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Everton have yet again found themselves falling into trouble in the Premier League after a poor run of performances have left the Toffees just one point clear of the relegation zone.

Frank Lampard will be frustrated that his team have fallen so far after starting out well with, at one point, the best defensive record in the top flight, but the good form was short-lived and ultimately the lack of attacking prowess in front of goal started to catch up on the team.

After Jamie Carragher branded Everton’s backline a “Championship back four” following a number of humiliating defensive performances last term, the powers at Goodison Park worked hard over the summer to snap up some of the best talents that the club could afford to improve the defence.

Indeed, it was a success with James Tarkowski and Conor Coady developing a solid centre-back partnership that works perfectly with ‘keeper Jordan Pickford too, however, there are now growing concerns at the other end of the pitch.

Following Richarlison’s £60m move to Tottenham Hotspur alongside Dominic Calvert Lewin’s ongoing injury struggles that have seen him sidelined for the vast majority of the last 12 months, it is safe to say that the experience in the forward line has taken a big hit.

In fact, only Wolverhampton Wanderers have scored fewer goals than Everton this campaign which will be extremely disappointing for Lampard who will be desperate to resolve the lack of goals being scored when the transfer market reopens.

One player who could help the manager to get Goodison Park rocking again over the second half of the season is Watford and Senegal winger Ismaila Sarr.

Everton have been linked over the last few days with another move for the Senegalese winger after failing to secure his services in the summer and Lampard needs him now more than ever, especially when you consider the player’s form in the Championship this season.

The Senegalese star – who could cost £30m – has scored six goals, registered four assists and created two big chances, as well as averaging 1.2 successful dribbles and winning 3.9 duels per game over 17 appearances.

In fact, the versatile forward – who was dubbed “outstanding” by Graeme Bailey – has scored 53 goals and registered 42 assists over his career so far with a goal contribution every 180 minutes, proving that he has always been a consistent and reliable performer in front of goal.

With that being said, Lampard should do everything he can to convince the powers at Goodison to deliver a tempting offer to Watford to secure the services of Sarr.

Indeed, his tricky forward play and ability to find the net with great regularity could get the fans on side again, with the Senegal international very much looking like the missing piece of the puzzle.

Two unnamed Premier League clubs join Barcelona with interest in Celtic right-back Josip Juranovic, according to an update from Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

The Lowdown: Juranovic’s stock rises

The 27-year-old enjoyed a fantastic 2022 World Cup campaign with Croatia, eventually helping them finish third at the Qatar-based tournament.

Juranovic was arguably the best right-back on show in the competition, starting six matches and chipping in with one assist for good measure, impressing greatly in the quarter-final win over Brazil.

His displays have led to plenty of speculation surrounding his future at Celtic and now a fresh rumour has emerged.

The Latest: Barcelona and…

Taking to Twitter, Sheth reports that Barca are joined by two mystery clubs in being keen on acquiring Juranovic’s signature:

“Barcelona interested in signing Celtic right-back Josip Juranovic. Two unnamed Premier League clubs also keen & Atletico Madrid. Juranovic impressed for Croatia at World Cup – played every minute. Celtic have signed right-back Alistair Johnston.”

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The Verdict: Hard to turn down

While it would be a huge positive to see Juranovic remain in a Celtic shirt for many years to come, the arrival of Alistair Johnston suggests that they are planning for life without him.

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The lure of playing for a club of Barca’s stature – or one of England’s top sides – could be too great to turn down for the Croatian, too, with the La Liga giants still one of the biggest clubs in the world.

It would now be a big surprise if Juranovic committed his future to Celtic, so the most important thing for now is to receive big money for his services, with Ange Postecoglou then using the funds wisely in future transfer windows.

West Ham United are interested in a deal to bring Boulaye Dia to the London Stadium in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian media outlet Cronache Salerno (via Sport Witness), who claim that Rob Newman is preparing an ‘assault’ for the centre-forward ahead of the winter market, with US Salernitana reported to be hoping to make the 26-year-old’s loan from Villarreal CF a permanent move before selling him on for a figure in the region of €17m (£15m).

However, the report goes on to state that the Hammers are not alone in their pursuit of the Senegal forward in January, with Everton, Leeds United and Leicester City having also been credited with an interest in Dia in recent weeks.

“Dangerous”

Considering just how impressive Dia has been for both club and country this season, it is not difficult to understand why Newman and David Moyes would be interested in a deal to bring the centre-forward to the London Stadium this winter – especially considering the Irons’ goalscoring woes in the Premier League, having found the net on just 12 occasions in the current campaign.

Indeed, over his 14 Serie A appearances – only ten of which have come as starts – in 2022/23, the £17.5m-rated talent has been in devastating attacking form, bagging six goals, registering two assists and creating one big chance for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.1 shots, making 0.9 key passes and completing 0.8 dribbles per game.

These returns have seen the £29k-per-week striker average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.88, currently ranking him as Davide Nicola’s joint fourth-best performer in the Italian top flight.

The 26-year-old also caught the eye over his four outings at the World Cup this winter, hitting the back of the net once, in addition to taking an average of 2.0 shots – 0.8 of which hit the target – making 0.3 key passes and completing 0.3 dribbles per game – playing a crucial role in his side securing qualification to the knockout stages of the competition.

Indeed, the 23-cap international’s performances in Qatar saw him earn a significant amount of praise, with Nizaar Kinsella stating his belief that Dia was one of Senegal’s most “dangerous” players in the 3-0 round of 16 loss to England, while Dean Jones stated of the Salernitana hitman in a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT:

“He’s exciting and he was always going to be one of the players expected to be a breakout from the World Cup. He’s very confident, he’s got a lot of belief in himself and the people around him believe that he is ready for the next step in his career and that the Premier League is possible.”

As such, with Gianluca Scamacca and Michail Antonio having scored a mere two league goals each so far this season, it would indeed appear as if Dia would be an “absolutely fantastic” – in the words of Marlon Harewood – signing for Newman to get over the line this winter, as the Senegalese sensation would add some much-needed firepower to Moyes’ attacking arsenal.

Tottenham Hotspur are ‘in the running’ to sign Inter Milan star Milan Skriniar but face some elite competition, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye move?

The Nerazzurri defender has been a transfer target for Spurs over the course of 2022 with claims stating that sporting director Fabio Paratici and co are interested in his signing.

Lilywhites boss Antonio Conte appears to be keen on a central defender ahead of the January window as links surround the likes of Alessandro Bastoni also.

The Premier League top-four chasers have conceded more goals than any team chasing Champions League qualification with 11 leaked in their last five.

This could back their need for defensive additions with an update emerging on their links to Skriniar.

The Latest: Spurs ‘in the running’ for Skriniar…

The Slovakia international could leave for free in 2023 as his contract is set to expire at the end of this season.

If Inter can’t agree fresh terms, they face the daunting proposition of either losing him for nothing in the summer or selling on for a cheap fee next month.

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Calciomercato.it state Spurs, and by extension club chief Paratici, are ‘in the running’ to sign Skriniar but face stern competition from European heavyweights Real Madrid, PSG and Chelsea.

The Verdict: Perfect player for Spurs?

Called a ‘monster’ by members of the Italian media, ex-goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has also claimed that Skriniar is ‘perfect’ for Tottenham.

The 27-year-old is an elite ball-playing defender, averaging a higher pass accuracy (92.1%) than anyone in Simone Inzaghi’s side whilst totalling their highest rate of blocks per 90 also (WhoScored).

Skriniar is a centre-half of real pedigree and the fact his contract expires in 2023 could make him available for a lesser fee than usually expected.

It’s a move that must be considered by Spurs as they attempt to support Conte on the field.

Newcastle United are believed to be monitoring AS Roma star Nicolo Zaniolo ahead of the January transfer window, with the Italy international yet to commit his future to the Serie A side.

What’s the word?

According to Italian outlet Radio Radio, the Magpies have reportedly been chasing the 23-year-old ‘for a few months’, with it looking increasingly likely that the playmaker could be sold in the near future.

The 11-cap Italy gem – who had been heavily linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur over the summer – has just 18 months remaining on his current deal at the Stadio Olimpico, putting his long-term future into doubt under Jose Mourinho.

That expiring contract could well see any interested party look to secure a cut-price agreement in 2023, with previous reports suggesting a potential fee of around €25m (£22m).

Ideal Maddison alternative

The signing of a creative midfield addition appears to be firmly on the agenda for Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, with the St James’ Park outfit having shown interest in Leicester City talisman, James Maddison, in recent times.

Having seen a reported £50m bid for the Englishman rejected during the summer window, there have been claims over the last few months that the Tynesiders could follow up that interest with a fresh approach next month, with the 26-year-old also having just 18 months left on his contract at the King Power Stadium.

According to The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards, however, the northeast side may find it difficult to prise the former Norwich City man from the Midlands any time soon, with the player only set to move on at the end of the season ‘at the earliest’.

Should Howe and co wish to put that long-running saga behind them, they could well find a suitable alternative to the Foxes star in Zaniolo, with the 6 foot 3 “lethal playmaker” – as described by journalist Zach Lowry – having shone in Rome of late.

The £79k-per-week maestro has recorded five goal contributions in all competitions so far this term, after previously registering 17 goals and assists across all fronts, proving himself something of a nightmare for the rest of the division.

Although that record cannot match that of Maddison – who has 11 goal involvements so far this term and 30 to his name last season – the signs are that Zaniolo can offer a creative presence in the final third.

That is shown by the fact that the latter man averages 7.7 progressive passes received per 90 and averages 5.6 touches per game in the attacking penalty area to illustrate his willingness to get forward, with that seeing him outperform Maddison who averages 4.81 and 3.23 for those same two metrics, respectively.

Equally, with it having proven particularly difficult to prise the Coventry-born gem from his current surroundings of late, Howe could potentially land a more attainable target in the form of the Italian.

While Zaniolo may not be ripping it up quite as impressively as Maddison is at present, the Roma maestro could certainly prove an astute and cheaper alternative for the Magpies to help bolster their attacking midfield ranks.

Arsenal remain interested in one of Europe’s most exciting young talents, if reports are to be believed…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to The Telegraph, who claim that the Gunners are stepping up their pursuit of Joao Felix after deciding that they will not be dragged into a bidding war with Chelsea over Mykhailo Mudryk.

The 23-year-old has been noted as available for loan this month, but Atletico Madrid are demanding a high loan fee for just the six months that he would spend in north London.

Having fallen out of favour at Atletico, he remains the third-most expensive player in history following his €126m (£111m) transfer in 2019. However, Edu could be tempted to move for him, especially given Gabriel Jesus’ absence through injury.

He’d be a “special” signing

Although the price tag being demanded for a simple loan is quite high, the upside could be astronomical for Mikel Arteta.

Currently top of the Premier League table and five points clear of Manchester City, it feels like belief is truly returning to the Emirates Stadium that Arsenal could do the seemingly impossible, following recent struggles just to attain a place in the top four.

Adding Felix would only bolster a squad in seemingly unstoppable form, having only lost once in the league all season.

With four goals and three assists in just 13 matches in La Liga this term, it seems that despite a strained relationship with Diego Simeone, the Portugal forward has not lost his form.

He seems poised to improve upon his ten-goal and six-assist haul in all competitions from 2021/22, which led Antonio Rudiger to commend him as boasting “something special”.

What further compounds him as a truly creative master is that he ranks in the top 7% for assists and the top 12% for progressive passes among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues in 2022. He pairs this with a tally of non-penalty goals which places him in the top 14%, and he could provide sumptuous ammunition for the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Atletico’s official Twitter admins dubbed him a “magician” in 2020.

Having clearly shown something truly exceptional to spur Atletico into buying him for such a vast sum, Jan Oblak remained complimentary of the 23-year-old superstar, confidently stating: “He will be a world-class player”.

Perhaps the Portugal star could realise this potential under Arteta, whilst possible helping Arsenal to achieve their first Premier League title triumph since 2004.

Arsenal have been dealt a frustrating setback to their January transfer plans after The Athletic’s David Ornstein dropped a gutting update on their pursuit of Joao Felix.

According to reliable journalist, Premier League rivals Chelsea have struck a “verbal agreement” to sign the Portuguese forward on loan from Atletico Madrid.

They are expected to pay around €11m (£9.7m) fee, which is below what the LaLiga outfit initially wanted, which was thought to be in the region of a €21m (£18.5m) package.

This leaves sporting director Edu Gaspar in a tricky situation as Mikel Arteta is surely desperate to add quality to his frontline following Gabriel Jesus’ gutting injury blow – right now, the Spaniard only has one striker (Eddie Nketiah) to call upon for the next few months.

Perhaps they could find the answer in a previous – and long-term – target in Wilfried Zaha.

Back in October, 90min reported that the Gunners were being kept informed of the 30-year-old’s situation as he enters the final months of his current £130k-per-week contract at Crystal Palace.

The north Londoners have long been interested in the Ivory Coast international, with him coming close to signing for the club in 2019 but instead, they gambled a whopping £72m on Nicolas Pepe.

Whilst Zaha doesn’t fit the project as much as Felix, given the seven-year age gap between the two, he would be a far more reliable and risk-free option given his vast experience in the top-flight.

280 of his 447 appearances for the Eagles have come in the Premier League, where he has delivered 89 goals and 76 assists, via Transfermarkt.

The majority of these games has seen the Palace “special talent” – as described by Gunners legend Patrick Vieira – play out wide but he’s more than capable of playing through the middle too, lending further reason to why he’d be a perfect alternative to Felix, who himself isn’t a natural no.9 by trade.

Zaha has a very good record against the team he supported as a boy, managing seven goal contributions across 15 outings, so it’s fair to suggest that he has given former manager Unai Emery plenty of nightmares over the years as the decision to sign Pepe instead now looks woeful, particularly as the now-Aston Villa boss wanted the Eagles gem instead.

The “game-changer” – in the words of ex-manager Roy Hodgson – could go out on loan this month, according to CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs, so it would completely make sense for Arsenal to reignite their interest in him.

With Felix now out of the picture, Edu must turn his attention to Zaha in a bid to solve Arteta’s attacking conundrum.

AND in other news, Alongside Mudryk: Edu could seal Arsenal’s “dream signing” in “ridiculous” £50m dynamo…

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is demonstrating a clear youth-centred stratagem to bypass Premier League competitors for the coming years… 

What’s the word?

Continuing the transfer trend, Chelsea are reportedly expressing an interest in PSV Eindhoven winger Noni Madueke, who is flourishing in the Dutch Eredivisie.

According to The Times, Blues boss Graham Potter is a big admirer of the 20-year-old and could issue a concrete transfer move to secure his signature in the coming weeks, with £31m touted for his service.

However, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, writing in his daily Caught Offside column, stated that following Liverpool’s initial £35m transfer of Cody Gakpo, it is unlikely that PSV would grant the departure of another offensive flanker this January, meaning the Blues may have to wait until the summer to get their man.

Imagine him & Nkunku 

With the Blues currently languishing in tenth place in the Premier League, ten points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester United and beset with six defeats across their last nine futures across all competitions, inclusions are paramount for future success.

Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix has signed on the dotted line for a six-month loan spell at Stamford Bridge, entering the fray to provide an extra dimension to the floundering offence, but further additions are indeed vital in order to maintain the club’s stature as one of the division’s very elite at the dawn of a new era.

But the signing of Maduke would signify an onus on prolonged triumph in west London, with the young starlet indeed boasting many attributes that would hint at prosperous fortunes under Potter. 

This season, the England U21 international has been stricken with injury, and has consequently only made a smattering of performances in the Netherlands, but has chalked up two goals from three starts regardless. 

And last term, the phenom made a breakthrough despite his tender age, scoring nine goals and six assists from 35 outings for the Boeren, earning his place among the hottest offensive prospects on the globe.

Integrating into a Chelsea side boasting a fine blend of youth and experience, Madueke could flourish at Stamford Bridge, bringing pace and fleet-footed brilliance in abundance.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 4% for assists and the top 1% for completed dribbles and touches in the opposing box, when compared to positional peers across men’s ‘Next 8’ – the divisions below the established major leagues – over the past year.

In fact, the cohesive partnership that he could forge with incoming phenom Christopher Nkunku could be nothing short of spectacular, with the £52.4m deal for the RB Leipzig gem closing on completion ahead of the new season.

Nkunku has been in remarkable goalscoring form in the German Bundesliga, and has scored 17 goals in 23 appearances this term – his clinical prowess will pay dividends for a side struggling for offensive fluidity, scoring only 20 leagues goals this season; the lowest tally of any top-ten Premier League outfit.

With Madueke’s inclusion, a deadly link in the final third could be established, with the PSV ace’s aforementioned dribbling aptitude and tendency to surge into the box likely to benefit the eight-cap France international in his own clinical endeavours.

Former PSV midfielder Tommie van de Leegte once hailed the precocious talent for his “explosive” style, and should he arrive in west London alongside Nkunku, he can certainly start off with a resounding bang.

West Bromwich Albion are yet to make their first steps into the January transfer window, whether that be due to unpredictable finances or per Carlos Corberan’s orders to retain the harmony.

The Baggies are currently enjoying an unprecedented run of form, with the Spaniard having masterminded their return into the frame for a promotion push.

Their emergence into the play-off spots is made all the more sensational given where they stood under Steve Bruce, poised for a relegation battle.

However, after a run of nine victories in ten Championship games, there is finally belief starting to seep back into the Hawthorns.

Arguably the only thing that could bolster the feelgood factor surrounding the Midlands club is a big-name signing, and for a club of their stature and current position, there are few bigger names globally than Cho Gue-Sung.

The South Korean international earned widespread notoriety during the 2022 World Cup, where he burst onto the stage with a two-goal salvo against Ghana.

However, what has truly made him a worldwide phenomenon is noted by The Athletic journalist Daniel Taylor, who simply titles his piece by branding him: “the South Korea striker who went viral at the World Cup — for being handsome”.

Now, as of last week, the 24-year-old has reportedly been offered to a number of clubs including West Brom, as Jeonbuk Hyundai seek a €3m (£2.6m) fee for his services.

Following his rise to prominence in Qatar, he was issued some advice by a legend of his country Heung-min Son. He claimed: “For him to move to a European club must mean he is the best player in South Korea just now and that is quite an achievement. Once he adapts, he will enjoy the experience. But he has to keep working hard every day.”

The marksman was scoring goals well before he earned his 7.03 rating at the World Cup, despite his recent military service somewhat hampering his career.

During the 2021/22 campaign, Cho would score 21 goals and assist a further five across all competitions, outlining him as a lethal asset for his club. Having now converted that form into the international stage, there is no reason to believe that he couldn’t be an instant success in the Championship too.

Especially when the club are crying out for someone to replace Karlan Grant, who has been decidedly toothless thus far despite their resurgence.

In 20 league appearances the 25-year-old has only managed three goals, and as such has been benched by both Daryl Dike and Brandon Thomas-Asante throughout the season.

A move for this South Korean sensation could be the final nail in the coffin for the former Huddersfield Town man, who has struggled to recapture any semblance of his 18-goal form last year.

If he cannot provide any benefits despite their blistering form, then he will hardly be of use should they struggle again. As such, he must be ditched in favour of the mercurial Cho.

A return to Newcastle United for midfielder Mikel Merino is unlikely, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What’s the word?

The Real Sociedad midfielder previously plied his trade at Newcastle before departing the Premier League in 2018, making 25 appearances for the club.

He was the one that got away for the Magpies, as he is now flourishing in La Liga, but has been linked with a sensational return to the Premier League, with Liverpool reportedly interested.

However, speaking on NUFC Matters, Jacobs claimed a move for Merino was currently not on the cards for Eddie Howe’s side and that Liverpool seems to be a more likely destination.

He said: “As I understand it, the Newcastle links are not likely.

“It actually is more Liverpool who are potentially looking at him for the summer, and it then would be about what the valuation is – and that’s the other factor from Newcastle’s perspective.

“When you had a player, not only do you know a bit more about them in terms of their value, their personality, but you also have to factor in whether or not you’re going to get any value buying them back.”

A top-quality addition

Merino has developed into a top-class midfielder in Spain and we feel he would be an excellent addition to the Newcastle side if they end up going for him.

He ranks in the top 10% of midfielders for assists, clearances, aerial duels and attacking penalty area touches in Europe’s top competitions, as per FBref, highlighting his all-round ability and technical supremacy.

With seven assists this season, his final ball would be a weapon for any side, and he would add a lot of creativity to an already-firing Newcastle team.

He originally left Newcastle as he wanted to leave England and is enjoying life in his native Spain, but if he can be convinced to return, it would be a major statement signing for Eddie Howe.