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Everton will host Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park tomorrow night and Sean Dyche will be hoping his team can pick up where they left off following the international break to further improve their chances of Premier League survival.

The Toffees are currently two points clear of the relegation zone going into their home clash with the north London outfit on Monday evening and will need to extend their unbeaten run to four games if they want to retain their gap with the bottom three.

As a result, the Everton boss has a huge challenge on his hands to snatch all three points from their top four chasing opponents and must take advantage of the fact they will be on home turf in front of their supporters.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin still unavailable for selection it puts Dyche in a position to find the best fitting forward line and following the monumental, hard-fought 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge it could be a perfect opportunity to repeat his tactical masterclass deployed in the dying minutes once again.

Will Ellis Simms start vs Tottenham Hotspur?

It was the young academy graduate who scored the point-winning goal in the 89th minute against Chelsea, just ten minutes after replacing Idrissa Gana Gueye.

Dyche resorted to a 4-3-3 in an attempt to get back into the game with Demarai Gray moving from centre-forward to left-wing to accommodate the substitution and Dwight McNeil progressing further forward on the right for the final moments of the game and to say it paid off is an understatement.

Now, the former Burnley boss could give Ellis Simms the much-deserved starting striker role on Monday night, allowing the threatening presence in west London to prove they can do it again against Spurs.

Before being recalled by the Merseysiders in January, the 6 foot 2 titan – hailed "class" by writer Peter Guy – had scored seven goals, registered two assists and created five big chances at Sunderland on loan, so he clearly has the capability of being a huge threat in front of goal when given a run of form.

Dyche spoke out on the young, £3.3k-per-week striker following his short performance in the capital last month:

"You see he hasn’t quite got the full feel of the Premier League and the physicality — and that is going to be a big part of his progress.

"I thought the Chelsea game was a good sign of that, of the difference in his physicality. He is quick, he is strong and he used it."

With that being said, unleashing Simms against Spurs could be the right decision for Everton as the player will be desperate to continue to prove his worth to the manager by contributing well once again tomorrow night.

Graham Potter was sacked by Chelsea on Sunday and Todd Boehly isn’t hanging around when it comes to finding an ideal successor for the Englishman.

What’s the latest Chelsea manager news?

Fabrizio Romano tweeted shortly after Potter's departure was announced that Nagelsmann is the “favourite candidate” to replace the former Brighton boss at the Stamford Bridge helm.

The journalist went on to explain that Nagelsmann was “mentioned yesterday during internal discussions” suggesting that he is the man Boehly wants at the club.

This comes just days after the German claimed that taking over at Tottenham Hotspur could harm his career according to Football Insider. As such, this may give the Blues a better chance of convincing him to join.

Will Julian Nagelsmann join Chelsea?

It would take a momentous offer to persuade the 35-year-old to move to the Premier League, especially after his recent surprising sacking by Bayern Munich, but it could very well happen, with Chelsea having the right infrastructure and squad to challenge for trophies.

He started his managerial career at 1899 Hoffenheim at the tender age of 28, having coached various youth teams following his decision to retire aged just 20, and it looks as though it turned out to be an inspired move.

The young tactician led Hoffenheim to top-four finishes in his first two seasons and qualification for the Champions League before joining RB Leipzig in 2019.

He continued to break records, becoming the youngest manager to win a Champions League knockout tie at just 32 years old with that seeing him dubbed a “mini-Mourinho” by journalist Martin Laurence.

The great Portuguese, of course, won the same competition as a young mastermind and if Nagelsmann can replicate his feats at Chelsea should he be appointed, it will prove to be a stroke of genius by Boehly.

Despite winning three trophies at Bayern, the Bavarian giants are in a rare title race this term and it appears to have cost the 35-year-old his job.

That said, across 243 Bundesliga games, he has averaged 1.86 points per match and his experience at managing a European superpower under immense pressure shouldn’t faze him.

On the other hand, the job was an entirely unfamiliar feeling for Potter and perhaps was a step too far for the Englishman.

Chelsea need a manager who won't shy away from the challenge of winning major honours and with BBC Sport writer Raj Chohan describing the former Bayern boss as having an “evil genius concept in his head” he could be the Mourinho-like figure to revive Chelsea.

Indeed, if Boehly wants to get the club back to the Champions League while challenging for domestic honours again, maybe an ‘evil genius’ is exactly what he needs.

Tottenham officials have been sent to run the rule over Ajax attacker Mohammed Kudus as the club, and Fabio Paratici by extension, eye a move.

The Lowdown: Spurs make transfer plans…

Spurs and managing director Paratici, who oversees the club’s transfer activity, have reportedly been making plans behind-the-scenes with many targets linked.

Centre-backs are thought to be high on the priority list for the north London club with the likes of Palace star Marc Guehi mentioned as players attracting interest.

Antonio Conte’s side have been linked with moves for Franck Kessie among others to strengthen the midfield, and according to 90min, they have an attack-minded ace in their sights.

The Latest: Tottenham eye Kudus…

As per the outlet, Tottenham are among the host of clubs taking an interest in Kudus, who is also being tracked by Premier League quartet Man United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea.

It’s added that Spurs have sent officials in the form of their scouting team to run the rule over Ghana’s international ace with the race for his signature heating up.

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The Verdict: Major player…

The 22-year-old ranks among Ajax’s highest-rated players and has been in red hot form this season – already managing double figures in terms of Eredivisie goal contributions in the Eredivisie.

Kudus also shone at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, scoring two goals in three group stage games whilst boasting far superior attacking stats than all of Ghana’s squad (WhoScored).

Still young, the false nine creator for Ajax would come to Spurs as a player with real longevity.

Called a ‘world class’ talent by former Dutch Footballer Jan van Halst, he would be an exciting signing.

It was recently revealed that Liverpool centre-forward Roberto Firmino will be leaving the club upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the season.

The Brazil international will depart on a free transfer, after eight years at Anfield, and is set to leave after many seasons of exceptional service at the top end of the pitch.

Since joining in 2015, the attacker has plundered 108 goals and 79 assists in 354 matches in all competitions for the Reds – including 79 goals and 55 assists in 249 Premier League outings.

The 31-year-old, who has hit double figures for goals in four league campaigns, has been a regular contributor in the final third and has been rolling back the years with a stunning eight goals and four assists in 11 top-flight starts so far this season.

Who could replace Roberto Firmino at Liverpool?

Whilst the likes of Cody Gakpo, who has scored four goals in seven Premier League starts, and Darwin Nunez, who has eight in 15, have come in this season to potentially take over as regular starters in the front three, Liverpool may need to replace Firmino as a squad player in the summer.

The Brazilian has come on as a substitute in seven league matches this season and Jurgen Klopp could find the heir to the dynamo’s position in the side by unearthing U21 marksman Layton Stewart.

In the Premier League 2 this season, the youngster has produced an eye-catching eight goals and one assists in ten appearances – also scoring once in three EFL Trophy outings.

The 20-year-old, whose development was stunted by missing 48 matches with a knee injury between 2021 and 2022, made the jump to the U21s after enjoying an incredibly prolific spell with the U18s – scoring 26 goals and providing five assists in 22 league games from 2019/20 to 2020/21, which shows that the talent has the quality – like Firmino – to both score and assist goals for his side.

Academy coach Barry Lewtas recently hailed the former England U18 international as a “real threat” and the striker’s sensational statistics at U18 and U21 level back that up.

Stewart started the EFL Cup win over Derby County earlier this season and this suggests that Klopp already has faith in the youngster as the German coach was willing to name him in a first-team XI alongside the likes of Joe Gomez, Nat Phillips, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberain.

The Liverpool boss must now offer the prolific youngster, who has scored an impressive 42 goals and assisted seven in 55 youth appearances for the club, an opportunity to stake a claim for a place in the senior squad after Firmino’s departure this summer.

Pre-season could be a huge chance for the talented marksman to show his worth and prove that he can translate his stunning form at youth level over to the first team. If Stewart can do that then Klopp may already have his dream heir to the Brazilian attacker, without having to dip into the transfer market.

Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres this summer, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: Spurs eyeing centre-back

It has recently been reported that Tottenham are eyeing a left-sided defender as their transfer priority this summer, with Antonio Conte yet to decide whether he will look to make Barcelona loanee Clement Lenglet’s stay permanent.

Evan Ndicka is also being targeted by Spurs, with the defender available to sign on a free transfer this summer, while it has also emerged that the club are keen to tie Eric Dier down to a new deal.

The Latest: Torres targeted

According to a report from Spanish sources (via Sports Mole), the Lilywhites are keen to bring in Torres this summer, with Villarreal willing to let him leave, setting an asking price of €50m (£44m),

Spurs could face plenty of competition for the centre-back’s signature, however, with Spanish giants Real Madrid also said to be interested, as well as north London rivals Arsenal.

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The Verdict: Get it done?

The 26-year-old is very composed on the ball, ranking in the top 4% for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90 compared to other defenders over the past year, also ranking in the top 8% for progressive passes.

Dubbed ‘fantastic’ and ‘fabulous’ by BT pundit Owen Hargreaves has also been one of Villarreal’s top performers in La Liga this season, with the 6 foot 3 colossus averaging a 7.06 match rating from Sofascore, the third-highest figure of any player in the squad.

It is evident that Spurs will need a new defender this summer, with Lenglet flattering to deceive since arriving at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, ranked as one of the club’s worst-performing Premier League players, alongside Japhet Tanganga.

As such, Torres would be a welcome addition for Tottenham, in a position that Conte will definitely need to strengthen in the summer transfer window.

Aston Villa and Leeds United are both plotting moves to sign Celtic teenager Aidan Borland, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Academy departures

The Hoops have lost a number of starlets in recent years before getting the chance to reap the rewards of their talent in the first team.

Youngsters have moved to the likes of European giants Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Manchester City, with Eseosa Sule the latest teenager to seal a Parkhead exit.

The forward’s move to Championship side West Brom appears to have officially gone through this week, and it looks as if another Celtic gem could move south later this year.

The Latest: Borland update

FI reporter Pete O’Rourke shared news he’s heard on Borland in the last 24 hours. He stated that Villa and Leeds have made checks on the midfielder and are both plotting moves for his services.

The 15-year-old has already broken into Celtic’s U18 side after catching the eye of youth coaches at Lennoxtown, but could now follow Sule out the door in what appears to be a brutal few days for the Hoops academy.

The Verdict: Ange might not be happy

Borland appears to be a potential star in the making, so if Celtic were to lose another talented teenager, boss Ange Postecoglou may not be too happy.

Postecoglou admitted earlier this season that he wants a ‘conveyer belt of talent going between the B Team directly up to the first team’, describing it as ‘hugely important’.

Should Borland continue to impress in Glasgow, he could soon be on course to break into the club’s B team and therefore on Postecoglou’s radar, so hopefully, he’ll remain in Scotland for the foreseeable future.

Danny Higginbotham believes Marcus Rashford cut a frustrated figure during Manchester United’s disappointing draw last night.

The Lowdown: Ten Hag will be frustrated

Despite coming back from 2-0 down against a bitter rival, Erik ten Hag will likely be furious with his side, who put themselves into a difficult position against a relegation-threatened opponent.

When Man United found themselves 2-0 down against Leeds United, it was clear that something had to change – and that’s what happened when Wout Weghorst was hooked off after 59 minutes.

This then allowed the in-form Rashford to be moved more centrally as Jadon Sancho took up a spot out on the wing, and that appears to have been a smart move given how frustrated Rashford appeared to look, according to Higginbotham.

The Latest: Rashford has to be the main man

It’s bizarre given Rashford’s form of late that Ten Hag would force him into a different position to the one he’s been thriving in, and it didn’t pay off until he got moved, as Higginbotham stated on The 2 Robbies podcast.

He said: “He played three different positions in the game. The first half, Garnacho obviously was playing left wing, so that meant Rashford went to the right wing.

“I think he cuts a frustrated figure in that position. He’s been at his best on the left, driving inside, and when he doesn’t play on the left, I think it affects other players. I think it affects Luke Shaw, who wants to get into that space that would naturally be left by Rashford tucking inside, but because Garnacho was there, Luke Shaw didn’t have any space to get into.”

The Verdict: Man United must keep Rashford fit and firing

Rashford hasn’t just been one of Man United’s most in-form players, but one of the Premier League’s best players. Since the turn of the year, last night’s goal means he’s now scored five times in 2023, which is more than Liverpool and Chelsea have managed as a team, and led to analyst Statman Dave labelling him a ‘monster’.

Especially when the player who took his natural and favoured spot on the left was an 18-year-old in Garnacho – who’s got just one senior goal to his name – it’s perhaps unlikely Ten Hag will set up like this anytime soon.

Given the sheer number of important games Man United have coming up including two matches against Barcelona and a Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United, Ten Hag must ensure Rashford doesn’t get the hump by being moved out of position and keep him fit during this run of games.

While much of the talk surrounding Manchester United has been centred on the club’s search for a new centre-forward, manager Erik ten Hag may also be considering who he could move on from his squad in the coming weeks.

Rumours had been circulating on Sunday that club captain Harry Maguire could be on his way to Premier League rivals Aston Villa after being spotted near the Midlands outfit’s training ground, throwing into doubt his future at Old Trafford.

Although speculation regarding a switch to Villa Park was swiftly quashed, there is still a feeling that the 29-year-old is destined to depart sooner rather than later, following previous reports that claimed Ten Hag is looking to move the £190k-per-week defender on at the end of the season.

With the former Leicester City man having impressed for his country at the World Cup, however – earning praise for his “quality” from club legend Patrice Evra – there may still be a way back for the £80m addition at United, with an exit not seemingly a guarantee this summer.

One man who should well be shown the door either in January or come the end of the current campaign is Donny van de Beek, with the floundering Dutchman having been tipped for a departure in recent months.

The 25-year-old has no doubt endured his fair share of misfortune, after sustaining a cruel injury blow during the win over Bournemouth in midweek, although rarely has the playmaker managed to impress when handed a chance.

Having been signed on a £35m deal from Ajax back in the summer of 2020, the midfielder has gone on to earn just 23 starts in all competitions since then, including a measly tally of just six starts in the league – excluding his brief loan stint at Everton.

The once-promising asset never appeared in favour under both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and interim boss Ralf Rangnick, while even the appointment of compatriot Ten Hag – who coached Van de Beek in Amsterdam – has failed to spark much improvement with regard to game time.

Although it could be argued that opportunities have been few and far between for the Netherlands international during his stint at the Theatre of Dreams, the 6-foot dud has hardly warranted a more prominent role in truth, having offered little when he has featured.

That was evident prior to the World Cup break as the £120k-per-week man was handed three successive starts against Real Sociedad and Villa (twice), although was unable to provide a single goal contribution in any of those outings.

The struggling figure was particularly “anonymous” – as per Manchester Evening News journalist Steven Railston – in the defeat to the Villans in the league, with that outing rubberstamping why he should “he shouldn’t be anywhere near the starting XI”, according to Railston.

With Van de Beek firmly into his third season at the club, it would seem he has had more than enough time to showcase his talent, hence the need for Ten Hag to ruthlessly move him on before the end of the window, or during the summer.

West Ham United are eyeing a move to sign Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips after missing out on the midfielder last year.

The Lowdown: Long-term interest

The Hammers tried to sign Phillips from Leeds United last season, with a £50m move in January 2022 rejected by the Whites.

David Moyes is now once again in need of reinforcements in the centre of the park, as the Irons dropped to 17th place in the table this weekend thanks to a defeat against Brentford and Everton’s shock 1-1 draw at Manchester City.

And it’s the Etihad where Moyes is now looking, with GSBK apparently reigniting their interest in Phillips.

The Latest: Price dropping…

According to Football Insider reporter Wayne Veysey, West Ham have been alerted by Pep Guardiola’s recent criticism of Phillips’ fitness.

They ‘expect’ to lose Declan Rice this summer, while Phillips is admired by Moyes and ‘seen as capable of replacing Rice’.

The England international could even be available for less than the £45m Man City paid during the summer window.

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The Verdict: Wait and see?

There’s no questioning Phillips’ abilities on the football pitch. The former England Player of the Year was “unbelievable” at Elland Road – in the words of BBC pundit Alan Hutton – and shouldn’t be chastised for failing to budge the ever-present Rodri from Guardiola’s first-choice XI.

During his two top flight seasons with Leeds, the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’ racked up 43 league appearances and played a significant role in making Marcelo Bielsa’s side one of the most exciting in the division.

All that said, the Irons may want to officially decide Moyes’ future before they splash any major cash in the January transfer window – a new manager may have a completely different philosophy and therefore completely different targets in mind.

GBSK can’t sit and linger though, so a definitive decision on the Scotsman’s role in the dugout needs to be made as soon as possible – one way or the other.

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar is well underway and Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte could be following the action for a variety of reasons.

Harry Kane, Rodrigo Bentancur, Heung-Min Son, and Hugo Lloris are just a few of the current Spurs players who have been involved in the tournament so far and the Italian boss could be wanting to check in on how they are performing.

However, he may also have an eye on potential transfer targets for the upcoming January window, with Fabio Paratici and Conte set to have the chance to improve the squad by dipping into the market.

Tottenham have been “long-term” admirers – in the words of Pete O’Rourke – of Leicester attacking midfielder James Maddison but the England international has not played a single minute of action in Qatar.

He has been unable to get out on the pitch as of yet and this means that Conte has not been able to assess how he performs at the very top level.

Whereas, Ajax’s Mohamed Kudus has been in superb form at the World Cup and is another attacking midfielder who has been linked with a move to Spurs.

The club, according to Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), were set to scout the Ghana international at the tournament and they should be impressed by what they have seen if that report was accurate.

Maddison is a goalscoring midfielder, who has produced 19 strikes in 48 Premier League appearances since the start of last season – proving that he can have a big impact at the top end of the pitch.

Kudus, meanwhile, has been hailed as a “goal machine” by journalist Akosua Adjei and his nine goals in 20 outings in the Eredivisie and Champions League combined this season back that up.

The number 10 has taken his goalscoring form over to Qatar by scoring twice in three group-stage matches for Ghana, finding the back of the net twice against South Korea.

He was dubbed a “superstar” by Opta analyst Owuraku Ampofo in September and it is hard to argue with that assessment when you take his World Cup and Champions League record of six goals in eight starts this season into consideration.

The gem is also four years younger than Maddison and would offer more long-term value to the club, whilst providing a similar goal threat from midfield that the Englishman has done with Leicester.

Therefore, Kudus could be a dream alternative to the Three Lions magician and Spurs must swoop to sign him from Ajax in the next transfer window after the World Cup.