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Sky Sports journalist James Savundra has claimed that Everton could make potential new manager Sean Dyche “very happy” by signing a striker this winter.

What’s the word?

With reports saying he’ll soon come in to replace Frank Lampard, the former Burnley boss looks set to be trusted by the Toffees as the man to guide their struggling team safety out of a relegation battle.

The Premier League side are yet to make a new signing with the January window closing in just a couple of days but winger Antony Gordon seems destined to leave for Newcastle United.

That deal could potentially bring in around £40m to splash on a new incoming and Savundra has claimed that the club need a striker to come in more than any other position.

While speaking on the Sky Sports Transfer Talk show, he said (19:25): “Calvert-Lewin is a player, he needs to get back into form. Whether it’s alongside Maupay, whether he [Dyche] goes for the 442, I’m not so sure.

“Maybe that’s something they’ll look at as we head towards the end of the window. It feels like they need goals, they’ve not replaced Richarlison, Maupay has not offered the goals they need.

“So if they can get a striker in the next few days, I think Sean Dyche will be very happy.”

New striker needed?

Everton have scored just 15 goals in 20 league games so far this season – only Wolves have scored fewer – so it’s easy to see why question marks hang over the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Neal Maupay.

The former has struggled for fitness this term but has just scored just one goal in ten league games. While the latter joined in the summer from Brighton and also has just one goal from his first 15 outings for the club.

Evidently, the Toffees will need to score more goals in the second half of the season if they are to avoid the drop. Still, Dyche isn’t exactly known for his free-flowing, attacking brand of football.

With that in mind, perhaps signing a proven goalscorer will be the easier solution to the problem. West Ham United’s Michail Antonio has been linked but it remains to be seen if that deal could be done with not so much time now left in the winter window.

Newcastle United are ‘still hot’ on Chelsea’s attacking midfielder Hakim Ziyech, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Newcastle interested in Ziyech

It has been reported that the Blues are reluctant to sell the to a Premier League rival amid interest from the likes of Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur, instead preferring to do business with Roma, although that move appears unlikely at this stage.

Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol has claimed that Roma are unable to pay the Moroccan’s £100k-per-week wages, so Chelsea may be forced to strike an agreement with another English club (via Birmingham Mail).

The Latest: Newcastle ‘still hot’ on Ziyech

Jones was speaking to GIVEMESPORT about the Chelsea player’s current situation, reiterating that the Blues are reluctant to let any of their players join a domestic rival in Newcastle.

The journalist said: “It’s true that Newcastle are still hot on Ziyech, we’ve been reporting that for a few weeks now. It is understandable that Chelsea may not want to help them out.

“Certainly, in the summer window, it was the case, and last January actually, where clubs that were potential rivals to Newcastle didn’t want to give them players on loan because they didn’t want them to have an opportunity to strengthen over them.”

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The Verdict: Get it done

Should the Blues soften their stance and allow the 29-year-old to join Newcastle, Ziyech would be a very nice addition to Eddie Howe’s squad, capable of helping them to take that important next step in establishing themselves as Champions League regulars.

The former Ajax wizard has been hailed as ‘world-class’ by Chelsea team-mate Mason Mount in the past, but he has not recorded the best goal and assist numbers in the Premier League since his arrival at Stamford Bridge. He is still yet to score in any competition this season and has made just 25 goal contributions in just under a century of appearances for the Blues.

However he would be a massive upgrade on Jacob Murphy, averaging far more assists, shot-creating actions and completed dribbles per 90 than the Englishman in the past year; and given that Chelsea seem willing to sell the 29-year-old, Newcastle could yet sign the Moroccan for a bargain price.

West Ham United fell short in their January attempts to sign Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips, but they must rectify their failed bid by landing the 27-year-old at the end of the campaign.

What’s the word?

Having signed for Pep Guardiola’s side for £45m last summer, Phillips has been beset with unfortunate injuries and has failed to leave his mark on the Etihad Stadium, consequently being touted with a move to a host of Premier League outfits.

Among those are West Ham, who are in dire need of an injection of first-rate quality after a deeply underwhelming campaign so far and recently enquired about the possibility of securing the 27-year-old on loan for the remainder of the season, as per The Sun.

According to The Athletic, a summer move is ‘not completely off the cards’, with his integration into the Manchester City machine not as seamless as he or the club might have liked.

“Destroyer”

With captain Declan Rice indicating a desire to move on from the London Stadium, the need for a new high-octane midfield engine has arguably never been greater under David Moyes’ tutelage.

Having only made eight appearances and one start across all competitions for the Cityzens after departing boyhood club Leeds United last year, Phillips has so far failed to make the emphatic introduction that he would have been hoping for in Manchester after years of stellar work for the Whites.

While a large chunk of that misfortune is down to an injury sustained prior to the 2022 World Cup, with the England midfielder missing 11 matches due to a shoulder issue, he is unlikely to usurp the likes of Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin de Bruyne from their places in the starting XI any time soon. The dynamic Bernardo Silva has also regularly fluctuated between offensive and deep-lying creative roles.

This is no bad reflection on his own skill set, as the Englishman has emerged as one of the country’s most dogged and robust figures in the Premier League over the past few seasons, but rather an ode to the supreme quality of Guardiola’s established midfield triad.

While Gundogan’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and Silva is persistently tethered to rumours of a departure, Phillips might find it best to cut his losses and move elsewhere to serve as a focal point in a team which can offer him a regular starting berth.

Struggling as they are this year, West Ham could offer the Yorkshire “legend” – as dubbed by Amos Murphy – a more prominent role, rekindling the form which saw him earn seasonal Sofascore league ratings of 7.21 and 6.84 over the last couple of years.

As per FBref, the £150k-per-week phenomenon ranks among the top 1% of positional peers in Europe’s five main leagues for blocks, the top 3% for tackles and the top 25% for progressive passes over the past 12 months, illustrating his aptitude in breaking up play and recycling possession into forward-moving transitions.

Once labelled a “destroyer” by Steve McClaren, that epithet is a perfect embodiment of the destructive element, grit and mettle that Phillips could instil at the London Stadium once again.

As such, the 25-cap international would be a superb addition to Moyes’ outfit, with his prospective addition blanketing a layer of resilience and composure to alleviate the Hammers’ defensive woes. West Ham technical director Mark Noble would do well to recruit a tenacious and progressive presence who can steer the ship back on course and unleash the Irons’ former steel.

Newcastle United enjoyed yet another smooth transfer window under PIF in January, with the Magpies having again taken the wise approach not to splash the cash erratically, despite finding themselves in the mix for Champions League qualification.

Amid all the hope of short-term success, the Tynesiders do appear to have a firm focus on the long-term project that is underway under the new ownership. That desire to build for the future is evident with the signings of youthful duo Anthony Gordon and Harrison Ashby from Everton and West Ham United respectively, as well as teenage Australia international Garang Kuol.

However, the Magpies may be left to regret their failure to add to those new arrivals with further signings last month, having been unable to strike a deal late in the day for Flamengo starlet Matheus Franca.

The teenager was not the only Brazilian target that PIF and Eddie Howe appeared to have missed out upon, with the top-four hopefuls also seeing Vasco de Gama sensation Andrey Santos join Premier League rivals Chelsea.

Reports in December had suggested that the St James’ Park outfit were readying a move for the 18-year-old midfielder in the January transfer window, while The Athletic named the emerging wonderkid as one of the assets on whom Howe and co were keeping tabs.

While the Rio de Janeiro native is yet to feature for Chelsea following his £18m transfer, he does appear to be a talent who can blossom for Graham Potter’s side in the future, leaving those back on Tyneside to lick their wounds.

The 5 foot 11 playmaker is currently in “unstoppable” form for his country at youth level, according to Goal’s Tom Maston, having scored five goals and provided one assist in just six games in recent weeks in the U20 South American Championship.

The belief is that such standout showings may well ensure that the eye-catching youngster is able to obtain a work permit to feature in the Premier League, with it not beyond the realms of possibility that he takes to the field at Stamford Bridge before the end of the current campaign.

Such prolific form has followed Santos’ standout displays in his homeland prior to sealing the move to west London, as he racked up eight goals in 37 appearances for his former employers at senior level.

To make that sort of impact in the first team at such a young age is a testament to the midfield maestro’s quality, having also earned notable praise from compatriot Juninho Pernambucano.

The former Lyon dynamo stated last year: “Physically, he is a monster. Without the ball, his participation in the game is total. I wanted to see his GPS, because he doesn’t stop! And technically, he’s way above the others.

“He’s not going to be better than me, he’s going to be much better than me. He is a much more complete player. At 18, I didn’t play half as much as he does, I’m not ashamed to say that.”

Also tipped to be a “great player” by former team-mate Nene, it looks as if young Santos will go on to become a regular fixture at elite level for both club and country in the years to come, with Newcastle likely to be left to rue that transfer blunder.

Premier League leaders Arsenal suffered a dent to their title hopes after slipping up for the second game running at home to Brentford on Saturday afternoon, with that frustrating, 1-1 draw coming just a week on from the shock defeat to Everton at Goodison Park.

Mikel Arteta’s men had ridden an early storm at the Emirates – with Bees talisman Ivan Toney notably striking the crossbar – to eventually make the breakthrough just past the hour mark, with January arrival Leandro Trossard tapping home at the back post having only entered the fray just minutes earlier.

Despite it looking as if that strike would secure all three points for the hosts, Thomas Frank’s side then dragged themselves level in the closing stages, with that man Toney nodding home following something of a scramble inside the penalty area.

That late setback will no doubt sting even more for the north Londoners following claims made post-match that VAR official Lee Mason forgot to draw the offside lines in the build-up to the away side’s equaliser, with midfielder Christian Norgaard having been stood in an offside position.

For all the fury that Arteta will likely direct towards that inexplicable refereeing decision, the Spaniard may also be demanding an explanation from his players as to why there were once again under par, with centre-back starlet William Saliba one figure who will likely be in the firing line.

How did William Saliba perform against Brentford?

The impressive 21-year-old – who was initially snapped up by the Gunners on a £27m deal from Saint-Etienne back in 2019 – has largely enjoyed a remarkable season thus far since forcing his way into the first-team set-up, having previously spent the last three years on loan in his native France.

The highly-rated “Rolls-Royce” – as lauded by teammate Aaron Ramsdale – has been a vital presence in the club’s title charge so far this term, having kept eight clean sheets in 21 Premier League games to date.

For all the plaudits that have been flooding his way, however, the former Marseille loanee proved that he is not impenetrable yesterday, having been simply “dominated” by the aforementioned Toney, according to The Athletic’s Jay Harris.

The former Newcastle United striker had simply been “winning everything” against Saliba in the air, according to GOAL journalist Charles Watts, with the typically commanding youngster seemingly having no response to such physical prowess.

The latter man’s woes were laid bare by the fact that the £40k-per-week sensation lost 13 of his 15 total duels on the day, having remarkably only won one of his 11 aerial duels, according to Sofascore.

Although the eight-cap titan did record five clearances and produce two interceptions to illustrate that it was not a complete car-crash performance, there will be concern at how he was simply unable to live with the dynamic duo of Toney and Bryan Mbeumo.

Such a limp showing unsurprisingly saw the 6 foot 4 lightweight register a rather meagre match rating of just 6.4, as per Sofascore, with that figure the joint-worst of any of his starting teammates, alongside Ramsdale.

The hope will be that performance proves a mere blip with the visit of champions Manchester City now firmly on the horizon, although Saliba will likely face a tough task once again up against the division’s leading scorer, Erling Haaland.

Since the national self-exclusion tool, GamStop has become compulsory in the UK-based gambling industry, the non GamStop sports betting sites are growing in number. This new form of competition enables players to enjoy the excitement of boosting real money with no risk to experience stress.

Actually, many operators are not licensed by the British gambling regulatory body so they are not subject to regulation and acquire GamStop. It is worth mentioning that these sportsbooks are under the regulation of other reputable licensing entities, meaning that they are legal and trustworthy. Here are the reasons to consider registering at non GamStop sports betting platforms.

Why Betting Sites Without GamStop Are Good for UK Gamblers

There are several reasons why non GamStop betting keeps attracting British gamblers. Whereas listing all of them in one article is hardly possible, we have still come up with some of the main factors causing UK gamblers to switch to non-GamStop sports betting.

Easy Registration and Verification

When opening an account, the common worry of punters is to disclose their personal information through various copies of ID documents. Signing up can get more complicated in GamStop betting brands. One of the policies that these licensed sites apply is the Know Your Customer or KYC regulation to safeguard customers from fraud and illegal transactions. This long procedure requires newcomers to submit personal documents including a copy of their Identity cards, copies of bills that must include their names and addresses, and more. Thankfully, the innovative non GamStop sites suit the players perfectly because they optimize the registration as well as the verification to be quickest and smoothest. Nonetheless, it doesn’t mean that non Gamstop websites are illegal and untrustworthy. On the contrary, these sites are reliable and provide straightforward registration and verification.

Better Bonus Deals

If you have imprudently signed up with GamStop and now cannot bet, you need to register at the non GamStop sites. This means that you don’t have to quit your beloved hobby as you have a large choice regarding renowned gambling websites. Though these sites operate without the regulations imposed by the gambling British watchdog, they hold licences from other foreign regulatory bodies.

Hence, you can claim the bonuses that you feel to take your online betting experience to the next level. The reliable offers are not measured just by the amount of cash but also by the wagering requirements, maximum stake, and expiry date. The most common bonus in online sportsbooks is the risk-free bet, a bonus with no need to meet the playthrough requirement. The sign-up bonus is also an interesting offer rewarded to the newbies, which can be up to the value of their first deposits.

Betting With Credit Cards Is Possible

One of the most popular ways to bet on sports is gambling with a credit card. However, this payment method is not always available for gamblers. Before picking a betting platform, the first and foremost step is to check whether it provides a large selection of payment options or not. However, on 14 April 2020, the UK Gambling Commission launched a new regulation to prohibit the use of credit cards as banking methods in the British gambling industry. Therefore, credit card users are no longer able to use these popular payment solutions on sports betting sites.

Fortunately, there is an effective option to bypass the credit card gambling ban; joining the sites that still accept credit cards. These websites are not regulated by the UKGC but acquire UK-based bettors. They hold licences from other respected gambling jurisdictions that have built a good reputation among punters across the world. Visa and Mastercard are most widely accepted at online Sportsbooks but some gamblers are used to betting with other types of cards. As you just do is to make research on non-UK betting sites and choose the bookmaker that accepts credit cards.

Conclusion

Self-exclusion from betting is a necessary measure for many sports fans, and there are many football clubs that support GamStop scheme. The popularity of this software is so great that many gamblers think that the lincesed sportsbooks regulated and supervised by the UKGC are the only legal sites. However, there are many leading operators who are not subject to the UK gambling regulation but follow the rules applied by other regulatory authorities. The advantages to playing at non GamStop sports betting sites are significant because you are able to bet in a flexible and hassle-free way.

These platforms often offer bigger bonuses and promotions to their customers, permitting them to experience the thrill of winning real cash without investing. In addition, the registration process is very simple and best suits newcomers and those who are tired of complicated verifications. They have more options when it comes to banking methods including credit cards, which are banned from being used in the UK-based gambling market.

Newcastle United is a potential club which could intrigue the midfield duo of Youri Tielemans and Ruben Neves ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the latest on Newcastle’s summer targets?

Over the course of the January transfer window, there was a belief that Eddie Howe was looking to bring in a new midfielder which did not come to fruition.

Instead, the Magpies saw Jonjo Shelvey leave the club in a deal which took him to fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest.

Looking ahead to the summer transfer window, it is believed Newcastle will look to bolster their options in the middle of the park.

And speaking to Football FanCast, insider Dean Jones has mooted it could be a possible landing spot which would interest Tielemans and Neves:

“And I think for both players, it would be a really good environment for them to step into and will probably intrigue them,” Jones said. 

Could Neves or Tielemans replace Guimaraes?

Bruno Guimaraes’ arrival on Tyneside has proven nothing short of a masterstroke from the Magpies with the Brazilian proving to be a seriously impressive signing.

This season alone has seen the 25-year-old provide the Toon with a return of three goals and three assists in the Premier League (via Transfermarkt).

However, this success has seen some reports suggest he has attracted attention from the likes of Real Madrid with his new deal on Tyneside yet to be finalised.

Neves, who could be available for around £53 million, is now playing into the final 18 months of his deal with Wolverhampton Wanderers meaning this summer could provide him with an opportunity to move on.

And Tielemans will have his choice of clubs with the Belgian’s deal with Leicester City set to expire at the end of the current campaign.

And in comparison to the Brazilian in the middle of Newcastle’s side, the Premier League duo have both offered their respective clubs more passes per 90 minutes (via Fbref).

However, only Tielemans (3.28) has been able to return a higher shot-creating action figure than Guimaraes (2.96) but Neves has – as well as the Belgian – provided slightly more tackles per 90 minutes.

Newcastle fans will be hoping they are set to see Guimaraes play at St. James’ Park for years to come with a new contract believed to be in the works.

And with this in mind, the stats returned by both Premier League players would suggest they could offer Newcastle with a serious midfield partner to play along with Guimaraes.

When Manchester United take to the colossal Wembley pitch on Sunday afternoon to face Newcastle United, it will mark quite the turnaround in fortunes for both clubs.

The Toon were looking like strong relegation candidates last term before their Saudi investment and Eddie Howe’s arrival while United were a shadow of their former selves prior to Erik ten Hag’s entrance.

Although the Magpies arguably have the upper hand when it comes to the most impressive revival, the Red Devils have come a long way since that 4-0 hammering away at Brentford.

Since then, Ten Hag has instilled belief, character and personality into the Man United ranks.

They now look like a team capable of mixing it with the big boys again and in beating their city rivals and Barcelona since the turn of the year, there is evidence sitting right in front of us.

Coupled with Marcus Rashford, the Dutchman is helping to turn the page at Old Trafford with the ending of a six-year trophy drought today potentially set to send them on their way to greater things.

In order to do that, however, they must assess Wout Weghorst’s position in the team.

Should Weghorst play in the Carabao Cup final?

The gigantic Dutch striker has never been a truly prolific goalscorer but in the face of Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit over the winter, the club sought an ‘anyone will do’ policy.

A deal to bring Weghorst to the north-west was not a simple one; he needed to cancel his loan from Burnley in Turkey before moving to the Premier League giants but it’s safe to say that success hasn’t followed him.

The 30-year-old has found the net just once since moving, coincidentally in the League Cup, but it would not be a surprise if the was ditched on Sunday afternoon.

The £35k-per-week earner has taken up an interesting role since arriving, more recently featuring in a number 10 role with Rashford ahead of him.

At the moment the England star is the first name on the teamsheet but with Jadon Sancho’s emergence as a genuine option behind the striker and with Antony in form having scored against Barcelona in midweek, there are better options than Weghorst.

It would be wrong to suggest that the 6 foot 6 behemoth has been a failure just yet but at such a big club, in a big stadium, surrounded by big-name players, he does look somewhat out of place, “like a fish up a tree” as talkSPORT pundit Jason Cundy quipped this week.

That is not the striker’s fault at all. He wasn’t the one who engineered a move to United, he was simply just the man for the job at this particular time.

His spell at the club is unlikely to last too long and for that, supporters can’t have too many complaints about his performances.

It could well turn out that his physical presence is vital against the likes of 6 foot 6 Dan Burn and 6 foot 4 Sven Botman this evening, but in a final where it often takes a moment of magic to engineer a win, the likes of Antony and Sancho are better options.

As such, Ten Hag must ensure Weghorst starts this afternoon’s final as an onlooker from the bench.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez may well be coming to the end of his final season for the club, according to an update from transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Martinez linked with exit

The 30-year-old has arguably become one of the world’s most high-profile goalkeepers in recent months, following his 2022 World Cup heroics with Argentina, even being shortlisted for FIFA’s ‘The Best’ awards.

Martinez was magnificent in Qatar, proving to be the hero in two penalty shootouts, and he has continued to be a strong performer for Villa too despite the unfortunate ending to the defeat against Arsenal.

However, recent reports have linked him with a move away in the summer transfer window despite being contracted at Villa Park until 2027, with his relationship with Unai Emery thought to be dangling by a thread.

The Latest: Fresh update emerges

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones suggested that Martinez is now in his final few months as a Villa player:

“You have to wonder if this will be Martinez’s last season at Villa. The talk just doesn’t go away and he is a huge character who has a mind of his own.

“I think, as a manager, you have to accept that or just draw a line and move on from him because there’s not really an in-between here.”

The Verdict: Feels highly likely

At this point, it would now be a massive surprise if Martinez stayed at Villa beyond this summer, with so many reports backing him to move elsewhere and the conflict with the manager seemingly bubbling under the surface.

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At 30, the £120,000-a-week Argentine may feel that now is the time to challenge himself at a Champions League-playing club, and his performances on the big stage do merit a move to a team of that stature.

Rio Ferdinand called Martinez ‘fantastic’ during the World Cup and he is arguably one of Europe’s top ‘keepers right now, with his value skyrocketing in the last couple of seasons.

Therefore, NSWE can hopefully demand huge money for the 26-cap Argentina international’s signature, given his contract situation, which could go a long way towards improving Emery’s overall squad.

A Premier League club have reportedly made an approach to try and lure Glasgow Rangers winger Ryan Kent away from Ibrox this summer.

The Lowdown: Contract talks

Rangers are reportedly ‘increasingly hopeful’ that Kent will sign a new contract at Ibrox, with the latest round of talks thought to be positive.

His current deal at expires this summer, meaning that he can leave as a free agent at the end of the campaign should a new contract not be signed.

The Latest: Leeds approach

As per Football Insider, Leeds United have made an approach to try and sign Kent on a free transfer, and have officially registered their interest.

They have been ‘in contact’ with the player’s camp, and hold a long-term interest in him dating back to when Marcelo Bielsa was in charge.

The Verdict: Keep at all costs

Kent is a player that the Gers really need to try and keep hold of at all costs.

Lauded as an ‘incredible‘ athlete by The Athletic reporter Jordan Campbell, the Englishman can dribble with the ball at an immense speed, and ranks in the 91st percentile of all his positional peers outside of Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per match over the last year.

Kent has also shown that he has a consistent end product as well, with no fewer than 88 goal contributions in total since he first signed in the 2018/19 term.

Nonetheless, he still has a lot to offer at 26, and so signing him up to a new deal should be a priority for the Light Blues over the next few months.