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Everton’s signing of Jean-Philippe Gbamin has proven to be a disaster and following the summer additions of Amadou Onana, James Garner and Idrissa Gana Gueye, Frank Lampard must ensure that the Ivorian leaves Goodison Park for good now.

The Toffees paid £25m to sign Gbamin from FSV Mainz back in 2019, however his time at the club has been absolutely ravaged by injuries.

In the three years he has been in Merseyside, he has managed just eight appearances in all competitions for Everton.

This works out at around £3.1m per appearance, which represents abhorrent business by chairman Farhad Moshiri, especially given that last season he managed to play 13 times for CSKA Moscow during his loan spell.

Not only this but across his spell on Merseyside he has picked up a wage of £75k-per-week. During his three-year spell, where he has earned £3.9m per year, he has cost the club in total £36.1m, taking that spend-per-appearance to an eye-watering £4.5m – and counting.

Fortunately for Lampard, with the 26-year-old now out on loan once more in Turkey, he will see out the final year of his contract away from the club.

It was a calculated risk to spend that much money on Gbamin, however for Marco Silva, he was seen as a direct replacement for the outgoing Idrissa Gana Gueye.

He joined Paris Saint-Germain for £29m, which does lighten the blow of the deal for his replacement.

However, three years on Gueye has returned in a move that has all but cemented his replacement’s exit from the club.

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By comparison, the Senegalese powerhouse has featured 111 times for PSG across the same period. He makes his Goodison Park comeback with a wealth of added experience, and after three years of searching, it appears the only player they could find to fill his boots was the man himself.

These new summer additions, plus his dwindling contract all suggest that Gbamin’s time at Everton is over. This signing must ultimately go down as a monumental failure, and Lampard and Moshiri will both be happy to see the back of him.

A major update has emerged on Newcastle United and their pursuit of Armando Broja in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Northern Echo journalist Scott Wilson has claimed that the Magpies believe that they will win the race to land the centre-forward if he becomes available.

He Tweeted: “NUFC confident of being able to beat West Ham for Armando Broja – but waiting for Chelsea to make a decision on striker. Broja returns to training at Chelsea this week – with Tuchel then deciding whether he’ll go to US for tour.”

Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie then added: “Lots of talk on Armando Broja #NUFC. Very impressive at Southampton last season. If Newcastle can borrow him (& there’s competition) for the season, it would mean there’s still funds available to purchase another player in the attacking third (winger), which would appeal.”

Eddie Howe will be elated

Newcastle’s head coach will be elated by Wilson and Downie’s claim as he will be buzzing to have Broja in his squad next season and still have money to spend, if Chelsea allow him to make the switch.

The Albania international has proven that he can score goals in the Premier League – with six strikes in 21 starts – and would bolster the manager’s options at the top end of the pitch.

He is also a player with potential and can be someone Howe works with over the course of the season to help him grow into a top striker in the top-flight.

Albania assistant manager Sergio Porrini hailed his progress in the 2021/22 campaign, saying: “From last year to this he has grown a lot, and at Southampton, he has exploded.

“His greatest qualities are in progression, especially the ball and chain. (He’s) less good, on the other hand, with his back to the goal, in the construction of the action. But, in the spaces, he is devastating!”

These comments illustrate both his quality and his scope for development as they suggest that he improved with more experience playing for the Saints, showing that he is learning and progressing with age.

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Now, imagine how many goals he could score whilst playing week-in-week-out for Newcastle and learning from Callum Wilson in training, whilst also being coached by the ex-Bournemouth boss…

He would be an exciting, promising, addition to the squad and that is why Howe will be elated by the club being confident that they are first in line for his signature.

AND in other news, “Newcastle could..”: Journo drops “statement” claim that’ll leave supporters buzzing…

Everton completed the ultimate smash and grab by winning a point from their game at Goodison Park park last night against Leicester City, with another point tallied up in their battle for safety from relegation this season.

Frank Lampard will be delighted that his team have managed to build a four-point gap between themselves and the relegation zone with just seven games left to go and the belief in the dressing room will hopefully push the team on to put in a performance in the Merseyside derby this weekend.

Despite only having 36% possession, fewer shots on goal and no big chances created throughout the game, the hosts refused to let the game pass them by to ultimately take a point away from the difficult game against the Foxes yesterday evening.

Leicester opened the scoring early when Harvey Barnes found the back of the net in the fifth minute of the first half, and from that moment it looked like it was going to be a tale of ill-fate for the Toffees, a situation we’ve seen the side find themselves in numerous times this season.

However, Lampard’s side remained resilient and held off the visitors from taking their further chances over the rest of the game, and Richarlison took the opportunity to find a last-minute winner scoring to undo Leicester’s work in the 92nd minute, sealing a point in the process.

One player who will go under the radar for his huge influence in the centre of the pitch with a performance that kept Everton in with a chance was Fabian Delph, someone who is currently enjoining a renaissance period at Goodison Park.

According to SofaScore, the 32-year-old midfielder won 100% of his five aerial and ground duels combined, made five blocks, two interceptions, one key pass and two tackles.

Furthermore, he only lost possession nine times in his 53 touches of the ball in an all-round impressive display that made him the real hero in the team.

The Toffees boss will surely be absolutely delighted that Delph has come back into the team to make such an influential impact on the side following a long-term injury.

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The former Manchester City star also played a huge part in the victory over Manchester United, and Lampard will surely be hoping that his inclusion in the team will continue to inspire further positive results.

AND in other news: EFC plotting £25m bid for “dangerous” £152k-p/w ace, it could be bye-bye Richarlison

Aston Villa are close to signing goalkeeper Robin Olsen on loan until the end of the season.

That’s according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, which, as to be expected, has had plenty of Villa fans talking.

Johan Lange has made no secret of his hunt for a new back-up goalkeeper this month, as the club have been linked with West Ham’s Darren Randolph and PSG’s Sergio Rico as well as Olsen.

He has finally made a breakthrough, and it appears Olsen will now be the man to come in alongside Emiliano Martinez and Jed Steer, with a medical booked for Tuesday.

Olsen, who has won seven trophies during his career, is currently on loan at Sheffield United where he has made 11 Championship appearances. The Blades have agreed to cut that short, though, with Villa now agreeing on a temporary deal with parent club AS Roma.

Villa fans react

@villareport relayed Romano’s claim on Villa’s next January swoop. This is what these fans had to say in reply, with a mixture of responses available to view below.

“We’re massive!”

Credit: @MattSmith1874

“Robin Olsen wooaahhhh. Olsen woaaaah”

Credit: @AVFCFaithful_

“We needed a good experienced keeper as cover for Emi he’ll do nicely, now just Bissouma and Pau Torres and we’re sorted”

Credit: @STAUNT0N

“Pointless.”

Credit: @StevieGsVilla

“We need a centre half”

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Credit: @N1X0

“No analysis needed. Someone to take the furthest right seat on the bench.”

Credit: @jmhart1

In other news: Shares agent with Gerrard – Villa now after midfield ace ‘like’ Gascoigne.  

Liverpool are ‘leading the race’ to sign Borussia Dortmund and England star Jude Bellingham next summer, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

The Lowdown: Huge future for Bellingham

England have lots of supreme young talent at the moment, from Trent Alexander-Arnold to Phil Foden, but Bellingham is arguably as exciting as anyone.

The 18-year-old has already made 55 appearances for Dortmund, despite his tender age, and he looks a complete midfielder, scoring in his side’s Champions League win away to Besiktas earlier this month.

[freshpress-quiz id=“359326”]

The Latest: Liverpool in pole position

It could be that the Bundesliga outfit cash in on the £49.5million-rated Bellingham before too long, and according to the Daily Star, Liverpool are the frontrunners to sign him.

He has already been hailed as the ‘most serious 18-year-old I’ve ever seen’ and a ‘great footballer’ by Germany legend and Dortmund teammate Mats Hummels, as he develops into quite clearly one of the brightest young talents in the world.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-5/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Potential game-changer

Bellingham looks like a genuinely special footballer who could have an enormous future, so Liverpool’s interest is undoubtedly exciting.

The Reds’ midfield will be in need of fresh blood next summer, with Jordan Henderson and Thiago now in their 30s and the likes of Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain unreliable in the injury department.

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Bellingham has the athleticism and technical ability to thrive anywhere in midfield – he has averaged 1.2 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game in the Bundesliga this season – and could perhaps develop into the Steven Gerrard replacement Reds fans have been waiting for.

In other news, some Liverpool fans are worried about a photo that has emerged. Read more here.

Carlton Palmer admits the contract situation hanging over Julian Borner and Sheffield Wednesday is “going to get messy”.

The German defender is attempting to force through a move to Hannover 96 following the Yorkshire club’s relegation into League One.

Financial difficulties had seen some members of Wednesday’s squad not paid, resulting in a number of senior players considering handing in their two-week period of written notice.

The PFA have also got involved as it has been reported that players have not been paid either in full or on time for the past three months.

Borner, who made 30 appearances for the Hillsborough club last season, believes he should be able to walk away from Wednesday on a free transfer and is supposedly opening arbitration proceedings as a result of unpaid wages.

Hannover have already agreed a contract with the 30-year-old but Wednesday are holding firm and insist he cannot rip up his deal, which still has a year to run.

Palmer, who had two spells with the Owls during his playing career, does not see how the situation can be resolved amicably.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, he said: “It’s going to get messy because it’s an interpretation. If the players haven’t been paid for a period of time then they are entitled to exercise the right to cancel their contracts.

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“The problem is when they have been paid part of their salary. My understanding is that the players have been paid part of their wages. As long as they’ve been paid part of their wages, they’re in a situation where they’re owed money but they can’t cancel their contract.

“Obviously you’re going to get some agents who are going to try to be clever and say he hasn’t been in full so we’re entitled to cancel the contract. My understanding is they can’t do that.”

Tottenham Hotspur have been offered a current Premier League boss, according to fresh reports this week…

What’s the word?

The Sun claim super-agent Jorge Mendes wants to take Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Nuno Espirito Santo to Spurs, and they report that he has made contact with the north London outfit over a potential switch this summer.

It could create a knock-on effect that’ll only benefit the Portuguese representative even further as he would then try to take Bruno Lage to Molineux to replace the 47-year-old ex-goalkeeper.

Mendes also brokered Matt Doherty’s £15m move to Spurs in August.

Mourinho 2.0?

Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy must approach this with serious caution as he risks a repeat scenario with Nuno.

There’s no denying that the Portuguese tactician has masterminded Wolves’ rise in the last few years, going from Championship promotion to the Europa League quarter-finals. And understandably, his reputation has skyrocketed, as a result.

Arch-rivals Arsenal came close to appointing him before settling on Mikel Arteta, according to The Sun’s aforementioned report, too.

The Midlands outfit have found life tough this campaign, drawing many a similarity to Spurs under Mourinho.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/spurs-latest-managerial-update-transfer-rumours-levy-mourinho-sacked-gossip” title= “Read the latest Spurs manager updates, transfer news, gossip and more!”]

Both teams have endured defensive mistakes and problems, and both seem to rely heavily on that one talisman – Harry Kane in north London, and Raul Jimenez at Molineux.

In the Mexican’s absence, Wolves have lingered in mid-table and haven’t looked like repeating their European exploits once.

It wouldn’t be the first time that Levy gets stung by an infamous super-agent either as Pini Zahavi, who is thought to have a close relationship with the Spurs chairman, was the man to clinch the ‘Special One’ a whopping £15m-per-year, which was double the amount paid to Mauricio Pochettino, who guided them to the Champions League final in 2019.

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Mourinho also walked away with a £20m compensation package, according to the Daily Mail, following his sacking two weeks ago.

Levy must remember that these representatives are looking out for their clients, rather than trying to help out Spurs, so this latest claim should be hugely worrying for the Hotspur faithful, who grew tired of Mourinho’s tactics and recently protested against the club’s ownership.

He’ll only risk opening a further can of worms if he trusts Mendes with this appointment.

AND in other news, Levy could fix major Spurs problem by hiring 51 y/o gem who “ticks a lot of boxes”…

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, ex-Bradford City man Dean Windass has played down West Ham’s chances of finishing in the top four.

Despite losing narrowly at Manchester City on Saturday, David Moyes’ still find themselves sitting 4th, one point clear of Chelsea and a further point ahead of Liverpool, who beat Windass’ former side Sheffield United on Sunday evening.

The Hammers face the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Leicester City in the coming weeks, but David Moyes’ team have continued to defy the odds in recent matches – with their defeat at the Etihad Stadium just their second in the Premier League since Christmas.

Only the top-three have won more Premier League matches than West Ham this season, but Windass doesn’t believe the East Londoners can keep churning out results.

Asked whether the Hammers can sustain their current form, Windass told FFC exclusively:

“No. West Ham, another football club, you know, the new stadium. It was a great place to play at Upton Park and a great atmosphere. I’ve never been to the new stadium, but obviously played at the old one and you know, some atmosphere.

“The problem you’ve got is obviously if you don’t get the Champions League, then how do you enhance Champions League footballers to go to West Ham? They’ve had a remarkable season, and anything they get now, even if they don’t get in the Champions League, they’re pulling up trees. Can they sustain this? I’m not sure.”

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There’s no two ways about it, West Ham have been outstanding this season, but Windass might well be right with his prediction.

With Chelsea having turned a corner under Thomas Tuchel and the likes of Spurs, Everton and Liverpool still in the mix for the top four, it would be some achievement if Moyes’ side were to maintain their current place in the table.

Everton must secure a positive outcome from crunch talks with rumoured Real Valladolid target Sandro Ramirez as the Toffees seek to mutually terminate the Spaniard’s contract.

What’s the word?

According to Fourth Official, Toffees chiefs are hoping the Merseyside outfit are able to reach an amicable solution with Sandro to terminate his £65,000-per-week contract having thus far failed to offload the 25-year-old this summer.

Sandro has spent most of the past three seasons away from Goodison Park on various loan deals after a string of managers decided the former Under 21 international was not up to the standards required to compete for minutes in Royal Blue.

The forward spent the 2019/20 campaign back in his native Spain with Real Valladolid, for whom he struck home four goals in 26 outings across all competitions. Nevertheless, the Jose Zorilla Stadium natives are understood to be keen on re-signing Sandro providing he arrives as a free agent.

Elche CF, SD Huesca and “especially” SD Eibar are also thought to be interested in the £2.88m-rated forward’s availability, although their hopes are likewise dependent on Everton agreeing to terminate Sandro’s contract.

A move now seems entirely dependent on Sandro accepting Everton’s offer of becoming a free agent, likely alongside a lucrative pay-off to end what has been a horror move for a deal once considered “ideal”.

Sandro’s “ideal” English adventure

Sandro lauded his move to Everton as the “ideal” destination in 2017 after the Blues agreed to trigger the £5.25m release clause in his Malaga contract, but the move has been nothing but a horror show since.

“I’m very happy, this is a big step in my career,” Sandro said, via quotes by AS. “I know I’m signing for a massive club in England.

“Everton is the ideal place for me, I’ve got the ideal manager who is going to keep giving me the confidence to improve my game.”

In three years, Sandro has managed to record just 16 appearances for the Toffees, with the last of which coming during an EFL Cup tie in August 2018 after returning from the first of what became many loan spells.

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Everton fans have also only bore witness to a single goal from the Spaniard’s boots when he struck a consolation effort during a 5-1 defeat at home to Atalanta in the 2017/18 Europa League Group Stage.

Failing to score elsewhere – with his four goals for Real Valladolid his only achieved whilst out on loan in two-and-a-half-years – has ensured no suitors are willing to pay Everton for Sandro’s services, and the Blues must now strike an agreement to end the striker’s association with Goodison Park this summer.

AND in other news, Everton are warming to the idea of sending a rarely-seen man away from Goodison Park.

The football season has been plunged into chaos this week and it seems that fans, journalists and even the governing bodies are unsure of how to continue after Premier League matches were postponed on Friday.

Premier League clubs will meet on Thursday to discuss plans beyond the 4th of April – when football is due to return – with a number of outcomes still possible at this time.

Liverpool have the most to lose as their first title for 30 years, which they appeared destined to win, is now very uncertain due to the entire season possibly being called off and made void.

However, Michael Edwards and Tom Werner will represent the club in those aforementioned talks, and that fills supporters with hope as Edwards has often proved effective in other aspects of his job, such as selling players for high prices like £142m Philippe Coutinho.

Whether or not he can have the influence fans hope for is yet to be seen, as West Ham’s Karen Brady has already advocated for the season to be cancelled.

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That would mean all of the parties may reach an impasse, and naturally Reds’ supporters are fearing the worst.

Many suggest it would be unfathomable to call off the competition but with no solution in sight and Euro 2020 currently getting the go-ahead, it is a matter of finding the time to play the remaining matches.

No clues: Can you name the season these iconic Liverpool images belong to?

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Here is some of the supporters’ view of the current situation.

Read here to find out about the verdict Jurgen Klopp has given regarding Liverpool’s current predicament…