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Carlo Ancelotti must urge Marcel Brands to run away from Manchester United and pursue Tottenham Hotspur’s Paulo Gazzaniga over a Deadline Day deal for Sergio Romero.

What’s the word?

According to The Times’ Paul Joyce, Everton chiefs have reached out to both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur as the Toffees look to sign a goalkeeper on Deadline Day who can present competition for Jordan Pickford.

The Goodison Park outfit would prefer to sign one of Romero or Gazzaniga on loan following the latest in a string of blunders from Pickford against Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend, which also sparked rumours of interest in AS Roma’s Pau Lopez.

But both United and Spurs would like to see a deal for their back-up goalkeeper to leave Old Trafford or north London be on permanent terms, having been open to offers all summer without any luck of cashing in.

Manchester United are understood to value Romero between £8m and £10million, which The Athletic suggested had cooled Everton’s interest in September as the Merseyside club sought a free agent signing for the role of Pickford’s back-up.

Spurs also placed Gazzaniga on their transfer list earlier in the window having identified the 28-year-old as a potential avenue to boost their funds, per the Evening Standard, after struggling to make inroads into any arrivals amid difficulties offloading Serge Aurier.

Daniel Levy’s asking price for Gazzaniga was not noted, though the Tottenham Chairman can use the Argentine’s £20,000-per-week contract running to 2022 in any efforts to drive up his valuation on Deadline Day.

Gazzaniga the safe choice

Both Romero and Gazzaniga would serve to be superb deputies to Pickford this season if Everton are able to acquire either on loan, but Ancelotti must choose wisely if the Toffees are forced into purchasing one or the other.

While Romero has 96 caps to his name for Argentina and has won titles with Manchester United and AZ Alkmaar, the 33-year-old has not played in a Premier League fixture since his sole outing of the 2017/18 season on the final day against Watford.

Those 90 minutes came as one of just seven English top-flight games Romero has featured in since joining United in 2015, with his rare appearances for the Red Devils only coming in the cup competitions.

His nine outings in last year’s Europa League also show Romero would not be the better acquisition than Gazzaniga, having struggled to contain long-range efforts after conceding twice from five shots faced. He also opted to punch away 50% of all crosses contended, per SofaScore.

As for Gazzaniga, the Spurs back-up stepped up admirably in the absence of Hugo Lloris through injury last season as he made 18 of his 43 career Premier League outings, keeping two clean sheets.

The one-time Argentina international was also only beaten from range with 16% of shots taken from outside the box, having made 21 saves to the four goals conceded and recording 36 saves from shots taken inside the Spurs penalty area.

Gazzaniga further made successful runs out with each of his nine attempts and only punched three of the ten crosses he contended for possession.

If Spurs are open to acceptable offers, Gazzaniga must be the one Ancelotti favours to put the pressure on Pickford, not a rarely-seen 33-year-old Romero.

AND in other news, Everton’s Deadline Day plans could leave Carlo Ancelotti weaker in one key area than before the season started.

It was way back in 2014, when Rolando Aarons was seen as the next big thing to come out of Newcastle’s academy.

The club’s former football development manager, Peter Beardsley, waxed lyrical about his abilities, and tipped him to reach the top. He said: “He’s like a flying left winger with good ability – really good ability. He’s one that we’ve got high hopes for in the first team. He’s probably the main one. We expect him to do good things.”

Unfortunately for the Magpies or even Aarons himself, things haven’t quite gone to plan since he burst onto the scene as an exciting youngster at St James’ Park.

The former England U20 international is now 24, and has completely fallen off the radar at Newcastle. Since playing in the Premier League in the 2014/2015 campaign, he has featured just 27 times for the first-team, and has had several indifferent spells out on loan at various different clubs.

The kinds of teams he’s been with since making his breakthrough feels like a who’s who, with Hellas Verona, FC Slovan Liberec, Sheffield Wednesday, Wycombe Wanderers and Motherwell all seeing him come and go without making any significant impression – he has scored just four goals in his last four years.

Now, with his contract at St James’ Park set to run out in the summer of 2021, Newcastle will have to make a ruthless decision about their former academy starlet.

Aarons has shown nothing to in recent times that he’s deserving of a new long-term deal to remain at the club, and sadly, is just wasting away his career by going out on loan constantly.

Letting him leave on a permanent basis would be an admission that his career hasn’t worked out, but it’s an outcome that would be best for all parties.

Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge had his say on last night’s 2-1 victory over Sheffield United at Anfield, which lifted the Reds to second in the Premier League table.

Aldridge says how he feels

Jurgen Klopp’s got themselves over the line against a tough and rugged Blades side who were not prepared to lie down on Merseyside.

The visitors took the lead in controversial circumstances as they were awarded a penalty following Fabinho’s challenge on Oliver McBurnie. VAR deemed it to be inside the box but replays showed that Mike Dean’s original decision of a free kick outside of the area was correct.

Nevertheless, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota struck to ensure that the Reds got back to winning ways after going two games without a win in the league (via Fotmob).

Jurgen Klopp could not hide his frustration after the full-time whistle after describing the first half penalty decision as yet another ‘injustice’, which came just a week after Jordan Pickford escaped punishment for his challenge on Virgil van Dijk.

Aldridge, who scored 63 goals from 104 games during his two-year spell at Anfield (lfchistory.net), spoke from his official Twitter account about the game as a whole and the penalty incident, with a hint of sarcasm coming from the former Republic of Ireland international.

Room for improvement

Things may not be as bad as Liverpool fans first thought, as they sit close to the top of the table once again and their title challenge remains on course.

However, Aldridge is right. While it did appear that he was joking, Klopp’s team realistically need to be performing to a much higher standard if they want to beat the likes of Manchester City to the title once again.

It’s too early to figure out what course Liverpool will take with Van Dijk absent, but signing a defender in January would be a logical move. On another day, the Reds could have conceded two or three and may not get away with it in the future.

In other news, Liverpool fans blast £99m-rated ace after he lost possession 26 times.

Sebastien Haller is facing his final chance to make a success of his career with West Ham United after Irons icon Frank McAvennie called for the Frenchman to stop “sulking” and get with the show.

What’s he said?

Speaking with Football Insider, McAvennie has torn into Haller after the striker failed to offer any impact at the top of the pitch against Liverpool in the absence of Michail Antonio, who was forced to sit out the Hammers’ trip to Anfield with a hamstring injury.

The strain is expected to sideline Antonio for much of November, but David Moyes has already confirmed that the 30-year-old is back on an exercise bike and moving well following further ultrasound scans that revealed the issue to not be as severe as first feared.

Antonio’s sooner-than-expected return has reduced the window for Haller to impress after a stilted maiden campaign in east London, featuring just seven goals in 32 Premier League appearances of which four came in the opening eight games.

McAvennie expects much more from West Ham’s club-record £45million signing, beginning in Saturday night’s London derby with Fulham.

“I don’t get the boys when they’re not in the team and they’re sulking,” he said. “If somebody takes your place, which never happened to me, you fight to get it back.

“Antonio is going to be out for a few weeks, so you’ve got two or three weeks of games to prove that you’re the number one striker. If he doesn’t do that, then he’s got nobody else to blame but himself.

“He’s got it in him, sometimes he does something and you’re like ‘wow, that’s a striker’ but then his head goes down and you can’t do that in the Premier League.

“All the great strikers didn’t mope about with their head down, they go again and that’s what the big man’s got to do. Hopefully, Haller can get with the programme, keep his head up, and start smiling.”

Haller’s appearance at Liverpool was the 24-year-old’s first Premier League start for the season following five substitute cameos totalling 50 minutes, along with three Carabao Cup outings in which the former U21 international netted four times.

Last chance saloon

As McAvennie states, Antonio’s injury has opened a glorious window for Haller to demonstrate his worth to Moyes, but the 26-year-old wasted his first shot at success by struggling to impress at Anfield.

The now £27m-rated forward could only register 17 touches against Liverpool, lost possession 10 times, attempted just two ground duels, completed a mere five passes and failed to register a shot on goal or attempted dribble, per SofaScore.

His issues can stem from the system Moyes is favouring, though, as Haller was a success in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt as the Bundesliga side did not persist with a one-striker formation which leaves the 26-year-old isolated.

Instead, he thrived alongside Ante Rebic and Luka Jovic, and finding a shape closer to that is how Jonathan Harding, a journalist based in Germany who covered Haller’s final Frankfurt season, believes Moyes can get the most out of the attacker Niko Kovac once claimed “even a bulldozer can’t move”.

“A lot of things will have to go wrong for him not to deliver at West Ham,” Harding told The Athletic. “His playing style, athleticism and build make him suited to the Premier League.

“But he needs someone else up there with him. I think it would be wrong to play him up front on his own. It would be a big mistake if West Ham play him up top and use him in a similar way they did with Andy Carroll. Don’t do it, because it would be a big waste of Haller’s talent.”

But a lot has gone wrong for Haller in his brief time in east London to now be a misfit in claret and blue who Manuel Pellegrini bet big on succeeding. The question is, can Haller now use Antonio’s injury to his benefit, or will this prove to be his last hurrah?

AND in other news, West Ham are considering a January bid to sign an “explosive” talent.

Glasgow Rangers manager Steven Gerrard must give Jermain Defoe the time to shine at Ibrox amid reports Lille remain interested in Alfredo Morelos.

What’s the story?

According to The Daily Record, the French Ligue 1 side could return for Morelos in January after Luis Campos came out victorious in a power struggle at the Stade Pierre Mauroy.

The transfer guru was widely credited as being the brains behind the operation as Lille sort to prise the Colombia international away from the Light Blues in the summer.

It’s claimed that Rangers reportedly rebuffed a £16.5m bid for Morelos despite the fact the Colombian striker had already agreed personal terms with the Ligue 1 club.

Whilst Gerrard has a wealth of attacking talent at his disposal, having signed Cedric Itten and Kemar Roofe on four-year-deals for an undisclosed fee in the summer, it’s fair to say that they are both a league below the former England international, who scored his 300th goal in his club career in the 2-0 win over Livingston in the Scottish Premiership.

Defoe, described as “unbelievable” by Marlon Harewood in an exclusive interview with FFC, has hinted that he could be called into action against Aberdeen at the Govan stadium as he posted a picture on Instagram of himself working hard to maintain his fitness with a recovery session in an ice bath at the training centre.

The Ibrox boss has afforded the 38-year-old just 169 minutes of Premiership football and he has been left on the bench for the majority of the season so far, whilst he was also axed from the Europa League squad to make room for Bongani Zungu.

Time to shine

It’s notable that Defoe has still scored two goals and supplied two assists in four games for the Gers in all competitions so far this season, despite struggling to regain a spot in Gerrard’s plans, but his hard-working attitude shows that the Rangers manager may have to reconsider his strategy.

Gerrard surely must realise that he has to give the veteran the time to shine on a regular basis as he has shown no signs of slowing down anytime soon which will enable him to mentor some of the younger players of the squad like the Swiss international to help him to settle to life at Ibrox.

If this is indeed his swansong, as it’s hard to deny the fact that he has entered the twilight of his career, then the Gers must squeeze some more juice from the lemon.

Gerrard has often spoken admirably about his ability when the £1.2m-rated monster has featured for the first team previously, telling The Daily Record in October: “I think it’s fantastic to have so many options. It’s the first time I’ve had this luxury and this volume of strikers available.

“Jermain has had quite a few injuries of late when he was playing too much so he’s certainly a player we need to manage and bring in and out at the right time. He understands that.

“It was a good performance from him at the weekend with a world class goal so he’s finally in the place this season where we have wanted him for a long time. So he’s ready and I know he’s ready.”

However, chances have continued to be few and far between since those comments, although the former Tottenham Hotspur striker started against Hamilton Academical, registering an assist as Rangers ran riot over the Accies in a dominant display at home before the international break.

In his past two appearances, he has scored one goal and supplied one assist, whilst he is averaging 1.5 shots per game in the Premiership, via WhoScored. By comparison, Itten has only mustered 1.2 shots per league game, as per WhoScored.

If the Gers are to regain the title for the first time since the 2010/11 season, we suspect that Defoe will still have a part to play – if he is given such an opportunity, of course. What better way for him to send Gerrard a timely reminder than by unleashing him against Aberdeen?

The timing surely couldn’t be any better, especially when you consider the fact that Morelos has only just returned from international duty with Colombia with a long flight back from South America. Defoe fully fit and firing on all cylinders could be a force to be reckoned with.

AND in other news, Exclusive: Marlon Harewood makes claim about Jermain Defoe’s Rangers future at Glasgow Rangers…

A strong-looking West Brom U23 side defeated Sunderland with ease in the Premier League 2 on Monday afternoon and it was all thanks to one man in particular.

Albion’s 32-year-old outcast Kamil Grosicki netted himself a brace as he played the first full 90 minutes of his 2020/21 season.

Indeed, the Polish winger, who is still playing regularly at international level, is yet to feature in the Premier League for the Baggies this term. His only senior minutes have been an hour run-out against Harrogate Town in the Carabao Cup.

Grosicki was also on the verge of leaving the Hawthorns this summer but a late switch to old Championship foes Nottingham Forest fell through at the last hurdle as the EFL rejected the transfer as documents were submitted after the deadline.

As a result, the veteran wide man was added to Slaven Bilic’s 25-man squad for the Premier League, though he hasn’t made a matchday squad since the opening day.

Charlie Austin, Kyle Edwards and Rakeem Harper were all also involved with the U23s, but it was the Pole who stood out amongst the rest.

For Grosicki, it was a chance to prove his worth in a competitive match and to remind Bilic of his abilities, which were once dubbed “unplayable” by his former Hull City boss Grant McCann.

Whilst ex-Tigers manager Nigel Adkins said similar, claiming that Grosicki was a “massive threat to anyone.”

The 32-year-old even bagged a hat-trick for Poland during the international break too, so surely Bilic is left with plenty to think about, especially given the fact that he’s not yet found a regular starter for the right-wing position.

Grosicki is likely to be a wanted man in January again, this time with Middlesbrough linked with a move, so he’s merely proving his fitness levels with such dominating displays with the youth team.

The £25k-per-week winger has fired his warning shot at his manager, now it’s on the Croatian to react – surely Bilic can’t afford to let him leave without giving him a run-out over the festive period.

AND in other news, West Brom could land an upgrade on Livermore with £12m swoop…

Steven Gerrard must bite the bullet and put the pressure on Ross Wilson to cash in on Glasgow Rangers outcast Jordan Jones in January.

What’s the word?

Jones joined Rangers in 2019 on a free transfer after he agreed a four-year pre-contract deal from Kilmarnock, with the winger saying: “I’ve waited for this moment for a long time and today is a dream come true!”

The Gers had originally tried to sign him a year prior to his move but to no avail, until he reached an agreement with the 54-time Scottish champions which has seen him earn wages worth £9,100-per-week per the terms of his contract, that means he earns more than first-team regular starter Glen Kamara, despite the fact he has made less than half of his appearances so far this season.

Gerrard has insisted Jones can still play a big part in the light blue jersey after a difficult debut campaign.

However, the Northern Ireland international has largely failed to live up to these lofty expectations, with just one goal and two assists in his past 19 appearances for the club in all competitions, via Transfermarkt.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Aberdeen and Leeds United striker Noel Whelan believes Jones and his colleague George Edmundson are heading for the exit after breaching COVID rules, with the winter transfer market set to open in just under a month’s time.

He said: “You cannot change Gerrard’s mind now. I think they will go in January.

“If you do not meet the criteria and the standards required to be a regular in the first team then, unfortunately you need to look somewhere else.”

Get him gone, Gers!

Jones had been named in the squad for three of their first eight fixtures across all competitions, but is yet to feature for the first team since the 2-0 win over Livingston in the Scottish Premiership.

In fact, his chances have been few and far between under Gerrard even prior to his latest transgression, as the Ibrox boss has only deemed it necessary to start him just twice in the top flight, whilst he was axed from the Europa League squad to make room for new summer recruit Bongani Zungu.

Both of his starts came against lower-level opposition in Motherwell and Premiership strugglers Ross County respectively as Rangers ran out the winners on both occasions before he was left on the bench as an unused substitute during the first Old Firm derby of the season.

Gerrard may have already decided against giving Jones another chance anyway as Kemar Roofe has made a home for himself on the right wing, with 8 goals and an assist in his past 14 games in all competitions, via Transfermarkt.

Roofe’s emergence on the right wing coupled with Ianis Hagi’s breakthrough campaign last season must surely prove to be the final straw in deciding his fate, as Gerrard simply cannot afford to put his faith in the Northern Irishman anymore.

AND in other news, Glasgow Rangers chief Ross Wilson must deliver Billy Gilmour or face consequences…

Loads of Everton fans have been reacting to a transfer update regarding the future of Cenk Tosun by Mikos Gouka.

As per the football journalist, Feyenoord are reportedly interested in signing the Turkey international on a loan deal in the January transfer window, which has led several members of the Goodison Park faithful into expressing their desire for him to leave.

Tosun has not exactly pulled up many trees since arriving at the Merseyside club, scoring a mere 10 goals and making a further six assists in 55 games in all competitions (Transfermarkt), and so, even though it would only be a loan move, perhaps it is a good idea just to free up some of the wage bill or an extra place in the squad for the Toffees to bring someone else in next month.

Everton fan reaction to Tosun link

These EFC supporters were more than happy to let the 29 year-old striker go on Twitter:

“Sorry he’s not good enough”

Credit: @MikeCar31671718

“No loans, sell.”

Credit: @sickleclown

“No loan he has to be sold, this league is too fast paced for him”

Credit: @ScarletzCaptain

“Please let this be true”

Credit: @Michael32183956

“They can buy him”

Credit: @Saraevaans

“We want to sell not loan him”

Credit: @nextgen_iptv

In other news, find out why past comments on Ancelotti have come back to haunt some pundits here!

It seems that a new central defender is high on the list of priorities for new West Brom boss Sam Allardyce in the upcoming transfer window…

What’s the word?

According to The Sun on Sunday (December 20th, page 65), the Baggies manager is eyeing a move to sign West Ham defender Issa Diop on loan in January.

It’s claimed that the Irons are open to shifting the Frenchman out on loan and could even sanction a sale should they receive a decent offer.

Big Sam is a big fan and could look to sign Diop, who cost the east Londoners £22m back in the summer of 2018. He is thought to also be on wages of around £67k-per-week, according to Spotrac.

Colossal upgrade

It is no wonder the 66-year-old is eyeing defensive reinforcements as his first port of call as Albion are among the Premier League’s leakiest teams.

Indeed, only Leeds United (30) have conceded more goals than West Brom (29). Both are near-enough still deploying their Championship XIs, so it is hardly a surprise.

The Baggies hierarchy sold Ahmed Hegazi behind the back of former manager Slaven Bilic, and aside from Branislav Ivanovic, who is getting on a bit at 36, Allardyce has been left with vastly inexperienced players.

Diop has played 69 times in the English top-flight and 85 times in Ligue 1, as per Transfermarkt, so he certainly seems a good option to fill the void. Even more so after the Hammers once valued him at £75m amid interest from Manchester United.

Jose Mourinho once dubbed him a “monster” capable of dominating duels after he nullified the threat of Paul Pogba two years ago and whilst his current valuation of £18m suggests things haven’t gone to plan, he has still performed at a decent enough level.

Paul Robinson also told Football Insider: “Diop’s proven this season that he’s reliable, strong, very very capable and he’s been a part of West Ham’s success. He is good enough for a top-four team.”

High praise indeed.

Last season, Diop averaged 5.1 clearances, 2.5 aerials won, 1.5 interceptions and 0.8 tackles per game, via WhoScored.

Albion’s current partnership of Semi Ajayi and Dara O’Shea barely have a fraction of the games played of the French colossus, and neither is managing more clearances per game this term either.

Diop would be an ideal upgrade from Luke Dowling and co next month.

AND in other news, Luke Dowling heading for a familiar mistake as GIANTS eye young sensation…

David Sullivan has been gifted an ideal opportunity to sell Robert Snodgrass with the West Ham United outcast wanted by West Bromwich Albion in a permanent January transfer.

What’s the word?

According to the Express & Star, Snodgrass has emerged as a potential option for West Brom to explore in the mid-season market as Sam Allardyce plans to strengthen the spine of his new side.

Allardyce has placed a defender, defensive midfielder and striker high on his list of positions to fill, and he is determined to add quality options who have the experience and character needed to survive a relegation fight.

Snodgrass is considered as a potential addition who can bring a positive influence both on and off the pitch, with West Ham willing to sell the 33-year-old before his £40,000-per-week contract expires in the summer.

Albion expect to be able to sign Snodgrass for a nominal fee given his impending status as a free agent and as he has only been given three starts across all competitions and played a mere four minutes in the Premier League under David Moyes thus far this season.

The Baggies would prefer a permanent transfer over a loan deal as they already have Conor Gallagher occupying one of their two domestic loan slots, and they wish to use the other to sign Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury for the remainder of the campaign.

Snodgrass had already been tipped for an uncertain future at the London Stadium beyond the January window as Moyes looks to strengthen his squad, and was of interest to Celtic last summer who have been backed to revive their position this month.

Ideal chance to cash-in

Sullivan may not get many more opportunities to sell Snodgrass before he becomes a free agent at the end of the season, at which point he will not be able to recoup anything for the £3.5m-rated midfielder who has become a forgotten man in Moyes’ Premier League squad.

The Irons must explore West Brom’s interest in the winter market if the Hammers wish to avoid losing Snodgrass for free, as it is clear that the 33-year-old has no immediate and pressing role to play in Moyes’ plans outside of the cup competitions.

Next Monday’s trip to non-league side Stockport County in the FA Cup, therefore, could be Snodgrass’ final game in claret and blue, yet he may have already made his final appearance as Allardyce would no doubt be keen for the former Scotland international not to be cup-tied.

Snodgrass has proven that he still has something left in his locker with two goals and an assist in the Carabao Cup this season, while contributing five goals and five assists in 24 Premier League fixtures last term as West Ham’s second-most influential player.

AND in other news, David Moyes has dodged a huge bullet as West Ham dealt blow in bid to sign an 11-goal target.