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Everton are reportedly now in ‘advanced discussions’ to try and sign free agent Andre Ayew.

The Lowdown: Toffees take their time

Even though the official transfer deadline for English clubs is at 11pm, Everton can take their time if they want to sign Ayew, as he is a free agent.

He recently left Qatari club Al-Sadd, and is available to discuss a transfer to another club, should he wish for another move.

The Latest: ‘Advanced discussions’

As per French news outlet L’Equipe’s live transfer blog (19:12 pm), Ayew is now in ‘advanced discussions’ with the Goodison Park outfit over a potential move:

“A few days after breaking his contract with Al-Sadd (Qatar), Andre Ayew could well make his return to the Premier League, where he has already played (Swansea, West Ham). The former OM attacking midfielder (33) is in advanced discussions with Everton. Given his contractual situation, Ayew will be able to find a new club beyond Tuesday night’s limit.”

The Verdict: Avoid for now?

Even though the Merseyside club will be desperate to get players in with just a few hours to go, they need to avoid Ayew being one of them if they can.

The Ghana international has scored a total of 177 goals for club and country combined over the course of his career so far, and of course has previous experience in the Premier League with Swansea City and West Ham United, but at 33 years of age, is a player that is past his prime.

The Toffees have targeted younger options in recent hours in Udinese’s Beto and Roma’s Nicolo Zaniolo, and so should be putting all of their focus on trying to get one or both of them over the line.

Nonetheless, Ayew is an option to fall back on in case either deal falls through, as he can still be signed after the deadline.

Liverpool have had a tumultuous Premier League season so far with a number of injury issues plaguing the squad and now a new update has emerged that could be a huge boost for Jurgen Klopp.

What’s the latest?

According to The Athletic journalist James Pearce, both Virgil Van Dijk and Diogo Jota will return to team training at Kirkby this week ahead of the Merseyside derby and upcoming two-leg Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

As per the report, Pearce claimed that the return from long-term injury issues for both players will be a much-needed lift in the squad after suffering a real struggle to get back on track.

It could revive Liverpool’s season

There is no doubt that having Van Dijk and Jota back in contention at this point of the season will be a huge relief to the Liverpool boss as he attempts to reignite the side’s season after a disappointing run of form.

The Reds are tenth in the Premier League table after 20 outings which would be their worst-finishing league placement since 1952 if they were to retain their current league position at the end of the season, with the side also knocked out of both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup – the two domestic competitions they won last term.

Indeed, Liverpool are still competing in the Champions League with the first half of their challenge against Real Madrid coming up later this month at Anfield and Klopp will be hoping that his returning players can make a instant positive impact to give his team the best chance of knocking their European rivals out of the competition.

Van Dijk is renowned for his influence on Liverpool’s recent triumphs since he joined the Merseyside outfit in 2017, winning the Champions League just six months into his successful spell at the club, following that up with a Premier League title a year later.

That came all while being named in the PFA Team of the Year on three successive occasions, a fact that marks out just how crucial he is to Liverpool.

As far as Jota is concerned, he was able to force his way into the famous front three of Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino by making a statement with his consistent threat in front of goal when he joined in 2020 – scoring 34 times and registering 14 assists over 93 appearances so far.

Liverpool have not scored a Premier League goal since the 2nd January when they lost 3-1 to Brentford, and have not won a league game since they beat Leicester City in December last year, so if Jota can quickly get back to his best in the forward line it could revive their fortunes.

With that being said, things could barely get worse at Anfield and Klopp will be feeling the pressure to get a decent performance out of his team as soon as possible, so the return of the experienced duo can only benefit the manager and the team ahead of the Merseyside derby this weekend.

Leeds United were linked with plenty of names when Marcelo Bielsa was dismissed around a year ago, with the task to follow the heroics of the Argentine made nearly impossible due to his status in Yorkshire.

He had earned a god-like following for his role in returning the Whites to the Premier League, and despite his sacking was met with widespread adoration from fans, players and pundits alike.

Andrea Radrizzani then saw fit to appoint Jesse Marsch among the battle for the Elland Road hot seat, and the American went about his business. 

He led them to narrow safety and was handed two transfer windows of significant investment to ensure relegation would not be a threat to the club again.

But, even after their impressive draw with Manchester United, they still remain just one point away from the drop zone. He failed his mission and was deservedly sacked.

It therefore draws the question as to why the hierarchy opted for Marsch when the potential alternatives all offered far greater upsides.

With hindsight, it is obviously easy to admit that, but someone boasting the pedigree of Ernesto Valverde should always have been preferred. The Spaniard was noted as a candidate for the vacancy whilst a free agent, yet was snubbed.

Now impressing once again with Athletic Bilbao, it offers a stark reminder of what could have been.

Whilst the aesthetic of the 59-year-old’s football has often been drawn into question, particularly during his time in Barcelona, it cannot be doubted that it brings results. His time at the Nou Camp saw him secure two La Liga titles and one Copa Del Rey, yet was sacked with his side once again top of the league for issues with his play style.

Despite this, the legend and current manager of the Catalan giants remains fond of him: “He is an extraordinary person and he did excellent work here at Barça.”

Favouring a direct style, his pragmatism would benefit a Leeds side that have been leaking goals. They have conceded 36 goals already in just 21 games.

However, in games where his side is expected to win, Valverde has the flexibility to shift to a more possession-dominant belief.

Tactical dexterity like this in their time of need would have been perfect, and should he have been handed the reins a year ago it is unlikely they would find themselves in their current state.

It marks one of Radrizzani’s biggest blunders thus far to opt against his appointment, which he could fix by now moving in once again for an unlikely but exciting hire.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will be without defender John Stones for their blockbuster Premier League clash against Arsenal this evening.

The Lowdown: City travel to north London…

City travel to north London tonight knowing a win against Mikel Arteta’s side will take them level on points with their fierce title rivals.

The Sky Blues were really losing ground against Arsenal but the latter side’s 1-0 loss to Everton and 1-1 draw at home to Brentford has gifted Guardiola an opportunity to seriously close the gap.

Arsenal still have a game in hand on City but both teams must play each other twice in the league, including tonight’s encounter, before this season ends.

The Latest: City without Stones…

In terms of team news, star striker Erling Haaland is apparently touch and go for the Emirates Stadium bout whilst England international Stones is definitely absent with a thigh problem.

The centre-back remains sidelined for City with Guardiola potentially turning to Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte in the middle.

That being said, Guardiola’s recent line ups indicate we can’t rule out surprises, with Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake also in real contention.

The Verdict: Blow for Pep?

Stones, when available, is clearly favoured by the Blues boss, with only Akanji playing more league minutes in terms of City’s current defensive options (WhoScored).

The 28-year-old is also an elite ball-playing defender, averaging the joint-highest pass accuracy (94.3%) in Guardiola’s squad (WhoScored).

Stones has played a significant role in City’s back line for the past year with his one of his most notable performances coming against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals last season.

The former Everton star was heralded for his assured and composed performance against the La Liga giants with members of the media quickly calling him an ‘absolutely magnificent’ defender.

Stones has been a consistent member of Guardiola’s title-winning squads since the Spaniard took charge, and for such a huge game, he will be sorely missed as an option.

Arsenal have been busy in the transfer market this season.

No fewer than three new players walked through the door in January, adding to the five additions during the summer.

Gunners sporting director Edu Gaspar has certainly been a busy man and his hard work has certainly looked to have paid off, with the north London outfit chasing down their first Premier League title in nearly a decade.

However, not every signing has gone to plan, or at least yet.

One of the club’s marquee signings, outside of the arrival of title-winning duo Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, was Fabio Vieira, who cost around £34m in a deal from FC Porto.

But for this sizeable outlay, Arsenal are yet to see much of a return and his lack of game time is only damaging his overall worth at the Emirates Stadium.

How is Fabio Vieira doing at Arsenal?

The 22-year-old was always going to have to play second fiddle to skipper Martin Odegaard but for £34m, you’d have perhaps liked to have seen more than his one Premier League start, in which his goal helped steer the Gunners to a 3-0 win over Brentford.

Having made 23 appearances across all competitions, the Portugal U21 international has averaged just 43 minutes per game, yet has contributed towards seven goals, with five of those being assists, via Transfermarkt.

There’s no denying that the attacking midfielder is a top-quality talent capable of offering Arteta an abundance of creativity and threat in the final third but his lack of minutes is hampering his transfer value, so if the north Londoners ever did want to sell him on, they are unlikely to receive anywhere close to what they paid.

How much is Fabio Vieira worth?

Indeed, Vieira – who Arteta hailed as a “special talent” – is currently estimated to be worth around €19.8m (£17m) right now, according to FootballTransfers, who have an AI-powered model that estimates an accurate transfer fee for a given player.

In the space of just eight months, Arsenal have already lost 50% of what they paid the Primeira Liga giants for his signature, which is surely a worrying sign for any young, similarly talented player as they now know that it’ll be a hard task in breaking into Arteta’s side and thus, potentially making them seem less valuable.

Of course, there are many factors as to why Vieira has not seen the pitch as much as Zinchenko or even Leandro Trossard – ranging from their early season top-flight form to Odegaard’s presence but all it is doing is hurting his stock and it’s fair to suggest that it wasn’t something that Edu planned for when agreeing to pay a whopping £34m.

There’s still plenty of time for the Portuguese to transform his fortunes – and his value – around in north London, though we’re yet to see the fruits of that labour anytime soon.

AND in other news, Edu can seal instant Jorginho upgrade in bargain Arsenal swoop for £152k-p/w “monster”…

Newcastle United’s January target Conor Gallagher could be made available for sale in the summer by his current club, Chelsea.

Do Newcastle want to sign Conor Gallagher?

The Magpies went through the January transfer window with just the two new arrivals coming through the doors of St James’ Park.

Anthony Gordon and Harrison Ashby were signed, however, Eddie Howe saw his options in midfield shortened following Jonjo Shelvey’s exit for Nottingham Forest.

One name which was heavily linked with a potential move to Tyneside was that of Gallagher with the Toon believed to have identified three possible targets at Stamford Bridge.

However, a move did not come to fruition but Fabrizio Romano has now suggested the summer could see the Blues open up to allow his exit from the capital:

“Conor Gallagher is one to watch for sure.

“Chelsea could be open to letting Gallagher leave in case they will receive a very big proposal in the summer. So let’s see what kind of bids will arrive, but Gallagher is another player to watch in case the player would be keen on leaving.”

How much would Conor Gallagher cost?

With the summer transfer window now just a matter of months away, the 23-year-old will end the season with just two years remaining on his current deal at Stamford Bridge.

And it will be interesting to see how he views his future when the season ends with the Blues showing no signs of stopping in their spending ahead of the summer.

Todd Boehly has already made some huge additions since taking over the club and it seems as if the Blues are still eyeing a move for the likes of Declan Rice.

With this in mind, there will be major questions marks as to whether Gallagher has a future at the club.

Just 10 of Gallagher’s 22 Premier League appearances this season have come from the starting XI and even those can be caveated by Chelsea’s injury issues at the time (via Transfermarkt).

In the last two outings, the 23-year-old has only played 17 minutes of action with the likes of Enzo Fernandez instantly slotting into the starting XI.

And comparing Gallagher’s season with that of Joe Willock, the Chelsea man has provided more passes, shot-creating actions and tackles per 90 minutes (via Fbref).

But the question of whether Chelsea would deal with Newcastle has to be raised with the Toon currently battling it out for a spot in the top four.

A reported £45m bid in January from Everton was knocked back, and if Chelsea view Newcastle as serious competition, there could be the possibility they look to demand even more money for Gallagher.

Michael Beale is reportedly willing to sell Glasgow Rangers winger Scott Wright this summer.

The Lowdown: Offers expected

It was reported earlier this month that Rangers are expecting offers for Wright in the next window, after knocking back interest from English clubs in the January transfer window.

They did not want to let him go as they saw him as a ‘valuable squad player’, but he will only have two years left on his deal at Ibrox come the summer.

The Latest: Beale willing to sell

As per Football Insider, Beale is now ‘willing’ to let go of Wright this summer, and the Gers will listen to offers for him.

They are looking to overhaul their attack for next season, and Wright could be one of a number of attackers that leaves in the window.

The Verdict: Time to go

Wright has been limited to just eight starts in total over all competitions so far this term, and only played five minutes in their Viaplay Cup final loss to Celtic on Sunday afternoon (Transfermarkt).

In the Light Blues’ biggest game of the season against their biggest rivals, Beale did not fancy him from the start, and limited him to just five minutes to make an impact.

At 25 years of age, Wright simply needs to be playing more regular football, and if a sizeable offer comes in for him this summer, then the Teddy Bears should be looking to sell.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano says that Arsenal are still tracking Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt ahead of a potential move this summer.

The Lowdown: Arsenal interest

It has recently been reported that Arsenal are ‘hot’ in the race for Brandt this summer, along with another potential suitor.

Brandt is thought to be ‘open’ to moving to the Emirates Stadium, and a move to the Premier League would ‘appeal’ to him.

The Latest: Brandt tracked, but no fresh contact

Writing in his latest column for CaughtOffside, Romano says that Brandt has ‘always been tracked’ by the Gunners, but he is ‘not aware’ of any fresh contact over a potential summer move, and Dortmund have not decided on his future yet:

“Julian Brandt has always been tracked by Arsenal. I’m not aware of fresh contacts at this stage, nothing new; also because Borussia Dortmund have still not decided on Brandt’s future. New attacking signings will depend on many factors, nothing is decided on summer plan yet.”

The Verdict: Great addition

Brandt would certainly be a great addition in terms of adding to Arsenal’s squad depth for next season.

The Germany international has recorded an impressive nine goals and five assists in all competitions so far this term, and can play on both wings as well as in midfield (Transfermarkt).

Sharing a similar playing style to the Gunners’ own playmaker Martin Odegaard, Brandt ranks in the top 15% of all midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for a number of key metrics over the past year (FBRef), and at 26 years of age, is about to enter his prime.

Nonetheless, Brandt is only going to get better, and could thrive under Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal are considering an approach to bring Lille striker Jonathan David to the Premier League ahead of the 2023/24 season, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Long-term admirers

In Gabriel Jesus’s absence, Mikel Arteta was mostly playing Eddie Nketiah up top before the arrival of Leandro Trossard, but the boss could still do with securing another senior attacking reinforcement during the upcoming summer window.

TEAMtalk claim that the Gunners are long-term admirers of the 23-year-old with sporting director Edu having had him firmly on his radar for the past three years.

During an interview in December, the Canadian forward admitted that he could see himself making the transition to the top flight at some point in the near future. He said:

“In England, when I watch the matches, everything is full each time. As a player, it motivates you even more.

“I don’t know, I think it’s possible, very possible. I don’t know if I can find myself anywhere other than the Premier League. It could well be the Premier League. It’s a very nice atmosphere.”

The Latest: Arsenal monitoring David

According to Spanish reports (via CaughtOffside), Arsenal are ‘looking at’ and ‘planning a summer transfer window move’ for David.

The Canada international would reportedly give the Gunners a ‘different dimension’ in attack and it sounds like the hierarchy are willing to do whatever it takes to secure their target.

Edu could be willing to ‘part ways’ with the promising young duo of Nketiah and Folarin Balogun in order to fund the deal and make space for a new arrival in the final third.

The Verdict: Absolute bargain

Lille are expected to require a fee of approximately €50m (£44m) to sanction David’s sale and Arsenal would be getting an absolute bargain should they successfully be able to acquire his services for that price in the summer.

The Adidas-sponsored talisman has been on fire so far this season, scoring 19 goals and providing four assists in 26 Ligue 1 appearances, where he’s currently averaging 3.2 shots per game.

The Brooklyn native would be bringing excellent flexibility to the squad at the Emirates Stadium having operated in five various positions since the start of his career, including out wide on both the left and right flanks alongside his natural role.

David has been dubbed a ‘shining light’ at Lille by journalist Josh Bunting and a ‘phenomenon’ by Belgian manager Hein Vanhaezebrouck – there’s no question that the two-footed ace would have a hugely positive impact should he make the switch to N7.

Everton reporter for The Athletic Greg O’Keeffe says that Tom Davies could turn down a new contract offer and leave this summer.

The Lowdown: Out of contract

Davies is out of contract at Goodison Park in the summer, meaning that he could leave as a free agent at the end of the season.

The central midfielder has only made a mere 17 appearances in total so far this term, with only five of them starts, and only four coming in the Premier League (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Summer exit?

Writing for The Athletic, O’Keeffe says that there is little to suggest that Davies will be offered a new deal at the Merseyside club.

The journalist adds that even if he is, there is a chance that he would turn it down, and leave this summer.

The Verdict: Time to go…

Unfortunately for Davies, he has not been able to cement a regular place in the first team, and so it is time for all parties to part ways.

He did come on for a Sean Dyche.

On £25,000-per-week, Davies is one of the lowest earners in the squad, and so the Toffees will not miss him too much should he leave.