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Everton are believed to be closing in on their third signing of the summer transfer window, with a fresh report even claiming an announcement is imminent.

Everton transfer news

The Blues know the importance of nailing their summer business, as they look to kick on into the future and move on from a dispiriting period in the club's history. The ongoing takeover situation still hasn't been sorted, as the Farhad Moshiri era drags on, with Dan Friedkin's bid to become the club's majority shareholder hitting a snag in recent days.

New signings are essential if Sean Dyche's side are going to push for a genuinely positive finish in the Premier League next season, and Chelsea striker Armando Broja has been linked with a summer switch to Goodison Park. The Albanian spent last season on loan at Fulham but was limited to just eight league appearances, none of which were starts. He featured twice for his country at Euro 2024, though.

Meanwhile, Hull City winger Jaden Philogene has emerged as an exciting young option for Everton, too, seeing him as an alternative to Yankuba Minteh, who has now joined Brighton from Newcastle United. The former scored 12 goals and chipped in with six assists in the Championship in 2023/24.

A new centre-back will be needed if Jarrad Branthwaite moves on to pastures new this summer, and Republic of Ireland and Lyon ace Jake O'Brien is seen as a potential addition for the Blues. The 23-year-old has made 27 appearances in Ligue 1, gaining some invaulable experience abroad.

Everton close to third signing of the summer

According to TEAMtalk, Everton are now very close to agreeing the signing of Marseille attacker Iliman Ndiaye, as he looks set to become the Blues' third signing of a promising summer transfer window to date. They have reportedly been closing in on a deal for him recently.

The report even says that a "permanent transfer" worth approximately €20m (£16.9m) including add-ons is "100% done", with an announcement expected soon.

Ndiaye could be such a popular signing for Everton, possessing the flair and quality in the final third that has too often been lacking in recent years, with the Merseysiders rarely renowned for being one of the Premier League's more entertaining sides.

The Senegalese has played for Sheffield United in the past and his brilliance didn't go unnoticed by former teammate Oli McBurnie, who lauded his ability: "Ili's excellent. I think he's been excellent for the last few games. It's just maybe not fell for him and he's been excellent today, and he deserved the goal.”

Everton have 'strong interest' in £20m star who'd help them forget Minteh

The Toffees are displaying strong interest in this Premier League star.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 1, 2024

Still only 24, Everton could be getting the best years of Ndiaye, but it is worth stressing that his all-round game needs to become more polished if he does complete a move to Goodison. Four goals and five assists in 46 appearances for Marseille isn't a ruthless return for an attack-minded player, but the raw ingredients are there, and he represents an eye-catching addition.

The 23-year-old Brazilian was arguably the best signing in MLS this season and was rewarded for a brilliant first season.

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• Pec named Newcomer of the Year
• Had 30 goal contributions this season
• Beat Suarez and Orellano for the honor

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Gabriel Pec was named Major League Soccer's Newcomer of the Year, the league announced Monday. It's a well-earned award for the 23-year-old Brazilian who quickly became of the league's top players with 16 goals and 14 assists in his inaugural campaign for the LA Galaxy.

  Pec earned the award after securing 37.53 percent of the average vote (which combines media vote, player vote and club vote). Inter Miami's Luis Suarez came in second with 27.63 percent of vote while Luca Orellano from FC Cincinnati came in third with 12.53 percent of the vote.

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  Pec was the LA Galaxy's record transfer at a reported fee of $10 million plus $1.5 million in incentives. He more than delivered for LA this season. His became the youngest player in club history to record 30 goal contributions and the fourth-youngest in league history to match that feat. He joined an elite group of players in LA's storied history to record the stat, which includes Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2018 and 2019), Robbie Keane (2014), and Cobi Jones (1998).

  Here are the voting results:

  Player	Media Vote	Player Vote	Club Vote	Average Vote
  Gabriel Pec (LAG)	49.60%	33.95%	29.03%	37.53%
  Luis Suarez (MIA)	32.40%	24.69%	25.81%	27.63%
  Luca Orellano (CIN)	4.80%	16.67%	16.13%	12.53%

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Pec is the first LA Galaxy player to earn the honor since Ibrahimovic in 2018 and the first Brazilian to win since Luciano Emilio earned the first-ever award in 2007. The Galaxy are the fourth club to have multiple Newcomer of the Year award recipients.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR LA GALAXY?

  LA Galaxy will now face Minnesota United FC in the Western Conference semifinals (schedule TBD).

Despite a stellar end to the 2023/24 Premier League campaign for Everton, the club were desperately lacking in one area, with improvements needed if they are to reach the next level.

Sean Dyche’s side won five of the remaining eight league outings, securing survival by 14 points despite being deducted eight points over the course of the campaign.

However, the Toffees only managed a tally of 40 goals in the 38 matches – an average of just 1.05 – with top scorers Dominic Calvert Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucoure, finishing the campaign with seven strikes each.

The club have already attempted to address the problem with the forward line by signing Iliman Ndiaye from Marseille, but it appears that Dyche may not be done there.

Everton agree deal for £16m attacking talent

According to The Athletic, Everton had submitted a £16m bid for Hull City forward Jaden Philogene, amid long-standing interest in the 22-year-old.

The former Aston Villa talent has also attracted strong interest from multiple other sides such as Crystal Palace, Manchester United and Barcelona, the latter of which he has rejected in favour of staying in England.

Journalist Paul Joyce added extra information to the reported bid, claiming that the offer has been accepted.

However, things have hit a snag. Ipswich Town are attempting to complete their own deal for the player, with an £18m package agreed to beat Everton to the player's signature, according to David Ornstein. The Athletic journalist does suggest that Dyche's men are still 'keen.'

If a move can still be done, it could finally allow Dyche to forget about one target who’s been on the club’s radar, with Philogene undoubtedly a better option in attacking areas than Leeds United talent Wilfried Gnonto.

How Philogene compares to Gnonto

Over the last couple of years, the Toffees have been constantly linked with a move to sign the Italian forward, but no move has ever materialised.

This summer is no different, with Dyche’s side once again being linked with a move for the 20-year-old, after Leeds’ failure to secure an immediate return back to the Premier League last season.

The Philogene move can finally allow Everton to forget about Gnonto, with the English forward producing far better stats despite featuring in a lower-quality side in 2023/24.

The “special talent” as dubbed by former Hull boss Liam Rosenior, managed a total of eight more goal contributions, despite featuring in three fewer matches than the Leeds star.

Philogene also managed nearly double the number of progressive carries, demonstrating his desire and ability to drive forward with the ball as frequently as possible – further bolstering Everton’s chances of improving their measly goal-scoring record from last season.

The 22-year-old Hull forward dominated Gnonto in terms of beating his man, completing over three times more take-ons, achieving a 8% higher success rate than the Italian.

Whilst Gnonto is a brilliant option with a huge future, Philogene has demonstrated that he has the immediate ability to transform Everton’s fortunes in front of goal. He could well be a better signing.

Everton have already hit gold on a star who's now worth more than Gnonto

He’s been exceptional since his move to Goodison Park.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 7, 2024

His direct playstyle could add that needed edge in attacking areas, whilst also potentially making the club a huge profit in the years to come, helping their ongoing battle with the Premier League’s strict PSR rules.

Barcelona are considering a low cost move for Wolves left-back Hugo Bueno, who is currently on loan at Feyenoord.

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• Barca want to add a left-back to the squad
• Hugo Bueno emerging as a candidate
• Club also interested in Alphonso Davies

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Barcelona have already begun planning their squad for the next season and want to prioritise reinforcing the defence with the signing of a left-back, with Wolves' Hugo Bueno, on loan at Feyenoord, emerging as a low-cost option according to a report by SPORT.

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  Bueno, who is 22 years old, has been impressing at Feyenoord this season, registering three assists in 10 appearances in all competitions. The Spaniard's performances haven't gone unnoticed, with Barcelona pondering a move for the offensive-minded left-back for 2025.

  Barcelona lack depth in defence, especially at left-back, becoming an area of concern that the Catalans want to address ahead of the 2024-25 season. Alejandro Balde has been a top player for Hansi Flick, but his understudy Gerard Martin hasn't quite convinced.

  Bueno's contract with Wolves ends in 2028, but Barca are hopeful they can acquire him on the cheap, although his value could rise if he keeps playing at a high level.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Bueno isn't the only left-back on Barca's radar, though. The club are also rivalling Real Madrid for the signing of Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies, who could leave the club for free next summer as his contract in Germany is set to expire. Alternatively, Barca could also recall academy graduate Alex Valle, who is currently enjoying a fine season on loan at Scottish heavyweights Celtic.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  With the international break over, Barcelona will return to action this weekend. They face a stern challenge in the form of Celta Vigo, who they will be playing at the Estadio de Balaidos on Saturday, November 23.

It's been a summer of change at Ibrox, but Rangers could now suffer their biggest blow yet with reports indicating that one of Philippe Clement's best players have struck an agreement elsewhere.

Rangers transfer news

It's been a ruthless few months from Clement, who showed the likes of John Lundstram, Ryan Jack and Borna Barisic the door, before welcoming a plethora of fresh faces, which includes the arrival of Jefte, Connor Barron and Hamza Igamane. In total, the Gers have sealed six deals whilst watching on as a further six departed.

Their most recent signing, Igamane told Rangers' official website: “I am really proud to join Rangers and I can’t wait to get started with my teammates. It is a huge club, with a loyal fanbase and a lot of history. I am excited for my future here and looking forward to being a part of this club.”

As Igamane looks to settle in Scotland, however, he may be forced to do so without one of Rangers' best players if recent reports are anything to go by. According to Turkish reporter Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, via Ibrox Chat, James Tavernier has reached an agreement with Trabzonspor over a two-year contract, although Rangers remain in negotiations over a fee, with the two clubs still €1m (£850k) apart in their valuations.

Rangers struck gold on GVB signing who's worth more than Barron

Philippe Clement has a player in his squad who he could cash in on this summer for a decent profit

By
Ross Kilvington

Jul 18, 2024

It would certainly fit Rangers' trend of ruthlessness by selling Tavernier but, ultimately, losing their club captain would be far from ideal with the Scottish Premiership season fast-approaching. Given that Clement has already swapped so much experience for youthful exuberance this summer too, questions must be asked whether he can afford to lose his veteran right-back, with the skipper set to take a raise on his current £30,000-a-week wages.

Rangers must keep "amazing" Tavernier

There's no doubt that Tavernier is a modern-day Rangers legend. Those at Ibrox may not see another right-back capable of his goal involvements every season and would certainly struggle to replace his leadership. Even at 32 years old, he remains an important part of Clement's side and a player who, now more than ever, the Gers must keep hold of amid a transitional period in Glasgow.

Clement is certainly unlikely to be pleased if Tavernier is allowed to leave this summer, having praised his captain in abundance last season. The Belgian said via STV News after the right-back broke the British goal-scoring record for defenders: “It’s an amazing achievement, especially as he still has a couple of years to go so he can only make this record bigger and bigger.

“If you speak about the full history of football then you cannot imagine how many good defenders and how many defenders with good attacking qualities who have played the game. To be there on top – it’s an amazing achievement and we’re all proud of him. I said it in the dressing room also after the game."

Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres responded to Gabriel stealing his celebration after the Brazilian scored in Arsenal's 5-1 win in Lisbon.

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• Gyokeres hits back at Gabriel
• Brazilian copied the striker's trademark celebration
• Arsenal thrashed Sporting CP 5-1

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Gunners ran riot against the Portuguese giants as they raced into a 3-0 lead before the interval and then scored two more goals in the second 45 minutes to register a thumping win in the Champions League on Tuesday. Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes scored the first three goals for the team while Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard's second-half strikes completed the rout.

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  Brazilian defender Gabriel imitated the opposition's goal machine Gyokeres while celebrating his goal. The Swedish forward's celebration has become extremely popular where he covers his mouth with clasped hands – though in this instance, the Gunners star put them over his eyes instead. After the game, the Sporting CP star issued a response to Gabriel over copying his mannerisms.

• WHAT VIKTOR GYOKERES SAID

  Speaking to after the game, Gyokeres said: "He’s welcome to steal it if he can’t create his own celebration! I didn’t know he did that, but it’s fun he likes my celebration."

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Per , Gabriel's mimicry of Gyokeres was an act of revenge for how another Sporting player acted in their previous clash with Arsenal in the Europa League back in March 2023. After a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the round of 16 tie, the English club took the lead courtesy of Granit Xhaka's strike but Pedro Goncalves equalised for the team. That forced extra time and then a penalty shootout, where Sporting emerged victorious. Goncalves mocked Xhaka by mimicking his celebration where the Swiss midfielder touches his nose with his thumb and extends his hand out.

Leeds United have opened preliminary talks over signing a replacement for their £13 million player, as his Elland Road exit potentially beckons.

Players who could still quit Leeds after mass exodus

There has been somewhat of a mass exodus out of West Yorkshire since the Championship high-flyers ultimately failed to secure promotion back to the Premier League last season.

Bye Bye: £40k-p/w man on verge of leaving Leeds United with medical booked

Daniel Farke is already eyeing up a replacement.

By
Ben Browning

Jul 19, 2024

Daniel Farke's side lost 1-0 to Southampton at Wembley in the play-off final in May, ending their hopes of an immediate climb back up to the top flight, with many Leeds players opting against the possibility of playing second-tier football next season.

Left-back Rasmus Kristensen is the latest man to wave goodbye to Leeds, at least temporarily, with the Danish ace joining Eintracht Frankfurt on loan for the 2024/25 season.

Kristensen joins a succession of other players, including English sensation Archie Gray, Luis Sinisterra, Glen Kamara, Marc Roca and other big names in sealing moves away from the club.

As Leeds look to balance the books, trim the squad and make signings of their own, as Farke aims for another promotion push and to bounce back strongly after play-off final heartache, it is believed a few more players could follow the aforementioned out.

One of them is versatile and attack-minded left-back Junior Firpo, who registered eight Championship assists in 29 league appearances under Farke last season and proved himself an effective asset at times.

Reports in Spain have recently claimed that Firpo has agreed personal terms with Real Betis, and a return to his former club in La Liga is well and truly on the cards. Indeed, Firpo is even willing to take a pay cut so he can join Betis from Leeds, so the player's willingness appears evident.

Leeds open preliminary talks over signing Junior Firpo replacement

Football Insider has an update on Leeds' plans for if, or when, Firpo seals a move back to Spain.

The outlet states that Leeds have opened preliminary talks with a host of targets to replace Firpo, with Betis now opening club-to-club negotiations to seal a deal for the 27-year-old.

They add that Firpo is highly regarded by the Whites, who are reluctant to sell but will entertain the idea if they can source an adequate successor. The £60,000-per-week ace cost around £13 million to sign from Barcelona in 2021, but his days in England could now be numbered.

Called "immense" for his form at times by Leeds YouTuber Conor McGilligan, Firpo has gone on to make 84 appearances in all competitions for the club, registering 12 assists in that time.

The Dominican Republic international, who will soon represent his country at the Olympic Games in Paris, is currently preparing to take on Egypt in their opening Group C game – which will kick off in four days.

Three have been arrested following alleged racist abuse aimed at Barcelona duo Lamine Yamal and Raphinha during their 4-0 win over Real Madrid.

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• Three arrested following racism during El Clasico
• Barcelona won the game 4-0
• Goalscorers Yamal and Raphinha both targeted

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Barcelona dominated the latest edition of the El Clasico rivalry, with the Real Madrid faithful having to watch their side get obliterated at the Bernabeu. Some fans crossed the line, however, as they allegedly hurled racist remarks towards Raphinha and 17-year-old Yamal, who were both in sparkling form.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Prior to kick-off, the two sides were separated by three points in the top two positions in the table, as Barcelona's brilliant young team had made an electric start to the season. The stakes were high, and many expected a tense, close game reminiscent of the peak of the El Clasico rivalry at the start of the 2010's. However, Real Madrid unraveled in the second half, conceding four goals in a half-hour period.

  Fans made their displeasure known with whistles and boos, while some took the heckling too far, with Spanish police confirming that three arrests were made.

• SPANISH POLICE STATEMENT

  In an X post made by the Spanish National Police, they stated: "Three arrested for uttering racist remarks against two football players during El Clasico played last October.

  "Those arrested made xenophobic statements that violated the dignity and moral integrity of both."

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• WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA AND REAL MADRID?

  While the investigation into fan behaviour at the game is likely to continue, both sides have on-field matters to attend to. Barcelona face Celta Vigo on Saturday in a bid to maintain the minimum six-point gap to their rivals, while Real Madrid travel to Leganes, where they must win in order to stay in close proximity to Barca at the summit of the league.

Mikel Arteta backed Arsenal star Bukayo Saka to reach his idol Cristiano Ronaldo's levels in the future.

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• Arsenal's Saka idolises Ronaldo
• Arteta backed Saka to reach Ronaldo's levels
• Gunners face rivals Man Utd on Wednesday

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Saka is in red-hot form at the moment, having contributed with seven goals and assists in Arsenal's last three matches across all competitions. In their latest outing against West Ham in the Premier League last weekend, the England star scored one goal and provided two assists to help his side register a 5-2 win at London Stadium.

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  Gunners boss Arteta has heaped praise on the England international as he hoped that the 23-year-old winger would emulate the success of Al-Nassr star and Portugal icon Cristiano Ronaldo, whom Saka idolises. The Spanish manager further advised the player to imbibe qualities like the mentality, skills and work ethic of the ex-Manchester United star.

• WHAT MIKEL ARTETA SAID

  Speaking to reporters, the 42-year-old coach said: "To look is always good! And probably, the way Cristiano started his career and when he joined Manchester United, nobody probably expected in the first few seasons [he would] be able to do that.

  "But again, it was about his mentality, his work ethic, how he developed his skill, his chemistry with his team and to play in a team that has the capacity as well to be dominant. That is very, very important. I think B has got that context and if he is aiming for that, I think it is a positive thing."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BUKAYO SAKA?

  Saka will aim to continue his terrific run of form in the midweek as the north London outfit take on rivals Manchester United in a crucial Premier League encounter on Wednesday night at Emirates Stadium.

Enzo Maresca has been tasked with bringing Chelsea back to Champions League football, looking to bolster his squad ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season, and finish higher than their sixth-place finish last season.

He has already been reunited with a familiar face, with the Blues acquiring Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester City, as well as Renato Veiga, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Caleb Wiley, and Omari Kellyman.

But Chelsea could still be set for a busy few weeks in the transfer market, with links still circling around striker options and a potential left-winger, as well as many expected outgoings.

Chelsea's search for a striker

According to reports from Football Insider over the weekend, Chelsea are admirers of Sporting striker, Viktor Gyokeres, whilst other Premier League clubs such as Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham are also interested in the Sweden international.

The 26-year-old striker has a £86m release clause according to the reports, and that fee is expected to be too high for the Premier League clubs, meaning the likelihood of a move depends on Sporting lowering their asking price.

Gyokeres made 50 appearances in all competitions for Sporting last season, scoring 43 goals, providing 15 assists, and totalling 4,169 minutes of football.

How Gyokeres compares Jackson

Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson made 44 appearances in all competitions in 2023/24, scoring 17 goals and providing six assists. That marked an impressive return in his first Premier League season, especially after his slow start, missing multiple big chances (24 in total).

Meanwhile, Gyokeres's 43 goals were more than the Blues' top scorer, Cole Palmer, who scored 25 goals for the club in 45 appearances, and another Chelsea striker target, Victor Osimhen, who scored 17 goals in 32 appearances for Napoli last season.

Gyokeres, who was described as a "powerhouse" by analyst Ben Mattinson, due to his ability to hold up play, bring others into play and use his aerial prowess to affect the game. His high touches in the penalty area, averaging 8.71 per 90, is due to his hold-up play, and ability to play with his back to goal.

The 26-year-old has better metrics in most areas compared to Chelsea striker Jackson, and Chelsea target Osimhen. Having a better Non-Penalty Goals metric, having more shots on target despite fewer shots than Osimhen per 90, and creating more chances for others with 0.31 assists per 90.

He also shows his complete nature, averaging 3.52 progressive carries per 90, and 2.10 successful take-ons per 90, showing his ability to create for himself and be part of build-up play due to his quality on the ball.

Gyokeres provides a ready-made version of Jackson, who has shown signs of becoming the player Gyokeres is, but could need a few seasons to reach that prolific level that the Swede already provides – having only previously scored 13 times during his stint at Villarreal.

Much of the talk, of course, at present will be centred around the Blues' interest in Osimhen – amid reports regarding a potential swap deal involving Romelu Lukaku – yet Gyokeres has shown himself to be a worthy alternative.

Romano: Chelsea want £207k-p/w striker who'd be the finest since Drogba

This “world-class” player would be a stunning addition at Stamford Bridge.

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By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 29, 2024