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Everton are unsurprisingly hoping to bolster their offensive ranks in the near future, with recent reports suggesting that Villarreal wide man Nicolas Jackson is rated highly by the Merseyside club

Despite having completed eight major deals over a busy summer of recruitment, one area which was left still quite bare was the wide attacking areas. Dwight McNeil was brought in, but he arguably offers a far more uninspiring option alongside the more maverick Anthony Gordon and Demarai Gray.

As per the Daily Mail, the Toffees are among many Premier League clubs who are monitoring the progress of the Senegalese speedster, with Aston Villa and Newcastle United also keen on the 21-year-old.

The suggestion is that he is incredibly raw but certainly “one to watch”, as Ashley Preece notes.

Although Everton have enjoyed a solid start to the campaign, some added competition for wide places could help them to push even further in the second half of the season to achieve something truly special after the misery of 2021/22.

Gray in particular could do with some help, as he has been one of the few consistently creative threats for the Toffees this season, having started every league game for them so far in 2022/23.

The Villarreal man already has two goals and two assists this season in La Liga in what is expected to be his true breakout year. This already marks an upgrade on every player aforementioned at Goodison Park, as four goal contributions trump Gordon’s three, McNeil’s two and Gray’s one.

Standing at 6 foot 2, Jackson would also pose a different kind of threat as he marries pace with a brute strength unseen in the tricky skillset of the Merseyside club’s wingers.

The 21-year-old has therefore been labelled “imposing” by journalist David Timon, which seems like an appropriate description.

Although the winger has only been around the game for a short while, the interest that he has gained stands as a glowing recommendation for his abilities.

With a 6.75 average SofaScore rating and 0.7 key passes per game alongside his 55% dribble success rate, there is a consistency to his attacking play which would make him a big threat in the Premier League.

Boasting all the physical assets necessary for success, plus an ever-growing technical skillset, it could be a huge coup for Farhad Moshiri should he be able to push through this deal under the noses of their rivals.

It could finally give Gray the rest that he needs in order to hopefully get back to his best.

As Scottish champions Celtic head into the upcoming mid-season break, one man who will likely be ruing this halt to proceedings is Hoops midfielder, David Turnbull, with the Scotland international having hit form once again in recent weeks.

The former Motherwell man had endured a difficult start to the campaign having struggled to dislodge the first-choice midfield trio of Reo Hatate, Matt O’Riley and Callum McGregor, with the 23-year-old having only started seven games across all competitions thus far.

An unfortunate injury to his compatriot, McGregor, last month had opened the door for the playmaker to enjoy a more prominent role in the side, with three goal contributions in his last four top-flight outings a sign that he has taken that chance to shine.

The £16k-per-week dynamo had notably produced a stunning assist to tee up Daizen Maeda in the win against his former club at Fir Park last week, the five-cap gem picking the ball up in midfield before threading a delightful, lofted pass over the top to set his teammate in on goal.

Fresh from that impact off the bench, the 6 foot 1 machine then proved vital in the comeback triumph over Ross County at the weekend, slotting home from close range to pull his side level at Parkhead, before the hosts eventually sealed the win through Sead Haksabanovic.

Such involvement has showcased that Turnbull does clearly still have a key role to play in Ange Postecoglou’s side, having previously been lauded by pundit Alan Hutton for his “phenomenal” form for the Old Firm outfit last term, having scored ten goals and laid on eight assists in all competitions.

While it may be title-winning coach Postecoglou who is reaping the rewards at present of the player’s form, the 57-year-old seemingly has his predecessor Neil Lennon to thank for bringing the Carluke-born ace to Celtic Park in the first place.

The Northern Irishman had overseen a £3m deal for the emerging talent back in August 2020, with that swoop having come just a year on from the initial collapse of the deal as a result of a knee injury.

Despite that initial setback, Turnbull has since proven worth the wait as far as the Glasgow giants are concerned, having now contributed 42 goals and assists in just 95 games for the club since then, after previously registering 23 goal contributions in just 41 outings during his time with the Steelmen.

Such has been the player’s rise in recent times, he is now reportedly worth as much as £5.6m – as per Transfermarkt – with that figure nearly double what Lennon and co initially paid for his services just over two years ago.

Not that the Bhoys will be contemplating a sale for Turnbull any time soon, amid his recent impressive form, although such a valuation is simply a marker of the midfield maestro’s growth to date.

Everton have been heavily linked with Ben Brereton Diaz since the summer and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the Toffees transfer target.

What’s the latest?

Fabrizio Romano took to his Substack page for Caught Offside to dispel rumours that Manchester United could compete with Everton for the Blackburn Rovers forward’s signature in January.

Romano revealed: “Nothing concrete for the moment, the strongest interest has been from Everton, back in the summer.

“My understanding is that there is currently nothing from Man United.”

He’s a Maupay upgrade

There is no doubt that Brereton Diaz would be a major coup for Everton in January as they have struggled to find the back of the net over the first half of the Premier League season so far, and with the potential for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to be sidelined with a hamstring injury, the signing couldn’t come at a better time.

Indeed, Everton did add a little depth to their forward line after losing Richarlison this summer with the signing of striker Neal Maupay but the former Brighton and Hove Albion ace has barely lit up Goodison Park with his presence in front of goal.

Maupay has scored just one Premier League goal in nine appearances and has been unable to register any assists or create any big chances for his attacking teammates, so it would make perfect sense for Everton to make another approach for Brereton Diaz in the new year as he would be a big upgrade on the newly-signed striker.

Over 20 Championship appearances so far, Brereton Diaz has scored nine goals, registered one assist and created four big chances, as well as making one key pass and taking 3.1 shots on goal, proving that he could be the natural finisher and attacking threat that Lampard needs in the team.

The £20m-valued ace has not only been a dominant presence in front of goal this season but has been a consistent and reliable performer for Rovers over his time at the club scoring 41 goals and registering 13 assists over 149 appearances, with a goal contribution every 172 minutes.

With that being said, if the powers at Goodison Park can pull off a deal for Brereton Diaz in January it could be season-changing for Everton in their pursuit to climb the Premier League table over the second half of the campaign.

West Ham United enjoyed an unprecedented summer of change, welcoming in eight new faces as David Moyes oversaw a huge turnaround in playing staff.

It also marked £158m spent, marking a monumental transfer window for the Hammers as they looked to capitalise on last season’s European success.

However, one saga which dominated large parts of their summer was regarding Amadou Onana.

The Belgian powerhouse had been linked with a move to east London for some time, and despite having seemingly agreed on a deal with LOSC Lille, a stumbling block remained.

Everton too showed interest, but it was believed they would not stump up the cash to sign the 21-year-old.

When they did, Onana did not hesitate. He signed for the Toffees in a deal worth £33m, leaving the Irons without a competent defensive midfielder to challenge Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice.

Now, however, it seems that another opportunity has arisen to right the wrongs of the summer, by not allowing Kouadio Kone to slip through their grasp.

Reportedly having come available for €45m (£39m), David Moyes has been noted as a huge admirer, having sent scouts to watch the France under-21 international feature for Borussia Mönchengladbach.

They could now be set to make their move, pouncing on the reported financial distress of the Bundesliga outfit.

Not quite boasting the frightening six-foot-three figure that Onana does, at nearly six-foot-one, Kone still adds a physical presence to any midfield.

Especially considering his defensive contribution to his side, as he averages 2.3 tackles per game.

This only slightly underperforms from the 2.6 per game recorded by the man currently bossing the midfield on Merseyside.

What sets them apart, however, is Kone’s ability on the ball, of which he can often mesmerise the opposition with his quick feet. He ranks in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues for dribbles completed over the last 365 days, making him one of the best midfielders in Europe with the ball at his feet.

Dubbed a “one-man army” by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig too, this clearly paints the picture of a man who can do it all by himself.

When partnered with Declan Rice, it might just make one of the most fearsome midfield in the whole Premier League. Fans at the London Stadium might soon be wondering why they even wanted Onana at all.

Talented Aston Villa youngster Rory Wilson is expected to sign his first professional contract at the club, according to reliable journalist Ashley Preece.

The Lowdown: Wilson impressing at Villa

The 16-year-old is making a name for himself at Villa Park with some eye-catching performances at youth team level, having joined from Rangers back in July.

Wilson has scored four goals in just five appearances for the Under-18s, leading the line in expert fashion despite not yet turning 17 years of age.

Once he hits that birthday milestone, he will be able to sign his first professional deal as a footballer, and it looks as though it is on the cards.

The Latest: First professional deal expected

Taking to Twitter, Preece confirmed that Wilson is set to sign on the dotted line at Villa, committing his future to them:

“Rory Wilson – 9 goals in 11 apps this season for #avfc and Scotland – expected to sign first pro deal.”

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Wilson looks to be a hugely promising young player with a bright future, with his eye for goal already standing out at such a tender age.

The Villa youngster has also scored 12 times in 13 caps for Scotland’s Under-17s, which is a phenomenal return, and he is someone who will hopefully mature into a formidable first-team player eventually.

Planning for the years ahead is always vital for the Villans, as well as ensuring that there is a nucleus of homegrown talent, and Wilson ticks both of those boxes.

Former Celtic CEO Peter Lawwell will return to Parkhead as non-executive chairman at the beginning of January, according to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph.

The Lowdown: Lawwell left Celtic in 2021

The 63-year-old took up his role of CEO at Parkhead back in 2003 and remained the position until 2021, overseeing numerous different managers and trophy successes.

Lawwell stepped down last year, with Dominic McKay briefly replacing him in a role now occupied by Michael Nicholson, and it was unknown if he would return to the Premiership champions in a high-profile capacity again, having represented them at times since.

The answer to that question has since been confirmed, following a significant update from a reliable source.

The Latest: Celtic return confirmed

Taking to Twitter, Joseph confirmed that Lawwell would step into a new behind-the-scenes role at Celtic from January 1st, taking up the position of non-executive chairman.

The Sky journalist tweeted:

“Celtic have confirmed former CEO Peter Lawwell will return to the club as non-executive chairman on January 1, 2023.”

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The Verdict: Good decision by Celtic?

Like any CEO, Lawwell always had his admirers and detractors down the years but the positives outweigh the negatives when it comes to this news.

He knows Celtic inside out as a club, and his vast experience and passion can help the Hoops to continue being well-run during this successful period under Ange Postecoglou.

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Lawwell clearly won’t have the power that he once did, but replacing the retiring Ian Bankier in the role could bring a freshness to proceedings, with his Celtic-supporting background certainly likely to be a help as he would have the club’s best interests at heart.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst made a few mistakes during his time at Glasgow Rangers, especially in the transfer market.

During the summer, for instance, the Dutchman did the majority of his business early.

However, once the Ibrox club qualified for the Champions League group stages after defeating PSV Eindhoven, he really should have spent some of the money on a couple of signings but no business was conducted on deadline day and the Premiership outfit suffered because of it.

The Light Blues missed out on a couple of targets, yet it was a Brazilian midfielder who was lighting up the Danish Superligaen with FC Midtjylland before sealing a record-breaking $10m (£8.1m) move to MLS side Portland Timbers last week that they should massively regret not signing.

Rangers had a nightmare

The club were linked with Evander during the summer, however, the Danish side valued him at around £8.5m, which may have been out of the Ibrox side’s price range.

Missing out on the 24-year-old is now looking like a major mistake, especially after his move to America, and he has the potential to shine in MLS.

Last season, Evander netted 17 goals and registered 11 assists and there is no doubt he could have filled the massive void left by Joe Aribo, who moved to Southampton in the summer.

The Brazilian has carried on last season’s form into the current campaign, scoring seven times and grabbing four assists across 19 matches in all competitions.

Across ten league matches this term, Evander has averaged a stunning 3.7 key passes per match, created six big chances, and taken 2.7 shots per match.

Comparing these stats to the current Rangers squad during the first half of the season, only Borna Barisic has created more big chances (eight) while only Antonio Colak (four) and Tom Lawrence (3.4) have had more shots per game.

This proves that he would have been an excellent addition to the Ibrox side and could have provided that extra spark in midfield that has sorely been lacking this term.

Portland Timbers may well have broken their transfer record in signing the 24-year-old, however, in a few years’ time, they will surely recoup that outlay and more, especially if he continues his meteoric rise.

Tottenham Hotspur could be hit by a ‘PR fallout’ involving managing director Fabio Paratici, as a result of his actions during his time with Juventus.

The Lowdown: Scandal at Juventus

Paratici is one of 13 people set to be indicted by prosecutors in Turin as a consequence of the ongoings at the Serie A club, with the entire board suddenly stepping down amid allegations of artificially inflating transfer fees as part of a capital gains scheme.

Consequently, this news does not reflect well on Tottenham, and it has already caused a strained relationship between the two clubs, with CalcioMercato indicating that the north London club could miss out on Weston McKennie as a result.

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The Latest: Tottenham’s PR fallout

According to information shared by Football Insider, Federico Cherubini, Juventus’ new sporting director, has accused his predecessor of wasting £600m of shareholder cash due to his poor decision making, in what is a damning verdict of his performance in his previous role.

Finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley said there’s a ‘worry’ it could hit Spurs:

“There is always a worry that people will make links in terms of where people have worked in the past.

“The club will be mindful of that. You are always worried about any potential PR damage.

“The emphasis is on the individual and not the club, so there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on Tottenham’s behalf.

“It’s something that is linked to developments that have happened in times gone by. But it is still something they will have to be mindful of internally.

“People will make those links and you have to be ready to deal with the PR fallout from that.”

The Verdict: Blow for Tottenham

Even though the club are not implicated themselves, it is not ideal for Tottenham to potentially be facing a backlash due to the actions of their managing director, particularly ahead of the January transfer window, when they will want to focus on strengthening the squad, rather than dealing with an issue off the pitch.

The fact that the transfer for Weston McKennie has already been hampered by the recent developments is also a blow, as he has impressed at the World Cup with the USA, displaying his creative side in the 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands, creating one big chance and registering two key passes in his 67-minute stint on the field.

Paratici and Conte have shown already during their time together at N17 that the Serie A is their primary market, so hopefully any backlash towards the transfer guru won’t impact their plans in January.

West Ham United are interested in deal to bring Joan González to the London Stadium in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian media outlet Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), who claim that, having been one of the ‘revelations’ of Pantaleo Corvino’s Lecce side this season, a number of clubs are interested in signing the central midfielder this winter, including the likes of West Ham, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Borussia Dortmund.

The report goes on to state that the Serie A side are ‘already looking forward’ to the sale of the former Barcelona starlet, with top-flight newcomers said to value the 20-year-old at a figure in the region of €15m (£13m).

Ditch Souček

While it is undeniable that Tomáš Souček made a huge impact following his €21m (£18m) signing in the summer of 2020 – scoring ten goals and averaging an impressive Sofascore match rating of 7.16 in his first full campaign with the club – considering how poor the 27-year-old has been this season, it is not difficult to see why David Moyes would be keen on a move for González.

Indeed, over González’s 15 Serie A appearances this term, the £2.5m-rated talent has been in fantastic form, scoring one goal, registering two assists and creating two big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 0.6 shots, making 0.7 key passes and completing 0.5 dribbles per game.

The 20-year-old has also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 1.5 tackles, 0.6 interceptions, 1.3 clearances and winning 5.1 duels per match.

Furthermore, it is evident that the £34.5m-rated Souček has been far from his best so far this season, with ExWHUemployee stating of the 27-year-old earlier back in September: “The whole game is bypassing him regularly. He’s had a good half against Tottenham, I think, from memory. A decent game against Chelsea, from memory.

“Other than that, he hasn’t performed. Honestly, I’ve been saying this for over a year now, I’ve been saying this for about a year and a half. The game just bypasses him.”

As such, while it would undoubtedly be a bold call to ditch Souček for González in January, considering just how exciting a prospect the “magic” Spaniard very much appears to be, coupled with how below-par the Czech Republic international has been this season, it could very well be a risk worth taking for Moyes and his transfer team this winter.

Manchester United return to Premier League action tomorrow night, with the Old Trafford giants taking on Nottingham Forest as Erik ten Hag aims to start off the second half of the top-flight campaign with a victory.

The Dutchman overcame an ominous start to life in charge of the Red Devils, losing his first two league matches before guiding the club to fifth in the table prior to the pause for the World Cup.

United will go into Tuesday’s match with something of a selection crisis in defence, with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez absent due to their participation in the World Cup final, while Harry Maguire missed the Carabao Cup win against Burnley last week due to illness.

Aside from that, though, the Red Devils appear to be at full strength. With that in mind, Ten Hag should unleash Bruno Fernandes against Forest, as the 28-year-old has the ability to be a game-changer in a match where nothing but three points will suffice.

The £240k-per-week sensation has been in superb form this season for United, averaging an impressive Sofascore rating of 7.28/10 across his 13 league appearances.

The midfielder has scored twice and registered one assist, but it is his ability to create chances for others which has stood out so far this term, with Fernandes making 2.6 key passes per match while creating eight big chances for his team-mates.

Despite often playing just behind the lone striker, his defensive abilities are also excellent, with the 28-year-old making two tackles and 1.1 clearances per match, proving that he can be effective all over the pitch.

Fernandes carried his domestic form into the World Cup, with a ridiculously high Sofascore rating of 8.38 for his performances in Qatar ranking him as the best performer during the entire tournament, despite him played just four matches for Portugal as they exited in the quarter-finals.

Compatriot Matheus Nunes dubbed him “incredible” following his displays at the finals, and Ten Hag should arguably have him as the first name on the team sheet heading into tomorrow’s match.

There is no doubt he can add to his goal and assists tally against a Forest defence which has conceded 30 goals so far this season, and the Dutchman will be looking at the 28-year-old to inspire the team.

With United having not played in the league for just over six weeks, Fernandes will no doubt be chomping at the bit to pick up where he left off in November.