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Everton are reportedly fighting their Merseyside rivals Liverpool to sign Real Betis defensive midfielder Guido Rodriguez.

The Lowdown: Summer interest

The Goodison Park outfit were reportedly interested in a move for the 28-year-old in the summer before they eventually signed midfielders Amadou Onana, Idrissa Gueye and James Garner.

However, it seems as if they may want to add another such player to their ranks in the January transfer window, with Allan moving on permanently and Andre Gomes out on loan to Lille in Ligue 1.

The Latest: January move?

As per Spanish sources, Everton are ‘still looking’ for a midfielder, and Rodriguez is one of interest to them.

However, they will face competition from local rivals Liverpool for his signature, as well as Arsenal, and he has a market value of more than €25m (£22m).

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The Verdict: Not needed

As good a player as Rodriguez is – after all, former Toffees striker Kevin Campbell, who has delivered punditry for La Liga TV, has hailed him as ‘top-class’ – Frank Lampard’s team do not need another midfielder.

Aside from the three central midfielders that they bought in the summer, they also have Abdoulaye Doucoure and Tom Davies in their first-team squad, so they should be focusing on strengthening in other areas of the pitch.

Rodriguez is a top player, having accumulated more than 100 games for Betis and 25 caps for the Argentina national team (6 foot 1 machine is perhaps someone to target in the future rather than in January.

Glasgow Rangers have recorded two wins in a row in the Premiership and Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men appear to be getting their season back on track following a woeful September.

The Ibrox side take on Liverpool in the Champions League tonight and it represents a chance to claim their first points in the competition since a 1-1 draw with Bursaspor back in 2010.

The Anfield side are woefully out of form and currently occupies ninth spot in the Premier League table, and tonight is an ideal chance for van Bronckhorst’s side to rock the apple cart and give themselves a glimmer of hope in the group.

If the Dutchman expects to secure a point or three from the tie, then he must unleash Ryan Kent against Jurgen Klopp’s men.

On the chalkboard

Kent recorded his first goal of the season with a strike against Hearts on Saturday and the winger needed it to bolster his confidence as he prepares to face his old club.

The Englishman enjoys playing on the continent, scoring five times for the Ibrox side in 43 Europa League matches while also grabbing 14 assists, however, the Champions League has proven to be a step up for the player, as he has contributed zero goal contributions in seven appearances at this level.

Liverpool have conceded 14 goals in all competitions so far this season, winning just three matches.

Defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has come under some criticism for his defensive capabilities recently, even being left out of the England squad, but Klopp has rubbished suggestions he can’t defend, describing him as an “outstanding football player”.

Kent has to target the right-back and his defensive fragilities to good effect tonight, using a combination of his trickery and pace, he could be key in the Rangers’ attack.

The £18k-per-week man was dubbed a “wing wizard” by former Ibrox teammate Leon Balogun and his stats at the club certainly justify this, registering 81 goal contributions (31 goals and 51 assists) during his spell in Glasgow.

If Rangers harbour any ambitions of gaining something from Anfield, they need to hope Kent is in devastating form as he possesses all the tricks and tools to bamboozle the Liverpool full-back who is clearly low on confidence.

It could be a magical night for the Gers inside Anfield and if they win, it’s likely the attacker will have played a large part in that achievement.

Former top flight striker Frank McAvennie believes Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min is safe in Antonio Conte’s first-choice XI amid his goal drought, but insists the manager will have ‘no fears’ about making a change.

The Lowdown: Recent minutes

Despite having started all of Spurs’ Premier League fixtures so far this season, the South Korea superstar is yet to find the back of the net.

The 30-year-old has provided just one assist to date, trailing behind new signing Richarlison, who has doubled his tally in limited minutes.

Son finished last season as the league’s joint top-scorer alongside Liverpool sensation Mo Salah, bagging a stunning 23 goals without a single penalty.

The Latest: McAvennie’s verdict

Despite a lack of attacking returns, McAvennie thinks Son ought to keep his spot in Conte’s starting XI. However, he also admits that any player is droppable under the Italian.

Speaking with Football Insider, the pundit claimed: “I think he does a lot of work, more than what we see.

“His teammates appreciate what he’s doing because he’s not scoring goals but he is taking a lot of pressure off Kane and I don’t know if Richarlison can do that.

“I do not think he’s [Son] playing too bad he’s just not scoring goals.

“But Conte will have no fears of dropping anyone, not a chance.

“He’s one of the top managers in the world, there is not a chance that he’ll have any qualms about leaving any player out. I think he’d even drop Kane if he wasn’t doing it.”

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The Verdict: World-class player

In the final third, Son is undoubtedly one of the best players in European football – as illustrated by his underlying statistics.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe over the past year, the winger ranks in the top three percent for non-penalty goals and non-penalty expected goals plus expected assists.

With such incredible numbers, the 30-year-old has earned statistical comparisons to the likes of Salah, Christopher Nkunku and Sadio Mane.

Whilst Richarlison is causing a potential selection dilemma for Conte, we find it hard to believe Son is losing his place to the Brazilian any time soon, especially with a trip to the Etihad coming this weekend.

Crystal Palace have been linked with signing Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins recently and the England international could be a big upgrade on Jean-Philippe Mateta in Patrick Vieira’s side.

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, both Palace and Leeds United are monitoring the former Brentford man’s situation at Aston Villa ahead of a potential swoop.

He suggests that the 26-year-old could be one to watch before the transfer window shuts, although also claims that Villa have dismissed any claims of tension between the striker and manager Steven Gerrard, maintaining that the club don’t want to sell this summer.

Previous reports have suggested that Watkins could cost as much as £50m, which would represent a huge outlay for Palace, although he would arguably be a significant upgrade on Vieira’s current striker options.

Last season saw Mateta contribute just five goals and one assist in the Premier League, averaging a less than impressive 6.64 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Watkins, meanwhile, would hit 11 goals and two assists, averaging a solid 6.9 rating from WhoScored, while he marked his first Premier League start this season with two assists in the win against Everton.

Watkins also outperformed the Frenchman with regards to shots (2.2 vs 1.7), key passes (1 vs 0.3) and dribbles per game (1.1 vs 0.5) last season, which emphasises that he is clearly the better all-round forward.

The Englishman does not lack ability in the air but possesses the pace that Mateta and Odsonne Edouard lack, so he could definitely be an upgrade for Vieira, as he is a willing runner that can work the channels and also press the opposition.

Jamie Carragher was full of praise for the Villa striker last season, saying:

“He’s been a real handful tonight. Every time that ball goes up. No defender has had a free header. Great body strength. He’s been bullying those centre-backs about, especially Matip, who has found it – not difficult – but it’s been a real fight every time it’s gone up to the front man.”

That certainly wasn’t the first time Watkins has caused problems against Liverpool, as he hit a perfect hat-trick in the remarkable 7-2 win against Jurgen Klopp’s side in 2020.

Anyone that is able to bully Virgil van Dijk, who is undoubtedly one of the top defenders in world football, is a player worth watching and while he could be an expensive option for Palace, he would definitely represent a big upgrade in Vieira’s attack.

Alex Crook has dropped an update on reported Leeds United transfer target Che Adams.

What’s the latest?

In a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT, the talkSPORT journalist revealed that, following a number of recent reports linking Victor Orta with a move for the Southampton centre-forward this summer, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side could be tempted into parting with the 26-year-old – with Saints reported to have placed a £10m asking price on the Scotland international.

Regarding the Whites’ interest in Adams, Crook said: “I was told they want to bring in a centre forward and I’ve been told that Southampton could be willing to listen to offers for Che Adams, who’s been on their list before. Whether they would meet the asking price I don’t know, but maybe that’s one to keep an eye on.”

Roberts upgrade

With Tyler Roberts having largely failed to impress since Leeds’ return to the Premier League two seasons ago – form which ultimately saw the 23-year-old shipped out on loan to Queens Park Rangers this summer, who hold an option to buy the Wales international – Jesse Marsch is quite clearly in need of greater depth up top ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

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And, while Adams is by no means the most glamourous name the Whites have been linked with this summer – with Orta also reportedly holding an interest in Club Brugge KV forward Charles De Ketelaere, Paris Saint-Germain striker Arnaud Kalimuendo and Stade Rennais attacker Martin Terrier – it is undeniable that the Southampton striker would be an upgrade on Roberts.

Indeed, when comparing the duo’s respective returns for Leeds and Saints in the Premier League last season, Adams bettered Roberts in almost every metric, scoring seven goals to the Welshman’s one, registering three assists to the 23-year-old’s one and creating six big chances to the forward’s two.

The £16.2m-rated talent also bettered the QPR loanee in average shots taken – 1.6 to 1.3 – key passes made – 0.9 to 0.7 – and successful dribbles – 0.7 to 0.5 – per game, as well as boasting an average SofaScore match rating of 6.85 in comparison to Roberts’ 6.74.

As such, it is clear to see that the £52k-per-week Adams would represent something of a dream upgrade on the £7.2m-rated Welshman, leading us to believe that, for a fee of just £10m, the 19-cap international who Ross McCafferty dubbed “unreal” could well prove to be an extremely shrewd signing for Orta to get over the line this summer.

Can’t get enough football? Watch Leeds United live streams and highlights on StreamFootball

Leeds United employee Noel Whelan has been reacting to the club’s move for Luis Sinisterra, as per Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Sixth summer signing

The Whites announced a deal for Sinisterra on Thursday, with the 23-year-old becoming the sixth summer signing at Elland Road.

The Colombian has signed a five-year deal in Yorkshire and has reportedly cost the club £21m. He arrives at Leeds after contributing to 37 goals in 49 games in all competitions last season and has been named in the squad to fly to Australia for the pre-season tour.

The Latest: Whelan reacts

Whelan spoke to Football Insider to give his thoughts on Sinisterra following the move. He labelled the forward a ‘really exciting’ player and a ‘mouth-watering prospect’, believing that he will quickly become a fan favourite.

The 47-year-old gushed:

“He looks really exciting. I’ve seen clips of him playing, I saw the Europa Conference League final as well – he’s a real player and someone who is going to get people off their seats.

“The goals he’s scoring, the pace, he’s exciting to watch – and that’s what the Leeds United fans want, especially if he is to come in and replace Raphinha.

“He looks a real mouth-watering prospect and someone who is going to open doors for us going forward.

“He will very quickly become a fan favourite if he can maintain that kind of form, just as Raphinha was soon after coming in.”

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The Verdict: Raphinha replacement

Sinisterra can play on either wing but featured solely from the left in 2021/22. It looks as if he has been brought in to replace the skill and flair that the Whites look set to lose in Raphinha.

The Brazilian hasn’t travelled with the Leeds squad to Australia, with a move away looking likely, so hopefully Sinisterra can bring his fine form over the last 12 months to England and get to grips with the Premier League straight away under Jesse Marsch.

Nottingham Forest are looking for ways to strengthen their squad ahead of their long-awaited return to the Premier League, and now a new potential transfer target has been named by a reliable journalist.

What’s the latest?

According to talkSPORT transfer insider Alex Crook, Nottingham Forest are now interested in signing John Ruddy.

Crook told the radio show on Saturday afternoon (as relayed by Nottinghamshire Live):

“I am hearing whispers that John Ruddy could also be coming in as another option in the goalkeeping department.”

Supporters will be excited

Nottingham Forest’s pursuit of Premier League-experienced players will surely help them in their returning campaign next season, so there is no doubt that supporters will be excited at the potential appointment of Ruddy this summer.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper’s contract expires next week at the Molineux and it could be a great opportunity for Forest to add another keeper into their squad who has proven experience in the top-flight, whilst saving millions on the free transfer in the process.

Ruddy has 122 Premier League appearances under his belt, with most of them coming from his time at Norwich City (116), a club who have found themselves in a similar position as Forest on numerous occasions, so the keeper will also give the team the experience of playing in a newly-promoted side.

Since leaving Norwich for Wolves in July 2017, the six foot two goalie has made 72 appearances keeping 36 clean sheets, which means he has kept a 50% clean sheet record, conceding no goals in every other game he played for the club.

If the 35-year-old does sign for Steve Cooper’s side this summer it is unlikely that he will have a starring role in the starting line-up for the team as the club signed Dean Henderson in a season-long loan deal from Manchester United, and are currently working out Brice Samba’s situation at The City Ground as to whether he stays for another season or not.

With that being said, the signing of Ruddy could add some much-needed top-flight experience to the squad this summer especially since he is a free transfer but will be likely used as a back-up for Henderson and his chances to play may fall shorter if Samba does see out his contract next season.

AND in other news: Deal done: Romano drops huge Nottingham Forest transfer update that’ll delight Cooper

West Bromwich Albion endured a fairly underwhelming season in the Championship which recently ended with the Baggies finishing in tenth place.

With 46 games played, the Hawthorns outfit won 18, drew 13 and lost 15 along the way, leaving them with 67 points on the board, 23 behind leaders Fulham.

Now that this dismal season has come to an end, the focus can turn to the upcoming summer transfer window and the potential overhaul that Steve Bruce previously spoke about.

One figure that didn’t see much action for the Baggies this season that should be on the way out this summer is Kenneth Zohore, who was once called “lazy” by Neil Warnock when the duo were at Cardiff City.

After making two substitute appearances during the two opening league games of the season, the striker didn’t feature in another matchday squad throughout the campaign.

As the club’s highest earner with a weekly wage of £26k-per-week, the 28-year-old could be a prime candidate to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Andy Carroll, Sam Johnstone and Romaine Sawyers as players looking for new clubs.

One player that the club have been linked with that could be an ideal candidate to replace the forward is Jed Wallace.

With a total of 228 appearances in the Championship under his belt, as well as 37 goals scored and 39 assists provided, the 28-year-old certainly has the experience and attacking credentials to be a solid addition to Bruce’s squad.

Having played in 37 league matches for the east London club this season, the Englishman found the net six times and delivered 11 assists.

Labelled as being “unplayable” at times during Millwall’s 1-1 draw against Preston North End some weeks ago by Gary Rowett, Wallace racked up 300 crosses and 66 shots at goal in 38 league games for his side this season.

To put that into perspective, that’s 112 crosses more than Darnell Furlong managed to make who delivered more balls into the area than any other Baggies player.

If the Midlands club are able to finally bring Zohore’s time at the Hawthorns to a permanent end this summer, bringing in Wallace could be the best way forward for the Baggies and give them a great chance of getting closer to promotion.

In other news: Imagine him & Grant: Bruce can form deadly WBA duo by signing 28 y/o “smashing talent”

It’s fair to say that Liverpool ended the season with disappointment, with the Premier League title heading to Manchester City on the last day of the season prior to a 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

Nonetheless, two trophies have been won this year and Jurgen Klopp is planning on another tilt at the league title for next season, when he will be aiming to stop the Man City juggernaut.

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There could be plenty of transfer business happening, with the Anfield faithful looking forward to seeing what masterclasses the German can conjure up this summer.

Klopp can unearth his own Robert Lewandowski

With Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota the only two senior centre-forwards left at the club following Divock Origi’s exit, Klopp might want to strengthen this area during the transfer window.

Firmino has only scored 11 goals in all competitions in what has been a relatively poor season, whereas Jota’s tally of 21 means that Liverpool rely heavily on wingers like Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane for goals.

Liverpool have been credited with an interest in Villarreal forward Arnaut Danjuma, and Klopp could unearth his very own Robert Lewandowski with a move for the €40m-valued (£34m) maestro.

Danjuma made the move from Bournemouth to Villarreal last summer and has thrived in Spain, scoring 16 goals and registering four assists in all competitions.

The Dutchman is considered stylistically similar to Lewandowski on FBRef, and while both are like-minded centre forwards with a clear appetite for goals, the stats also prove that Danjuma could well be Liverpool’s answer to the Polish goal machine, who played under Klopp at Dortmund previously.

Danjuma registered 1.53 shots on target per 90 minutes this season, which translates into 0.12 goals per shot, similar to the 33-year-old’s 2.35 shots on target (0.19 goals per shot).

Both strikers also created more than two shot-creating actions per 90, with Danjuma (2.2) and Lewandowski (3.18) giving themselves plenty of chances to score as many as possible.

The Dutchman is only 25 and eight years younger than the Polish veteran, so there is no reason why the “exceptional” Villarreal frontman (in the words of former Bournemouth boss Jonathan Woodgate) can’t continually improve and reach the Bayern Munich star’s level at some point. If Liverpool can bring him to Anfield, Danjuma could be Klopp’s next version of the mercurial Lewandowski.

AND in other news, FSG now plotting Liverpool bid for “astonishing” £34m signing, he’s Klopp’s next Mane…

Newcastle United return to action tonight as they host Arsenal at St. James’ Park in their penultimate Premier League match of the season.

The Magpies have already achieved safety and are five points off the top ten with two games left to play and this means that Eddie Howe’s men have little in the way of motivation when it comes to the league table.

However, the players will still be fighting for their places heading into the summer and will be desperate to prove that they deserve to be a part of the club moving forward.

One gem who must be unleashed from the start with a view to next season is Kieran Trippier. The England international returned from injury to come off the bench against Manchester City last time out and Emil Krafth must be brutally axed to bring him back into the starting XI.

In the 5-0 loss to Pep Guardiola’s side, Krafth recorded a dismal SofaScore rating of 6.3 as he failed to win a single aerial battle – losing Rodri from a corner for the third goal. Over the course of the campaign, he has lost 57% of his duels in the air as he has proven himself to be a lightweight at the back and Howe must now axe him from the team tonight.

This will then open the door for Trippier to be unleashed at right-back. The defender enjoyed a sensational start to his career on Tyneside, as he scored twice in his first four games, and he will now be hoping to end the campaign on a high by playing against the Gunners and then Burnley on the final day.

England boss Gareth Southgate previously dubbed him a “warrior” and his statistics for the Toon back that up as he has been a fierce competitor at the back.

He has made 4.8 tackles and interceptions per game and won a whopping 77% of his aerial battles in the Premier League across his five appearances, showing his ability to win the ball back for his side on a consistent basis and compete in individual duels.

The £77k-per-week gem has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.42 for the Magpies and Bruno Guimaraes (7.16) is the only other player with a score of 7.00 or higher. Trippier is one of the club’s best players and that is why he must start this game to get some minutes in the tank and build some positive momentum heading into next season.

AND in other news, “Keeping a close eye on..”: Downie delivers big NUFC claim that’ll excite supporters…