Everton Can Ditch Calvert-Lewin By Signing Serie A Titan

Everton are struggling once again to retain their Premier League status after another tumultuous campaign that has seen key players leave, poor performances aplenty and another managerial sacking at Goodison Park.

The Toffees are just one point clear of the relegation zone heading into their penultimate game of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers this weekend and nothing short of all three points will suffice to keep their fate firmly in their hands.

Should Sean Dyche find the moments of magic that save Everton over the next ten days, there is no doubt that change will be desperately needed if the club are to have any hope of competing comfortably in the Premier League next season.

Indeed, there are many contributors to their downfall beyond the overall lacklustre performances week in, week out, with the departure of Anthony Gordon and Richarlison weakening the forward line alongside injury issues to the likes of Yerry Mina, Nathan Patterson, Seamus Coleman and Dominic Calvert-Lewin dampening the depth and quality upon selection of the starting XI.

However, when looking at Everton's problems on paper, it is clear to see where the biggest problem lies on the pitch with the second-fewest goals scored (32) in the entire Premier League this season, and only recently relegated Southampton have scored fewer, which should serve as a stark warning of what's to come if improvements aren't made.

As a result, Dyche must finally ditch Everton's biggest sick note in Calvert-Lewin and instead sign a striker who is not only reliable but prolific in front of goal, with transfer target Beto the perfect replacement.

Should Everton replace Calvert-Lewin with Beto?

The Toffees have lost a lot of time waiting for Calvert-Lewin to return to his best after almost two seasons of injury struggles and although the £100k-per-week striker returned a few weeks ago, he has now become an injury concern once again going into the final fixtures of the campaign.

Reinforcements in the forward line were already needed back in January but opportunities were missed and left too late, so when the summer transfer window opens in a few weeks, it should be the highest priority to secure the services of a centre-forward.

Everton have been linked with a move for Udinese striker Beto since last summer and it was reported last week that he is now expected to leave the Serie A club as they are lining up another goal-scorer to replace him next season, putting Dyche in a great position to secure his signature.

Over 30 league appearances, the 6 foot 3 titan has scored ten goals, registered one assist and created three big chances, as well as averaging one successful dribble, 1.9 shots on goal and 4.6 duels won per game, proving that, like Calvert-Lewin, Beto uses his stature to create chances in front of goal.

Udinese striker Beto

The Portuguese goal machine has even been compared to former Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig claiming he is "Lukaku-esque", whilst journalist Sam Tighe complimented Beto on his ability to trouble defenders:

"The way Beto (Udinese) spooks defenders is amazing. Chuck a ball into the channel for him to chase and even if he doesn't latch onto it, defenders panic under his pressure and end up making the craziest decisions or panicked clearances."

With that being said, Dyche can bring in a striker who possesses all the qualities of Calvert-Lewin but brings the reliability and consistency that the Everton forward line are crying out for to improve their position and performances next season.

Chelsea Could Bring ‘Unplayable’ Wonderkid To Stamford Bridge

Chelsea has entered the tug of war for Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri.

What’s the latest on Ethan Nwaneri to Chelsea?

According to The Athletic, the Blues, alongside Manchester United and Manchester City are all monitoring the schoolboy, who is yet to resolve his future at the Emirates Stadium.

Although, the Gunners have not given up hope of convincing him to accept their offer and a new round of negotiations has taken place.

The teen’s current deal expires in the summer, so there is a race against time to secure his future in north London.

How old was Nwaneri when he made his Arsenal debut?

The prodigy is already engrained in top-flight folklore when he became the youngest player to appear in a Premier League match after he came off the bench against Brentford in September 2022, aged just 15 years and 181 days.

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka eulogised over the talent and said: “He has a big future, if I am honest, I am doing my coaching licence and I have trained the Under-16s. You can see a big difference with him and the other guys. He is very, very special.

Chelsea target Ethan Nwaneri

“Of course you have to protect him as he is very young but if he keeps going like this with his hard work he has a big, big future.”

Should Chelsea sign Nwaneri?

To those inside the Emirates Stadium, the boy’s incredible rise into national prominence is no surprise.

By the age of just 14, he was already playing for the U18 side, and at the start of this campaign, he moved to the U21s.

He has also featured for the England U17s, and has registered a commendable nine goal contributions in 14 appearances – this is a glowing testament to his quality and maturity. Nwaneri is already an overachiever, who is firmly on the pathway to immortality if he continues this growth at an exponential rate.

Former Arsenal U18 coach Dan Micciche has described the Englishman as someone “very highly thought of” with a “champion mentality”, whilst the club's U18 manager Jack Wilshere has labelled him “unplayable.”

He is a tricky, agile, and pacey player, who bares very similar traits to former Arsenal academy starlet Omari Hutchinson, who joined Chelsea last summer.

Across 71 appearances for various youth sides, the winger has recorded 51 goal contributions, and although he is yet to make meaningful inroads into the Chelsea first-team, he is still regarded as one of the nation’s biggest talents.

For Thomas Tuchel and head of youth recruitment, Jim Fraser, to pluck him from Arsenal was quite the statement. After all, like Nwaneri, he'd already appeared in first-team training and was on the bench a number of times.

Indeed, the prodigy looked all set for a bright future in north London, only to be snatched away by one of the club's rivals.

Given how young Nwaneri was when he made his debut, this would perhaps be an even bigger statement by Todd Boehly and co with it set to look like a real masterclass once again if they can repeat the feat of signing a promising youngster from the Arsenal academy.

Man Utd’s £375k-p/w Gem Remains "Vital" For Ten Hag

As Manchester United claimed a narrow victory over AFC Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon courtesy of Casemiro's goal, it proved yet another impressive outing for the Red Devils' backline, having racked up a 17th Premier League clean sheet of the season.

That latest shut-out away at the Vitality Stadium saw long-serving stopper, David De Gea once again prove "vital" in the sticks – as per journalist Samuel Luckhurst – having ensured that he will be taking home the division's Golden Glove award.

For all the fury surrounding the shambolic defeats to the likes of Brentford, Manchester City and Liverpool, the "defensive improvement" for Erik ten Hag's side has still been "impressive", according to Luckhurst, with the club's number one having been a central part of that fine work so far this season.

While there has been much talk about how De Gea will fit into the Dutchman's long-term plans at Old Trafford – amid the continued talks surrounding a new contract extension – the 32-year-old proved against the Cherries that he remains a key asset for the top-four hopefuls in the short-term, at least.

How did De Gea perform against Bournemouth?

On a day in which United were far from at their brilliant best, De Gea was instrumental in keeping Gary O'Neil's men at bay, having produced two "excellent saves", according to The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell.

The £375k-per-week ace notably did well to deny substitute Kieffer Moore late on, standing strong to deny the towering Welshman after the visiting defence had been caught napping.

Man United's David De Gea

Not that the former Atletico Madrid man was often left exposed, however, with those in front of him also proving their worth, with experienced ace Raphael Varane having been "unbelievable", according to journalist Liam Canning.

The composed Frenchman was particularly 'solid' alongside Victor Lindelof – as per Luckhurst – having provided a reminder of his quality amid continued speculation surrounding the club's interest in Napoli defender, Kim Min-jae.

De Gea, too, may well have also seen reports that he could be usurped as the starting option next season, although the 30-touch ace also answered his critics with his standout display yesterday, with his 8.0 match rating having been the second-best of any player for either side – as per Sofascore.

Even if the 6 foot 4 rock is to be replaced this summer, he will still be counted on over the coming games, with it a real asset for Ten Hag to be able to rely on such experienced figures like the 45-cap gem and teammate, Varane.

Journalist Reacts To Potentially Huge Wolves Update

Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui deciding to leave the club at the end of the season "would be a disaster", according to journalist Dean Jones.

Is Lopetegui doing a good job at Wolves?

When the Spaniard arrived at Molineux back in November, they felt in genuine danger of being relegated from the Premier League, following a grim end to Bruno Lage's reign. They were 19th in the table at the time, so he had a big job on his hands turning Wanderers' season around.

Lopetegui has excelled overall in the job, showing why he is such a highly-regarded manager and steering Wolves comfortably clear of safety. As his side prepare to visit Arsenal on Sunday afternoon in the final game of the campaign, a 12th-place finish is still possible, and a chance to even overtake Chelsea.

The influence that he has had cannot be underestimated, with Wolves possibly playing Championship football next season if Lage had stayed on, but worrying, some exit rumours have emerged in recent weeks.

Julen Lopetegui

Could Lopetegui leave Molineux this summer?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones admitted that Lopetegui moving on would be disastrous for Wolves:

"It would be a bit of a disaster for Wolves if Lopetegui walked away. They already have key squad members set to leave and there is no succession plan in mind because it would come out of the blue so early into his reign. He’s got a vision and we have seen the early stages of that showing some progress.

"There is some substance to the frustration that is being reported and the FFP situation, I understand, but it would be a huge shock if he actually walked away. Wolves looked at brining Nuno back to the club not too long ago but having to considering something like that again so soon would really not be ideal.”

To lose Lopetegui so soon after coming would be an enormous setback for Wolves, who will no doubt be hoping he remains at Molineux for a number of years to come.

He has done so much to improve matters at the club, from ensuring performances are more easy on the eye to getting far more out of individuals who were struggling under Bruno Lage, such as Daniel Podence, for example, who is Wanderers' joint-top goalscorer in the Premier League with six strikes.

The hope is that Lopetegui decides that his future lies at Wolves, seeing next season as a chance to take his team up a level, although assurance over transfer funds look vital, in that respect.

Arsenal Could Sign £35m Fabregas Clone

Arsenal have enjoyed some glorious days across their rich history, yet the start of Mikel Arteta's reign threatened to derail those years of success under Arsene Wenger.

Unai Emery had struggled to offer an instant impact following the legendary Frenchman's retirement, and so the hierarchy traded one Spaniard for another and instead put their trust in youth.

Despite a tumultuous opening two years, his most recent term has provided all the rewards their loyalty has merited. However, they are far from reaching their ultimate goal of toppling Manchester City and reclaiming that Premier League title.

It is common knowledge that to do this Edu will need to invest heavily once again this summer, adding more depth to a starting XI that could likely compete with anyone across Europe when fully fit.

In an effort to conjure the success of past regimes, perhaps the Brazilian sporting director could seek to replicate the key stars from those older periods of glory.

Fortunately for him and Arteta, the availability of Orkun Kokcu at just €40m (£35m), and their reported interest from last month, could see them emulate Cesc Fabregas' early days in north London.

Does Orkun Kokcu play like Cesc Fabregas?

Before he reverted to a metronome-like figure in the engine room of Barcelona and Chelsea, the Spaniard was an all-action box-to-box star, who would claim goals and assists from deep.

In Fabregas' first full year in the first team, the now 36-year-old would record 11 goal contributions, before taking that figure up to 17 the year following.

The apex, however, arguably came during the 2009/10 season, as he scored 15 and assisted a further 15 in the league alone, with 38 goal contributions to his name across all competitions from midfield.

It was no surprise that at the time Wenger claimed: "I have seen a lot of young players start in the game and he is one of the best I have ever seen. He gave a few final balls, set up the first goal and there were a series of key moments in which he was involved. It is very pleasing."

cesc-fabregas-arsenal

In Kokcu, they would gain another young goalscoring star from deep, given how his offensive exploits have fired Feyenoord to an unlikely title win in Holland.

The 22-year-old boasts 12 goals and five assists this term and has been dubbed "the best in his league" by former Juventus star Mohamed Sissoko, to emphasise his pedigree akin to Wenger's earlier praise.

His numbers are dressed up in a similar all-action play style that saw Fabregas shoot to fame, as when compared to other midfielders across Europe he ranks in the top 3% for progressive carries per 90 and the top 1% for shot-creating actions per 90, via FBref.

It is perhaps no surprise then to see such similarities drawn by analysts in the game, with Nick Gada stating during the infancy of the Turk's career: "Can see why Arteta is after Orkun Kokcu. His passing ability for a 19yo is unreal. A lot of similarities to a Fabregas / Cazorla."

In this dynamic Turkish superstar, therefore, Edu could hand Arteta some added firepower to replace the outgoing Granit Xhaka and allow the 41-year-old head coach to mould him even further in the image of his legendary compatriot.

Chelsea keen on ‘terrific’ £80m machine to replace Kante

N’Golo Kante’s sudden departure from Stamford Bridge means Chelsea now have to act.

The World Cup winner had been close to an agreement to extend his stay in the English capital, but a €100m (£86m) a season deal with Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad suddenly looks set to end his fruitful career in Europe.

His last year at the Blues was ravaged by injury, and he only made nine appearances in all competitions – this prolonged absence was one of the reasons for Chelsea’s spectacular decline into the bottom half of the table.

The 32-year-old must be replaced and Moises Caicedo is a player who can adopt a similar role.

What’s the latest on Moises Caicedo to Chelsea?

Having missed out on the signature of CP Sporting’s Manuel Ugarte, the West Londoners are expected to accelerate their efforts to tempt Caicedo to join.

Whilst it seemed that Chelsea were prioritising a deal for the Uruguayan, it’s been revealed that the 2021 Champions League winners have been equally interested in the Brighton star for around £80m.

This has been reaffirmed by reputable journalist Dean Jones, who told GIVEMESPORT: “I don’t think it’s even a case of getting back of the Caicedo trail, they’ve already been on it. The whole time the Ugarte thing has been going on, Caicedo is still the one I’ve been hearing more about. I’ve always expected that Chelsea would go for Caicedo.”

Can Caicedo replicate Kante’s exploits at Chelsea?

Across seven years at Chelsea, the former Leicester City star notched 269 appearances, 29 goal involvements, and six different trophies, winning everything available aside from the Carabao Cup.

The 53-cap international is renowned for his energetic and insufferable ability to break up opposition attacks and protect his backline.

Due to his unbelievable consistency, Cesc Fabregas has labelled Kante as “world-class”, a sentiment that was echoed by Ally McCoist, who described the player as “absolutely magic.”

N'Golo Kante for Chelsea

The beautiful chapter of Kante’s tremendous story at Chelsea has rightfully ended, forging the pathway for Caicedo to possibly repeat the heroics of his positional peer.

Within his age bracket, the youngster has brilliantly excelled as the £60k-per-week star has won possession in the midfield third the most times (142) of any U21 player this season.

Across the continent, the 30-cap international has also emerged as a formidable asset, ranking within the top 26% in Europe’s top five leagues among other midfielders for progressive passes, as well as the highest 11% for interceptions per 90, according to FBref.

So far in his short, but equally dazzling career, Caicedo has demonstrated himself to be a phenomenal pivot with an uncoachable quality to read the game and sniff out danger.

South American Football expert Tim Vickery has described the Ecuadorian as “terrific” and whilst it would be foolish to suggest he can instantly fill Kante’s void if he continues on his currently frightening trajectory, he could be unstoppable.

Newcastle Eyeing Intelligent £15m Machine

Newcastle United are reportedly preparing a bid for Wolfsburg midfielder Felix Nmecha, with the Germany international attracting attention after a standout campaign in the Bundesliga.

What's the latest on Felix Nmecha to Newcastle?

That's following a recent report from the Telegraph's Luke Edwards claiming that an offer for the ace is currently being prepared after manager Eddie Howe has been left enamoured by his box-to-box prowess.

The 22-year-old is likely to cost around £15m and could prove to be a shrewd avenue to delve down as the Magpies look to bolster the ranks after qualifying for the Champions League in an incredible campaign.

The report claims that the Toon are targetting two 'elite' signings this summer and will also look to bring in another midfielder, and Nmecha could well be the perfect option to fortify the centre ahead of what will be a mammoth campaign on Tyneside.

Should Newcastle sign Felix Nmecha?

Previously played out wide, Nmecha struggled to break into the Wolfsburg first-team before a positional alteration left him flourishing as a robust midfielder.

Niko Kovac is certainly impressed, saying: "Previously, he never got into a rhythm. He played in so many different positions. Now he's playing in midfield and you can see his technical ability. He has [also] improved physically."

He only started 19 times in the German first division this year but scored three times and supplied six further assists, putting the pieces together in his breakout campaign and looking every bit the future first-rate midfielder, having been hailed as "intelligent" by journalist Josh Bunting.

As per FBref, the £1.8k-per-week dynamo already ranks among the top 22% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 4% for rate of assists, the top 19% for successful take-ons, the top 20% for clearances and the top 7% for aerials won per 90, outlining him as a well-rounded asset.

Considering the different facets, Newcastle technical director Dan Ashworth might be wise to abandon the club's pursuit of Juventus' midfield machine Adrien Rabiot, whose contract is up for expiry this summer.

Wolfsburg's Felix Nmecha

Having scored 11 goals this season, the 36-cap ace would undoubtedly enrich the Toon ranks but on £150k-per-week and boasting a similar profile to Magpies star Joelinton, as per FBref's Similar Players model, it might not be the most auspicious move to make.

Indeed, compared to his fellow midfielder, the Frenchman ranks inside the top 27% for rate of assists, the best 26% for successful take-ons and the top 16% for aerials won per 90, via FBref, suggesting that it is Nmecha who may well be the better option.

Indeed, still only 22-years-old, the youngster could be nurtured and developed at St. James' Park, integrating over several seasons into a prominent role under Howe's stewardship and finally playing with every bit the prowess Rabiot has to offer and more.

Aston Villa In Pole Position To Sign £110k-p/w Player

Aston Villa are thought to be in pole position to sign Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo this summer.

What’s the latest Aston Villa transfer news?

Villa have already made a start on their transfer business this summer by reaching an agreement with Youri Tielemans. The club have since confirmed that former Sevilla sporting director Monchi has been brought in as Villa’s president of football operations and will work closely with manager Unai Emery and report to owners NSWE.

One of his first moves could well be for Arthur, who has seen his Transfermarkt valuation drop from a career-high €70m in 2019 to €15m today.

According to reports in Spain, relayed by Tuttomercatoweb, Villa are in pole position to sign the midfielder this summer and are the side who are most interested.

Premier League rivals Newcastle United are also named as a side who are keen, with the player open to leaving Juventus on a permanent basis.

Who is Arthur Melo?

Arthur is primarily a central midfielder who can also play in a deeper role if required. The 26-year-old began his career in his native country of Brazil before moving to Barcelona in 2018 from Gremio.

He made a big money move to Juventus in 2020 after making 72 appearances at the Nou Camp and has gone on to turn out on 63 occasions for the Italian side.

Arthur, on £110,000-a-week, joined Liverpool on loan last summer, however, he made just one appearance at Anfield, but it looks as if he could remain in England with a move to Villa Park.

Should Monchi seal a move for the Brazilian, Emery will be looking to get the player back to his best, with Arthur known as a fine technician and once hailed as "extraordinary" by Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri.

It could well be a busy summer at Villa Park ahead of the new season which will include Europa Conference League football. You may argue that a move for Arthur could be a gamble due to his injury history which included surgery last season, but it appears as if this is one to keep an eye on.

Man United Plotting £40m Offer To Sign "Rolls Royce"

An update has emerged on the transfer saga surrounding Declan Rice and Manchester United's involvement in the race for his signature…

What's the latest on Declan Rice to Manchester United?

According to the Daily Mail, the Red Devils are viewed as an outside contender to secure the signing of the West Ham United captain in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that Erik ten Hag's side have made an enquiry for the England international with a view to submitting an offer of £40m, in a deal that would also see Anthony Elanga and Harry Maguire make their way to the London Stadium.

However, it states that Arsenal, who have had a bid of £90m rejected by the Hammers, are currently the favourites to sign the 24-year-old enforcer, whilst Premier League champions Manchester City are also eyeing a swoop for him.

West Ham are said to want at least £100m for the defensive midfielder and it remains to be seen whether they would be open to taking two players in a part-exchange deal, with United to offset a large chunk of the fee.

How did Declan Rice perform last season?

The English battler, who was once dubbed a "Rolls Royce" by journalist Joshua Mbu, enjoyed a terrific campaign in the Premier League, and his performances suggest that he would be a big upgrade on current Red Devils midfielder Scott McTominay.

Rice averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.19 across 37 league outings in 2022/23 and contributed 3.8 tackles and interceptions per game to go along with four goals and two assists.

West Ham captain Declan Rice.

This is not a flash in the pan for the 24-year-old star, either, as the Hammers academy product averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.19 across 36 league matches in 2021/22 and made four tackles and interceptions per clash.

These statistics show that the £60k-per-week titan, who won 58% of his individual duels in the season just gone, has been a consistent performer over a significant period of time in the Premier League.

McTominay, on the other hand, endured a difficult 2022/23 campaign as the Scotland international averaged an unimpressive Sofascore rating of 6.70 across 24 matches and made 1.9 tackles and interceptions per game for the side.

The 26-year-old had enjoyed a better 2021/22 as the towering midfielder averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.91 across 30 clashes and swept up ahead of the defence with 3.2 tackles and interceptions per outing, though this is still less impressive than the United target's recent form from a defensive and more general perspective.

These statistics suggest that McTominay, who has never averaged a rating higher than 7.08 in seven seasons, is not capable of performing at the level that Rice has for West Ham in the last two campaigns.

Therefore, Ten Hag could be landing a big upgrade on the Scottish dud by swooping this summer to sign the England international, who has the quality to deliver higher-quality defensive displays on a regular basis.

Aston Villa Send Chiefs To Watch £15m "Turkish Messi"

Aston Villa have sent scouts to watch Fenerbahce star Arda Guler in action ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Arda Guler?

Guler is naturally an attacking midfielder who currently plies his trade in the Super Lig having graduated from his club’s academy back in 2021 where he’s since gone on to become a regular feature of Jorge Jesus’ first-team, registering 51 senior appearances to date.

The Turkey international still has another two years to run on his contract with his homeland side, but having emerged as their overall second-best-performing player last season with a WhoScored match rating of 7.28, appears to have caught the eye of Unai Emery.

Still just 18 years of age, Guler is still very much in the early development stages of his career, but having already started to show what he’s capable of on the main stage, numerous clubs are interested in securing his services to progress his skill set even further.

Are Aston Villa signing Guler?

According to TEAMtalk, Aston Villa chiefs were “in attendance” to watch Guler during Turkey’s 2-0 victory over Wales last Monday, making their first move ahead of a potential transfer. Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Brighton and Newcastle scouts were also present to assess the midfielder, alongside several other clubs around Europe.

Fenerbahce are “working hard” to get their prized asset to remain at his boyhood club for at least one more season and are ready to give him a “big pay rise” in return for increasing his release clause which currently stands at €17.5m (£15m).

Fenerbahce midfielder Arda Guler.

What could Guler bring to Villa Park?

Aston Villa and new president of football operations Monchi will know that Guler is naturally stronger in the offensive aspect of his game where his impressive performances throughout his career have seen him nicknamed the ‘Turkish Messi’, whereas Andrea Pirlo has called him a "very talented player" who has "quality" so he would bring a creative flair and prolific threat to B6.

The 2022/23 Europa League participant clocked up eight goal contributions (four goals and the same number of assists) in 20 Super Lig outings last season, with this impressive form during that time seeing him receive four man-of-the-match awards.

Fenerbahce’s gem also averaged two key passes and dribbles per league game during the previous term so is always looking to produce moments of magic for his teammates, and should he put pen to paper in the weeks ahead, he would only continue to excel under the guidance of Emery.

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