Everton Heading For Disaster With £8.6m Premier League Flop

Everton will be on the lookout for a prolific goalscorer after another Premier League relegation scrap this season and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Everton's interest in Wout Weghorst?

According to Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Everton are one of the clubs interested in signing Wout Weghorst this summer.

Romano revealed an insight into Weghorst's future in a video on his YouTube channel:

"Manchester United have no intention to proceed in negotiations to keep the player for next season,"

"There are already some clubs including Everton, including some Spanish clubs, including German clubs so clubs are informed on the situation so lets see if Burnley will decide to keep the player."

"The price from what I understand will be about €10m (£8.6m) but there are no concrete talks for Manchester United to keep the player."

Would Weghorst be a good signing for Everton?

There is no doubt that Everton desperately need attacking reinforcements after a troubling campaign that left the Toffees teetering on the edge of relegation from the Premier League down to the final minutes of the season.

It will be important for Sean Dyche to identify attacking players who can offer some consistency in front of goal following the departures of Richarlison and Anthony Gordon, as Neal Maupay and mainstay Dominic Calvert-Lewin have failed to offer the goal contributions needed to comfortably compete – scoring just three goals between them in 2022/23.

Turning to Weghorst as the solution, however, does not appear to be a wise move, as over 17 Premier League appearances this season, the 30-year-old forward – dubbed "dreadful" by Piers Morgan – didn't score a single goal and registered only one assist during his time at Old Trafford.

wout-weghorst-man-united-everton-premier-league-transfers

In fact, Weghorst averaged just 0.3 shots on target per game during his league outings since joining the Manchester giants in January, which is worse than Maupay (0.6), Calvert-Lewin (0.6) and McNeil (0.4), further demonstrating that it would be a frankly foolish move.

Although the 6 foot 6 colossus did net nine goals and register four assists in just 18 appearances in the first half of the campaign while on loan at Besiktas, performing well for the Istanbul outfit is not always a good gauge of a striker's talents, as the Toffees found outfit with Cenk Tosun.

The latter man notably made the move to Goodison from the Super Lig side on a £27m deal back in January 2018, although the German-born marksman went on to score just 11 goals in 61 games over four years.

While the 32-year-old – who returned to his former club on an initial loan deal in 2021 – has been prolific at Besiktas with 85 goals in 180 games, managing to repeat those feats in England is a different kettle of fish, as Weghorst also found out this season.

As such – as proved the case with Tosun – it would be an absolute howler for Dyche to sign Weghorst this summer, as it could potentially lead Everton into much bigger trouble next season.

Rangers Plot Bid For "Flamboyant" £2m Sensation

Glasgow Rangers are reportedly plotting a fresh approach for Swansea City starlet, Morgan Whittaker, having previously missed out on the promising forward back in January.

What's the latest on Whittaker to Rangers?

According to Football Scotland, the Ibrox outfit are seemingly still interested in signing the 22-year-old despite having been repeatedly rebuffed during the winter window, with the Light Blues having seen three bids rejected by the Championship side – the last of which was reportedly in the region of £2m.

This latest report suggests that Michael Beale and co would be ready to make another offer for the young Englishman, having already brought in both Kieran Dowell and Dujon Sterling in recent weeks.

The piece does add, however, that there could be a potential stumbling block if the Swans are to lose current boss Russell Martin to Southampton, with the club unlikely to sanction any player exits amid their search to find a suitable successor to the ex-Gers defender.

Should Rangers bid again for Whittaker?

Despite failing to acquire the former Derby County man earlier this year, it looks as if the Old Firm giants are intent on bringing in young Whittaker this time around, with the "flamboyant" ace – as hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig – set to provide further depth to Beale's attacking ranks.

The Gers boss has only recently seen his options depleted following the news that both Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos are set to depart amid their expiring contracts, hence the need to snap up quality replacements sooner rather than later.

While Beale does already have players vying to fill the shoes of that departing duo, not all of the current squad have proven that they are up to the task, with Rabbi Matondo, in particular, having endured a difficult debut campaign in Scotland.

Rangers' Rabbi Matondo

The former Schalke man – who signed on a £3m deal last summer – ended the 2022/23 season having provided just five assists and no goals in 28 games in all competitions, with Beale suggesting back in December that the Welshman was suffering a "crisis of confidence".

Having also been hampered by injury in the second half of the campaign, the 22-year-old's fortunes have not improved of late, with recent reports (The Scottish Daily Mail, print edition, page 118, April 29, 2023): suggesting that the club could allow the misfiring dud to move on this summer.

The addition of Whittaker, therefore, could represent a notable upgrade on the one-time Manchester City man, with the 6 foot 3 ace having enjoyed a promising spell on loan at Plymouth Argyle in the first half of the campaign, scoring nine goals and providing seven assists in 25 League One games.

While the former England youth international only added one further goal for his parent club after making his return to Wales in January, he has previously shown his class at youth level, bagging 44 goal involvements in just 53 games for Derby's U18's.

The elegant left-footer's creative quality was also on show during his time in England's third tier as he created seven big chances for his teammates and averaged 1.3 key passes per game, while Matondo, by contrast, created just four big chances and averaged only 0.8 key passes from his 19 Scottish Premiership outings.

Equally, Whittaker also appears to offer more defensively on the flanks after averaging 1.1 tackles per to prove himself something of an all-rounder, while the current Rangers asset averaged just 0.7 tackles per game in that time.

With Matondo evidently failing to cut it in Glasgow, the signing of the Swansea star could be the attacking upgrade that Beale will be craving.

Celtic Identify ‘Priority’ Postecoglou Replacement

An update has emerged on Celtic and their plans to find a replacement for Ange Postecoglou ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

What's the latest on David Moyes to Celtic?

According to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, the Hoops have made West Ham United head coach David Moyes their number one target to take over at Parkhead.

He Tweeted: "Understand David Moyes is the priority at Celtic Glasgow to replace Ange Postecoglou who has already agreed a deal with Tottenham."

The 57-year-old Australian has since been officially confirmed by the Premier League club as their new manager, which opens up a vacancy with the Scottish giants.

Would David Moyes fit in at Celtic?

The Hammers boss could be a dream appointment for Mark Lawwell to make for the Hoops as the 60-year-old Scotsman is an experienced and proven boss who has a pre-existing relationship with the club.

Moyes came through the Celtic academy after being born in Glasgow and started his professional career at Parkhead before moving on to the likes of Bristol City and Preston North End before his retirement and eventual switch to management.

West Ham manager David Moyes.

This suggests that the tactician, who typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 system, could adapt quickly to life in Scotland as he is already familiar with the area and the club, which may not be the case for other managers who have not stepped foot in Glasgow before.

The ex-Real Sociedad boss is also a vastly experienced coach who has proven himself in England over the course of many years at several clubs.

In 11 full Premier League seasons with Everton, Moyes finished in the top half of the table nine times and broke into the top six four times.

He only lasted one season at Manchester United but had the unenviable task of following on from the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson but ex-Red Devils centre-forward Robin van Persie, who worked with him that year, hailed the 60-year-old as a "fantastic person and a fantastic coach."

Moyes is now at West Ham and has achieved seventh and sixth-placed finishes in the Premier League in two of the last three seasons. He also reached the semi-finals of the Europa League last term and is in the final of the Europa Conference League against Fiorentina on Wednesday.

These statistics show that the Scotsman is able to punch above his team's weight by breaking into the upper reaches of the English top-flight with non-traditional top-six sides in Everton and the Hammers, whilst he has also showcased his ability to coach in Europe.

Therefore, Moyes could be a dream appointment by being able to instantly settle into life in Glasgow and having the coaching ability to potentially take Celtic to the next level in European competitions, after Postecoglou failed to get past the first round in any of the three tournaments in his two seasons at the club.

Newcastle eye Burnley goalkeeper Pope

Newcastle United are reportedly now eyeing up a move to sign Nick Pope this summer.

The Lowdown: New goalkeeper?

Eddie Howe reportedly wants to sign a new ball-playing goalkeeper to replace Martin Dubravka as his number one, with Yann Sommer and Dean Henderson thought to be on his list of potential targets.

They have already signed one player in the permanent deal for Matt Targett, and will now be looking to get more deals through the door as the window officially opened on Friday.

The Latest: Pope eyed

Writing in his latest column for GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Dean Jones has revealed that the St. James’ Park outfit are now eyeing Pope as a potential alternative to Henderson, as their pursuit of the Manchester United ace has ‘faded’.

Pope is ‘highly regarded’ in the North East, along with Brighton and Hove Albion ‘keeper Robert Sanchez.

The Verdict: Sign

Given Burnley’s relegation from the Premier League, Pope should be available for a cut-price, and so could end up being an absolute bargain for the Tynesiders.

The six-foot-five giant can hold little of the blame for the Clarets going down, given his ‘outstanding’ performances in the eyes of fellow teammate Ashley Barnes, while West Ham United journalist Roshane Thomas even went as far as to call him ‘super saiyan’ after earning his team a point at the London Stadium last season.

The England international was the second-best performing goalkeeper in the top flight after Liverpool star Alisson (WhoScored), which is so impressive considering he was playing for a relegated side, and so the Magpies will not be disappointed if they took a chance on him.

In other news, find out what big transfer update on this ‘supernatural’ NUFC target has now emerged here!

Gerrard wants top Villa targets in quickly

With Aston Villa finishing the Premier League season in a disappointing 14th place, it hasn’t exactly been the start that Steven Gerrard would have wanted when he took the reins last November, arriving from Rangers after he had revived the Glasgow club’s fortunes.

There has been some positives along the way, though, especially in the transfer market. The 41-year-old reunited with former Liverpool team-mate Philippe Coutinho, signing the Brazilian on a permanent deal from Barcelona after he impressed on loan in the Midlands.

Gerrard has also signed Diego Carlos and Lucas Digne as he aims to build his own squad ahead of a massive season for the club, and there is more news which will be sure to delight the supporters.

Transfer insider Dean Jones has claimed that the Villa manager wants to get his top targets into the club before pre-season.

The journalist told GIVEMESPORT: “I think that he wants that sorted before they get to pre-season so that he’s got the base and the spine of his team there. So, then he can work around and add a couple of little flair players or bits and pieces that can finish off the job.”

Villa fans will love it

Villa supporters will be delighted to hear that, much like at Rangers, Gerrard wants to have his incoming transfer business sorted as soon as possible to give players the best chance of bedding into the squad well before the start of a new season.

With Coutinho, Carlos and Boubacar Kamara already added to the Villa squad for next term, the 41-year-old doesn’t appear to be stopping there.

Interest in Rangers defender Calvin Bassey could enhance their defence, and a move for another former Anfield team-mate in Luis Suarez could be a massive move due to his tremendous scoring record and the chance to land him on a free transfer from Atletico Madrid.

Potentially adding these two players after the business that Gerrard has already done could be vital in terms of Villa challenging for a European spot next season, which must be their aim.

There is certainly no shortage of backing from Johan Lange, and if the manager gets it right, Villa could be a force to be reckoned with next season.

AND in other news, Gerrard can land AVFC’s next Southgate with move for “outstanding” £120k-p/w warrior

Celtic tipped to offer Ange a new deal

Celtic had one of their most significant summer transfer windows in recent memory last year, which saw the club make a number of changes on and off the pitch.

Along with seeing many players move in and out of the club, the Hoops also appointed Ange Postecoglou as their new manager following Neil Lennon’s departure.

These changes seemed to work out well for the Parkhead club, as the 56-year-old and his players ended up taking the Premiership title off their Old Firm rivals.

Now that the campaign has come to an end, it seems as though a clue has emerged regarding the next steps for one of Celtic’s key figures at Lennoxtown.

What’s the talk?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Dean Jones made a promising claim regarding Postecoglou and his future at Parkhead.

The reporter said: “I imagine they’ll try to reward him in some term. I mean, whether he wants a long-term commitment, who knows, I don’t think he’ll be pushing necessarily for raises or anything like that at this point.

“But from a Celtic point of view, you’ve got this identity now; they’d hate to get into a situation at the start of next season where they’re doing really well, and suddenly another job comes up elsewhere, and he’s pretty available because there’s not going to be much of a fee to get him out of there.”

Celtic appointed Postecoglou last June on a 12-month rolling contract, which has yet to be renewed. In 60 games so far in charge of the Bhoys, the Australian has won 42, drawn seven and lost 11.

Taking into account how the former Yokohama F Marinos manager was able to secure the league title and end the season with his side boasting the best attacking and defensive record in the Scottish top flight, it’s easy to see why the club would be keen on offering him a new deal.

This would also make it easy to assume that Celtic fans would like nothing better than to see the popular 56-year-old, who has already taken the club to glory, once again continue his journey with them.

We feel that Postecoglou has certainly done enough in his debut season to warrant a new deal at Parkhead. Whether that is another 12-month contract or a more long-term agreement is down to the club and how long they would want to see him in charge.

Either way, it would surely be brilliant news for Celtic and their supporters to see the Australian put pen to paper on a new contract soon.

In other news: Bad news: Postecoglou heading for big transfer error as Celtic eye move for £2m dud

Crystal Palace: Matt Woosnam drops Conor Gallagher claim

Crystal Palace journalist Matt Woosnam thinks another loan move is a possibility for Conor Gallagher next season. 

The lowdown

Chelsea midfielder Gallagher has now come to the end of his season-long loan at Crystal Palace.

The Englishman played the full 90 minutes on Sunday as Palace rounded off the campaign with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Selhurst Park.

It was his 33rd start from 38 matches, underlining his value to Patrick Vieira and the Eagles.

Thomas Tuchel and Chelsea must now decide whether to integrate Gallagher, who has also spent time on loan at Charlton Athletic, Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion, into their first team next season.

The latest

Speaking in The Athletic’s Palace match-day discussion on Sunday evening, Woosnam raised doubts about Gallagher’s immediate prospects at Chelsea.

He wouldn’t be ‘surprised’ if the Blues sanctioned another temporary exit.

“I’m not sure Gallagher gets into that Chelsea team, but then perhaps they’ll set up in a way that suits him better than the slightly more defensive outlook Palace have had in the last couple of months that doesn’t play to his strengths,” he said.

“Would not be surprised to see him back out on loan somewhere.”

The verdict

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has already publicly expressed the club’s desire to re-sign Gallagher for the 2022/23 season.

And that’s absolutely no surprise in light of his contribution this season. Gallagher finished the campaign second in Palace’s goalscoring charts with eight (behind Wilfried Zaha on 15) and was also runner-up in the assist rankings behind Michael Olise (who had eight to his five).

Chelsea will surely have encouraged by these returns, but there’s some pretty daunting competition at Stamford Bridge.

Tuchel primarily operated with just two central midfielders in 2021/22, and the likes of N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are already jostling for those positions.

Kovacic is Chelsea’s former player of the year, while Kante and Jorginho have both been nominated for the Ballon D’Or.

If Gallagher winds up behind them in the pecking order, his development may slow down.

In other news, this Palace stalwart may leave in the summer. 

Celtic must unleash Bosun Lawal

Celtic have had a rather busy week in terms of what’s been happening on and off the pitch at the Parkhead club.

After officially being declared champions on Wednesday following their 1-1 draw against Dundee United, the Hoops topped their campaign off with a blistering 6-0 win over Motherwell at Celtic Park.

Prior to Saturday’s final game of the season, it was revealed that Celtic’s veteran duo of Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton will be leaving the club after nearly ten years of service.

Looking ahead to the upcoming summer transfer window and the Bhoys’ next campaign, rather than dive into the transfer market to find suitable replacements for their departing duo, one figure that Ange Postecoglou could look to unleash is Bosun Lawal.

The Hoops signed the defensive midfielder back in July last year from Watford’s youth ranks on a three-year deal.

Shortly before leaving the Hornets, the teenager won their Academy Player of the Season award, highlighting just how much of an exciting talent he is.

Having played as a holding midfielder and as a centre-back in the past, this could make him an ideal long-term replacement for Bitton, who has also been deployed in those positions throughout his career.

After scoring on his debut for the Celtic Reserves in a 2-1 defeat against Bonnyrigg Rose, Tommy McIntyre had this to say about the youngster.

He said: “I thought he was outstanding, very composed and good at stepping out in front of their striker who was a handful.

“He tops it off by scoring a goal and was unlucky not to have had another with the one that was chopped off for offside.

“The fact he’s only been in with us for two days, I’m absolutely delighted with the impact he’s made.”

With this in mind, it seems as though the young Irishman can not only be a useful and versatile figure at the back, but he can also be a goal threat as well.

Former Watford striker Troy Deeney has also shared his praise for the youngster by calling him a “strong and powerful” figure on the pitch.

While Postecoglou may want to add a more experienced figure to his squad this summer to replace either Bitton or Rogic, giving Lawal his first taste of senior football with the Hoops should be in his plans at some point in their upcoming campaign.

Not only could this give the 56-year-old the chance to unearth another one of Celtic’s exciting youth prospects, but it could also give him the chance to save the club millions in potential transfer fees further down the line.

In other news: Insider: Celtic set £10m summer transfer “priority”, it’s great news for Postecoglou

Spurs quintet called into first team setup

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly promoted five of their young stars into the first-team setup amid an injury crisis at the club, according to a Spurs source’s reveal to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Injury concerns at Tottenham

Antonio Conte hasn’t had the best of luck with injuries this season, with Japhet Tanganga (knee), Oliver Skipp (pelvic) and more recently Sergio Reguilon (groin) being added to the medical list.

As a result, it appears that the Italian has decided to present an opportunity to some of the club’s most talented under-23 players before the end of the current campaign.

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The Latest: Spurs youngsters get senior call-up

A Spurs source is claimed to have told Football Insider that Marcel Lavinier, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Harvey White, Nile John and Matthew Craig have all ‘moved their kit’ into the senior training area.

The young quintet have reportedly ‘been told’ that they will all be in and around the first team for the remainder of the season, and it will no doubt come as a huge boost to them to be shown such faith amid Conte’s injury worries.

The Verdict: The perfect opportunity

Out of the players named above, White has probably been the most influential and eye-catching on the pitch this term, having made 11 goal contributions in just 18 appearances in Premier League 2, as per Transfermarkt.

Earlier this year, Lilywhites insider John Wenham admitted that he would like to see more of the club’s youth prospects being included within matchday squads in north London, and it now seems as though that might be the case.

As Conte looks to reassemble his squad ahead of the start of the 2022/23 season, this will be the perfect chance for the youngsters to impress in front of the first-team boss if they want to give him a selection headache.

They have the perfect opportunity to make their mark, having been introduced into the senior fold for the final few games before the end of May.

In other news… Spurs are unlikely to pay a huge asking price for one of their transfer targets this summer

Celtic: Carter-Vickers impressed v Hearts

Celtic took another step towards securing the Premiership title today as they beat Hearts 4-1 at Parkhead.

The hosts found themselves 1-0 down with just three minutes on the clock as Jam Tarts striker Ellis Simms put the ball past Joe Hart.

The Hoops then managed to not only equalise but also go ahead by half-time thanks to goals from Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda.

Two more goals from the home side in the second half secured the victory for Ange Postecoglou’s side after their early scare. Midfielder Matt O’Riley scored the third before Giorgos Giakoumakis found the net in the 90th minute after he replaced Furuhashi earlier in the half.

Despite having four different scorers, it was another Celtic figure who wowed on this occasion, namely Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Hailed by Greg Taylor as being a “huge part” of why the Hoops have been so successful in the league this season, the USA centre-back proved his worth yet again this time out.

Even though Hearts managed to break the short-lived deadlock at the start, the defender made sure that the away side didn’t end up scoring again.

With 90 minutes under his belt, the £2.7m-rated American had 72 touches of the ball in total and ended up completing 55 of the 60 passes that he attempted, as per Sofascore.

From a defensive point of view, the 24-year-old racked up six clearances, two tackles, two interceptions and blocked one shot from the opposition. He also ended up winning 83% of his duels, showing just how tough he was to play against and why the visitors only found the net once.

This display ultimately earned the centre-back an impressive overall match rating of 7.4/10 from SofaScore, which is higher than the likes of Furuhashi and Maeda managed.

His performance also caught the attention of the Scottish Daily Express, who called it a ‘solid showing from the centre half again with no problems’.

Having been praised by Chris Sutton for his “immense” performance against Rangers last month, that is what he was again today for Postecoglou’s side.

If the on-loan Tottenham defender can keep up this level until the end of the campaign, he will be a big reason why the Bhoys will almost surely end up lifting the league title.

In other news: Enquiry made, then joined rivals: Celtic had the last laugh over “huge” 161 G/A dynamo

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