “world-class” player approached Liverpool over a potential move to Anfield, according to a new update from journalist Graeme Bailey.
Liverpool fail to strengthen midfield
The Reds had a quiet summer in the transfer window with Giorgi Mamardashvili signing from Valencia, but remaining with the La Liga side until at least the end of this season. Meanwhile, Federico Chiesa arrived from Juventus, adding further depth in attacking wide areas.
There have been many who felt that Liverpool were crying out for another midfielder, however, with a move for Real Sociedad ace Martin Zubimendi eventually falling through. It became clear that the Spaniard was a genuine target, but he decided to stay put at his current club.
Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi
A move for 17-year-old Sunderland starlet Chris Rigg has been mooted in recent days, but he would be one for the future and wouldn’t be able to join the Reds until at least the January transfer window.
There is still a chance for Liverpool to bring in free agents, however, in terms of players who don’t have a club currently, and an intriguing update has emerged regarding one individual.
Liverpool were approached over signing "world-class" ace
According to Bailey on X, Liverpool were one of the clubs who Adrien Rabiot’s representatives approached to speak about a move for the Frenchman around the same time that he agreed a deal with Marseille over the weekend, with Arsenal and Tottenham also mentioned in the update:
There would have arguably been clear plus sides to Liverpool signing Rabiot on a free transfer, not least because of the vast experience he now has in his locker. The 29-year-old has played for some of Europe’s biggest clubs in Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, and he has even been described as “world-class” by David Trezeguet, who lauded him during his Juve days:
“We are talking about a problem for Juventus because in Italy he may have been targeted for criticism, but in France it’s completely different. He is world-class, an extraordinary player. Now he will evaluate his options and will go back to being the important player he always was.”
Liverpool’s midfield does arguably feel one man short currently, especially with Harvey Elliott out for the foreseeable future and Curtis Jones missing at the start of the season, and Rabiot could have helped fill that void.
That being said, he does turn 30 next year and may have demanded big wages because of the free nature of the move, and there have even been question marks about his attitude in the past, which may not have appealed to Arne Slot.
Liverpool also looking to sign 24 y/o Sunderland star alongside Chris Rigg
This would be a major setback for Regis Le Bris.
ByHenry Jackson Sep 16, 2024
The positives may have outweighed the negatives when it comes to the £30m-rated Rabiot, but ultimately, it is understandable why the likes of Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes seemingly weren’t interested in snapping him up for Liverpool.
Glasgow Rangers forward Scott Wright is being targeted by Steven Gerrard after the former Gers boss was appointed manager of Al Ettifaq, according to reports.
When did Scott Wright join Rangers?
The Light Blues’ right-sided winger first arrived at Ibrox from Aberdeen back in February 2021 and he’s since gone on to make a total of 84 appearances to date, but last season, he fell significantly out of favour under both Giovanni Van Bronckhorst and Michael Beale.
In the Scottish Premiership, the 25-year-old was handed just five starts so he clearly isn’t displaying enough quality on the training ground to force his way into the manager’s first-team plans, therefore making his future beyond the ongoing window extremely uncertain.
Since leaving Glasgow, Gerrard has been out of work following his departure from Aston Villa after admitting that he turned down a job offer from an unnamed club in the Middle East, but having recently been set on as the new boss of Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq, he’s eyeing a reunion with some of his former stars.
Reliable journalist Graeme Bailey has already revealed that the Scouser is targeting a swoop for captain James Tavernier, though it appears he’s not the only one that he wants to try and prise away from the outfit north of the border in the weeks ahead.
Is Wright leaving Rangers?
According to Football Insider, Al Ettifaq have already "made a concrete move" for Wright ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Gerrard is "keen" to re-sign his ex-dynamo, who is reportedly "seeking more regular game time" after falling down the pecking order.
The Rangers attacker is represented by the same company as Jota from Old Firm rivals Celtic who recently secured his move to Al Ittihad, and it's stated that they are also "working on finding a solution" for the player in question who could be following in his footsteps.
Glasgow Rangers forward Scott Wright.
Should Beale keep or sell Wright?
Rangers and Beale will know that they didn’t give Wright enough regular opportunities to show what he was capable of last season, but equally, he failed to prove them wrong when he was handed the rare opportunity to showcase his talents, so the hierarchy should cash in and sanction the winger’s sale this summer.
The Champions League participant, who pockets £5.6k-per-week, during the previous term ranked as the manager’s 33rd best-performing offensive player out of 34 squad members, averaging just 0.5 shots per game, ranking 28th overall, via WhoScored, which is nowhere near good enough for an attack-minded player.
The Scotsman also managed to record just one league assist throughout the whole of the previous campaign, with this lack of goal threat or prolific form seeing him slammed as a player who “needs to do more” by BBC pundit Alan Hutton.
Should Rangers lose Tavernier to Gerrard and Al Ettifaq, it would most certainly be a huge blow for the Teddy Bears to be without their skipper, but the same can't be said for Wright, so the board should do everything within their powers to try and keep hold of the former and green-light the exit of the latter.
Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani’s proposed takeover of Manchester United is still up in the air, with the Glazers stalling due to family drama, according to reports.
What’s the latest Man United takeover news?
Jassim has made five separate bids to take 100% control at Old Trafford from the Glazers, with the most recent offer coming earlier this month. It has been relatively quiet in recent weeks in regards to a takeover, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe another who is keen and waiting to see if his bid has been successful.
Reports on Wednesday did claim that Jassim was growing increasingly confident he has won the bidding war, but a new report has thrown doubt into a deal, with the Glazers at odds.
According to Global Finance, Man United was about to get sold to Jassim, however, drama among the Glazers is stalling the sale. An M&A source close to talks at Old Trafford described the process as being a “shambles”, also saying:
“It’s getting the kids to agree. Not all five (Avram Glazer, Kevin Glazer, Bryan Glazer, Joel Glazer and Edward Glazer) want to do the deal.”
Manchester United co owners JoelGlazerandAvramGlazer
Is a takeover impacting Man United’s transfer plans?
As we know, the ongoing takeover saga has coincided with a slow start to the transfer window, with no major incomings or outgoings at Old Trafford and frustrations growing amongst supporters.
There were previous concerns at Old Trafford that the takeover process could derail Erik ten Hag’s summer plans, but Sky Sports have said the money is available to the Red Devils regardless of the outcome, which is at least some good news.
That is a boost for Ten Hag and United, and it looks as if the club are working on potential deals. Moises Caicedo appears to be the latest midfielder on the wishlist, with an approach expected to be made to Brighton over the coming days. As we know, a £55m bid for Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount is also still on the table.
However, should Jassim eventually get a takeover finalised, he could look to make an immediate statement signing to win over supporters. Recent reports claimed the Qatar group were planning a sensational move to sign Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe, who will soon be entering the final 12 months of his PSG deal.
A lot needs to happen before supporters can think of Mbappe playing at Old Trafford under the ownership of Jassim, though, with the first being the Glazers coming to a final agreement over whether to sell or stay.
Tottenham Hotspur talks to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba will take place in these next few days, according to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Who will join Spurs this summer?
Spurs are set to bolster their squad this summer as chairman Daniel Levy, buoyed by the incoming new manager Ange Postecoglou, looks to this transfer window for upgrades.
A major overhaul is possible too with Hugo Lloris, Ivan Perisic, Davinson Sanchez, Ryan Sessegnon, Eric Dier and Ben Davies’ futures all hanging in the balance. Meanwwhile, Spurs could also attempt to sell Giovani Lo Celso, Sergio Reguilon, Tanguy Ndombele and Harry Winks (The Telegraph).
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is another player who could make way and free up space for Postecoglou signings before the start of 2023/2024.
In terms of who they could be, Spurs are reliably believed to be closing in on Lloris’ successor, with Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario set to undergo a medical this weekend ahead of his proposed move.
Tottenham are also chasing a central defender, with Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo among the targets. However, Tapsoba appears to be taking centre stage, as some reports suggest he is likely to join if an official approach is made.
If that is indeed the case, reliable reporter Romano may have good news for Spurs supporters, as it is now expected that the north Londoners will imminently open formal talks.
The Burkina Faso international is apparently top of their transfer list, and in the next few days, negotiations over his signing will commence.
What’s been said about Edmond Tapsoba?
Commentator Mark Lovell is among Tapsoba’s biggest fans, calling him “top quality” all the way back in 2020, and it’s safe to say the defender has maintained that form as a consistent starter for Leverkusen right now.
Meanwhile, at international level, Tapsoba has been described as “fundamental” in past seasons by journalist Bruno Alemany.
Tottenham Hotspur announced their first signing of the Ange Postecoglou era last week, as they made Dejan Kulusevski's loan move a permanent one.
Although the second season of his stint in north London had not impressed as much as his first, scoring just twice, he remained an important cog of this side, and a fine option to have within the squad.
However, the Australian will be far from content to allow that to be his sole purchase of the summer, given the vast scale of the revolution that is required in north London.
He will likely look to other teams around him, akin to Manchester United and Arsenal, and hope to replicate how they have improved to steadily climb the Premier League table. This means that his transfer dealings must be shrewd and focused on a brighter future, likely relinquishing any chance of instant success to get to that level.
Investment in a younger type of player is a must, rather than those just entering their prime.
Whilst a war wages on with Newcastle United to sign James Maddison from Leicester City, another star resides within the King Power Stadium which they also seem to be working on tempting. That man is Harvey Barnes.
In acquiring this wide man, Postecoglou could copy Erik ten Hag even more than he could have imagined, by securing his very own version of Marcus Rashford to terrorise full-backs down the wing.
Would Harvey Barnes be able to emulate Marcus Rashford?
Whilst both Barnes and the England international are right-footed left-wingers, their direct play style and decisive pace and power further draw comparisons. Pundit Alan Hutton even suggested that the former was a true "livewire", to emphasise these claims.
FBref seeks to outline these similarities too, as the 25-year-old is included in the former's similar players model.
It is not just their play style that is shared though, as both boast a penchant for goalscoring from the flank.
marcus-rashford-manchester-united
It is likely just the comparative quality of their respective squads that led to the gulf in actual goals, as Barnes' tally of 13 is not a far cry from the 17 league goals Rashford notched, whilst one finished third and the other got relegated.
The 24-year-old shone in a lacklustre Leicester side that fell to the drop, just like Maddison, and it seems like Postecoglou has developed an interest in these downtrodden stars who have already overcome hardship in their short careers.
The £35m-rated speedster has seen both the highs and lows of English football, having been lauded in the past by Jurgen Klopp whilst his side was in form: "Barnes is probably one of the biggest talents, I’m not sure if he is respected or appreciated as much as he should be, he is an unbelievable player to be honest, a proper Leicester product."
Opta's analyst tool serves to showcase the foremost assets of such a star, with a clear emphasis on his outstanding figures for dribbles completed, shots taken and all-around goalscoring. He is a constant threat, never afraid to shoot or take on his man. Defenders will never feel comfortable around this sparkling gem, just as they never do around a certain Rashford.
BARNES
With the Manchester club having finished third in their most recent term, it seems the platform is there for future success of which Rashford will be an imperative cog.
Postecoglou will hope that he too can make steady progress with each year he is in charge, using Barnes as his dynamic left-sided star to emulate an already-successful formula.
Leeds United could be set to make a move to fill their managerial vacancy, with a key name having emerged…
What's the latest on Carlos Corberan to Leeds United?
That's according to Phil Hay, who, writing for The Athletic, offered an update on the 49ers' search for their new head coach.
Whilst Brendan Rodgers has since been ruled out of the running, with the Celtic job seemingly a far more preferable role, Carlos Corberan remains an option despite the Spaniard having signed a new contract at West Bromwich Albion in February.
Final interviews are planned with the man who has occupied a spot in the Elland Road dugout before, and the new owners will hope to have come to a conclusion as soon as possible.
Would Carlos Corberan fix Leeds United?
The one big issue that Jesse Marsch faced, alongside Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce who followed him, was at the back.
No matter how free-flowing their attack may have been, Marcelo Bielsa had seemingly irreparably shifted the mindset of the club in that defending was a second thought. Whilst this worked wonders during that first term back in the Premier League as they finished ninth, it quickly grew stagnant as injuries seeped in and a lack of top-flight quality became ever apparent.
The Argentine's dismissal became a foregone conclusion, and his American successor underwent similar issues without the attacking finesse or legendary status his predecessor commanded in west Yorkshire.
Across 37 games in charge, he would lose 16 and ship 60 goals. In the most recent campaign, of which he was sacked midway through, Leeds conceded a mammoth 78 times, the most in the entire division.
leeds-carlos-corberan-marcelo-bielsa
Meanwhile in the second tier, having taken over from a struggling Steve Bruce, Corberan caught the eye by propelling the Baggies from a relegation battle into the playoff picture, having shored up their defence and made them a true threat on the counter.
Having only overseen 33 games, the 40-year-old has conceded just 37 goals and has subsequently picked up a points-per-match average of 1.70 with his pleasing 4-2-3-1 system. To think that he has already proven himself in the Championship too, his appointment makes more and more sense.
This is without mentioning his work at Huddersfield Town, where against all the odds he nearly led the Terriers back to the top-flight, felled at the final playoff hurdle by Nottingham Forest.
It is no surprise to see Corberan so widely lauded, with former Leeds player Romario Vieira even claiming: "He's a great guy and so talented. When he told us how he wanted us to play, we thought he was crazy. Then it clicked and we were like, 'This guy's a genius.'"
With Marsch failing to make the defence solid enough for safety, perhaps appointing this experienced young coach could fix this key issue to allow them not just to escape the second division, but thrive in the Premier League too.
Everton are in the market for prolific attacking players this summer after struggling to score consistently in the Premier League this season and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of a potential transfer target.
What's the latest on Everton's interest in Moussa Dembele?
According to The Mirror [June 7th 2023 13:14 pm], the Toffees are one of the clubs interested in signing the out-of-contract Lyon striker Moussa Dembele this summer.
The report comes as Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano revealed that Dembele has parted ways with the Ligue One club:
"Official: Moussa Dembélé leaves OL as free agent, confirmed. He’s set for new chapter this summer as many clubs are keen on signing him."
Would Moussa Dembele be a good signing for Everton?
There is no doubt that bolstering the forward line will be the highest priority at Goodison Park this summer and breaking the cycle of signing a centre-forward who can't offer important goal contributions throughout the campaign will be massively important for Sean Dyche.
Nobody in the entire Premier League scored fewer goals (34) than the Toffees this season, with Neal Maupay, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ellis Simms evidently failing to consistently perform when needed most, which ultimately led to a final-day relegation stand-off where they were spared relegation to the Championship by two points.
As a result, the signing of Dembele would be a great opportunity to add some experience to the forward line without running into further financial troubles during their efforts to improve the squad and would be a much better option than reported transfer target Wout Weghorst, who scored just twice in 31 games in all competitions while on loan at Manchester United.
Indeed, the 6-foot machine hasn't had his best season with three goals and one assist, but the 26-year-old has had limited game time over his 28 appearances in all competitions, averaging just 37 minutes per game.
moussa-dembele-everton-premier-league-transfers
Dembele has had a fantastic career so far playing at several clubs in Europe beyond his five-year spell in Ligue 1 – scoring 70 goals and registering 19 assists over 172 appearances – with stints at Fulham and Celtic where he earned high praise from former boss Brendan Rodgers following a clash with Sparta Prague in the Europa League:
"Moussa was everything with his power and pace. His opponent at centre-back was strong but Moussa is so powerful with ability, touch and work rate."
Not only is the Frenchman younger than the 30-year-old, Weghorst, but the £52k-per-week man is also far more impressive at using his stature to knock opponents off the ball and win the ball high to win possession in dangerous areas of the pitch – ranking in the top 24% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for aerial duels won, whilst the Man United loanee ranks in just the bottom 36% for that same metric.
With that being said, if Dembele can get back to his goal-scoring ways with consistent first-team football at Goodison Park it would be a major coup for Everton and could be the key component in competing more comfortably in the Premier League next season.