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Journalist Jacque Talbot says that a move for Ben Brereton Diaz to Everton is ‘very possible’.

The Lowdown: Interest expressed

Taking to Twitter last week, journalist Alan Myers revealed that the Merseysiders have ‘expressed an interest’ in the Chile international, who is one of five strikers ‘being considered’ by the Toffees to fill the void created by the injury to Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The Goodison Park outfit have only netted two goals in their opening three games in the Premier League so far (including one own goal), and they are in desperate need of a reliable presence up top.

The Latest: ‘Very possible’

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Talbot has said that a move for Brereton Diaz to Everton is ‘very possible’, believing that he would be a ‘sensible, shrewd purchase’.

The report stated: “He was very good for Blackburn in the first half of last season when they were in that promotion place, and then he got injured, and the team fell off entirely.

“They got him down to a new contract in May, but they activated a one-year extension, but I think that’s with a view to eventually moving.

“I think they turned down some offers last season for him as well, halfway through the season there.

“But I think he’s a good player, and he seems within Everton’s sort of repertoire I feel, so it will be a sensible, shrewd purchase. I think he’s very good. That’s very possible.”

The Verdict: Get it done

Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett revealed on Monday morning that Brereton Diaz has ‘no intention’ of sitting down with Blackburn Rovers to sign a new deal, even though they would be giving him a ‘big pay rise’.

This provides the perfect chance for Frank Lampard and co to swoop in for a player that Rovers will likely now want to sell now in order to get maximum value out of him.

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Hailed as a ‘beast’ by former Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray, Brereton Diaz scored a very impressive 22 goals in the Championship last season, and he already has two to his name from his first five matches this term (Transfermarkt).

Nonetheless, the Chile international will be hungry to prove himself in the top flight, and Everton could give him the platform to do so.

Sunderland have enjoyed a strong return to playing in the Championship for the first time since the 2017/18 campaign.

The Black Cats are currently fifth in the table after five matches and have only lost once – against league leaders Sheffield United – after winning the League One play-off final to earn promotion to the second tier.

Kristjaan Speakman has bolstered Alex Neil’s squad over the summer with the likes of Daniel Ballard and Ellis Simms, and he has until next Thursday to make any further signings.

The transfer deadline is fast approaching and the Black Cats manager has made it clear that he wants more players coming in, recently admitting that he expects one or two signings before the final few days of the window.

It has been reported that he wants four or five new additions in total, and one player with whom the club have been linked – alongside Sheffield United and other Championship sides – is Lincoln winger Anthony Scully.

Sunderland must now push ahead with a deal to sign the former West Ham academy attacker, as he could be a big upgrade on Patrick Roberts.

The Englishman has only played 42 minutes of action in the second tier this season, averaging a SofaScore rating of 6.45. This came after he made 17 appearances for the club in League One last term and contributed with two goals and one assist, playing as a wing-back and a winger at times.

He failed to make a significant impact in the final third during 2021/22 and he is now struggling to force his way into getting regular minutes in a higher division.

Meanwhile, Scully played 35 games for Lincoln in the same league last season and produced 11 goals and seven assists, creating 11 ‘big chances’ in total.

The Irishman, who Tony Carr once praised for having an “eye for a goal”, managed that after scoring 11 goals and setting up four in 24 League One starts in the 2020/21 campaign.

These statistics suggest that Scully – who has 80 goal contributions in 159 career matches at youth and senior level – has far more to offer at the top end of the pitch than Roberts. He has shown that he can score more goals and create more chances in League One than the 25-year-old, which indicates that he would also stand a better chance of making the step up to the Championship.

At the age of 23, he is a young player with the potential to grow and improve even further. This means that Sunderland would be signing someone with significant resale value and the scope to become a better player in the future, whilst also being an upgrade on Roberts in the here-and-now, and that is why Speakman must snap him up.

Newcastle United are ‘definitely’ looking to bring Chelsea ace Conor Gallagher to St James’ Park before Thursday’s transfer deadline, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Howe wants a midfielder

According to a report by The i, the Magpies remain in the market for a new midfielder. Reliable journalist Mark Douglas has said that Dan Ashworth and PIF are ‘looking to [the] loan market’ for a potential addition, with the club recently having broken their transfer record with a £63m swoop for striker Alexander Isak.

The Tyneside outfit have been linked with numerous midfielders this summer, and Leicester City’s James Maddison is a prime target, with Newcastle’s second bid for the Foxes playmaker of just over £40m being rejected.

The Latest: Jones’ news

Jones has now stated that Newcastle are in the race to sign Gallagher from Chelsea, but with plentiful interest emerging for the 22-year-old, his signature will likely be hard to clinch this summer.

Speaking with GiveMeSport about the Magpies’ plans in the market, the transfer insider claimed: “A midfielder is definitely one on the radar – Conor Gallagher.

“They’re just one of about 10 clubs that are looking at Conor Gallagher at the moment, so we can’t get too excited about it.”

The Verdict: Would be a huge coup

When looking at the England international’s underlying statistics, it is clear to see what a coup his signing would be for the Magpies.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, Gallagher ranks in the 94th percentile for pressures and the 92nd percentile for non-penalty goals, dribbles completed and touches in the attacking penalty area.

With these attributes, the 22-year-old is stylistically comparable to the likes of Joelinton, Konrad Laimer and Jude Bellingham, marking him out as an industrious midfielder who also likes to take on opponents and make a telling impact in the final third.

Therefore, Gallagher – who has been described as a ‘monster’ in midfield by journalist Tom Dutton – would be a brilliant late-summer signing for Eddie Howe, however unlikely it may seem right now.

Liverpool and Chelsea both made moves to sign Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Bellingham a wanted man

The 19-year-old is arguably one of the most sought-after young players in world football currently, his £72m Transfermarkt value the joint-highest of any teenager in the sport.

Bellingham has been constantly linked with a move to Liverpool this summer, with those links showing no sign of letting up, although for now he has remained for Dortmund for another season ahead of a possible exit next year.

Romano has since made an interesting claim regarding the Reds’ pursuit of the midfielder in recent weeks.

The Latest: Romano makes Bellingham claim

Speaking to Caught Offside, the Italian claimed that both Liverpool and Chelsea attempted to sign Bellingham this summer, but to no avail.

Dortmund had never considered allowing the England international to depart, but Romano expects that numerous clubs will be in the race to sign the youngster next summer, if his current employers sanction a departure.

The Premier League duo’s attentions will duly turn to snapping up Bellingham in 2023, in what could be a fierce battle for his signature.

Jurgen is a Red! Show how happy you are about it with this awesome t-shirt! Click here to buy…

The Verdict: Matter of time?

Liverpool and Bellingham feels like a match made in heaven, given the Reds’ current midfield travails; and while it won’t be easy for the Merseyside club to get him next summer given that it may require a nine-figure transfer fee, they ought to be in a strong position to acquire his signature considering their success under a former Dortmund manager in Jurgen Klopp.

The teenager is an all-round midfield colossus who possesses a strong physique, technical brilliance and versatility, having been described as ‘fantastic’ by Jordan Henderson.

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At the age of 19, he already ranks in the top 5% among midfielders in Europe’s major leagues for assists, dribbles, touches in the opposition penalty area and progressive passes received, marking him out as someone who constantly seeks to get on the ball and make an impact in the final third.

Bellingham would not only be a long-term signing but also a key player straight away, ironically likely to take Henderson’s place in the team and forging great relationships with the likes of Fabinho, Thiago and Harvey Elliott. He must be Liverpool’s main transfer target at the end of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be lining up a move for Stefan de Vrij in 2023…

What’s the word?

According to Italian outlet L’Interista, the north Londoners are one of two Premier League sides to have made contact with Inter Milan over potentially signing the Dutch international.

Newcastle United are also keen on the 30-year-old colossus.

It’s thought that manager Antonio Conte remains a ‘great admirer’ of de Vrij, having coached him during I Nerazzurri’s Serie A title-winning campaign in 2020/21 – their first Scudetto in over a decade.

Conte loves him

It remains to be seen exactly how much the Inter star would command, particularly as he remains a regular starter under Simeone Inzaghi at the San Siro, though CIES Football Observatory currently value him at €15m (£13.4m), with his current £122k-per-week contract set to expire in the summer.

That would represent something of a bargain for Lilywhites sporting director Fabio Paratici, who could well still be on the lookout for another central defender, given his manager deploys a three-back system and is short on true options, in which one is only on loan in the form of Clement Lenglet.

De Vrij is an elite talent and one that Conte knows well, so it could be something of a dream arrival come January or perhaps the summer, where he’d be available on a free transfer.

As per FBref, who liken his statistical profile to that of four-time Champions League winner Raphael Varane, the Holland titan ranks within the top 6% of all central defenders across Europe for pass completion per 90 (92.1%), proving to be an astute player on the ball.

This campaign, he also leads the Inter squad for aerial duels won (3.1 per game) and for interceptions (1.7 per game), which highlights his defensive intelligence and ability to read the game and act upon what’s happening successfully.

The combination of these attributes makes him a very solid candidate indeed and it’s easy to see why Conte may want to reunite with his former star, given the evidence above.

De Vrij, who was once lauded as a “monster” by his ex-teammate Mauricio, must be among the priorities come the turn of the year.

AND in other news, Spurs receive bad news ahead of Arsenal clash…

The Athletic journalist Jordan Campbell has shared some significant exit news from Glasgow Rangers.

The Lowdown: Scouting department changes

It was reported earlier this month that the Ibrox outfit’s lead domestic scout Robert Clarkson left the club to head up the FA’s Talent ID from U18 to senior level.

He followed another former member of the scouting department in Andy Scoulding, who took up a role at Premier League Tottenham Hotspur, out the Ibrox exit door.

The Latest: Stevenson leaving too

Taking to Twitter, Campbell has shared that David Stevenson is also exiting the scouting department, leaving his role as the Gers’ academy scouting chief to move into lecturing:

“David Stevenson is leaving his role as Rangers’ academy scouting chief to move into lecturing, with family reasons part of the decision.”

The Verdict: Significant

As Campbell has stated, the Light Blues have undergone significant changes to their backroom staff in recent weeks, and Stevenson is another who has decided to leave the club.

It is slightly worrying for them that three key members of the scouting department have all left their roles, as they will now have to find adequate replacements.

Nonetheless, with Stevenson going, the Teddy Bears will now have to find another scout to help bolster their academy, with Craig Robertson, former chief scout at Aberdeen, reportedly working out of Spain.

With Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s job reportedly on the line as well, the club will surely not want to make too many changes to their backroom staff, in case he is dismissed from his managerial duties.

It was reported yesterday that there was concern surrounding Liverpool forward Diogo Jota’s fitness status after he was not seen in training on Thursday and was subbed off for Portugal, but now Jurgen Klopp has confirmed a triple boost after doubts on three players.

What’s the latest?

After returning late from international duty, the Liverpool manager has set the record straight on speculation surrounding Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, confirming all three will be in contention to start against Brighton and Hove Albion this weekend.

Klopp took to his pre-match press conference to settle the worries surrounding the South American players in the squad who were not seen in training on Thursday (via Liverpool Echo):

“Luis [Diaz] only landed yesterday morning. I heard he’s good. Darwin [Nunez], with caution after intense period. Same for Diogo [Jota].”

It’s great news for Liverpool

The Reds have had their fair share of injury problems over the season so far with several players picking up fitness issues and prolonged injury problems over the last few months, but it is finally looking promising ahead of their return to action against Brighton on Saturday.

The injury crisis at Anfield would have certainly contributed to the club’s worst start to a Premier League season during Klopp’s tenure so far, but with nine fixtures this month there is plenty of opportunity for the Kopites to pull back some much-needed points to climb the table.

Currently nine points off the top spot occupied by Arsenal, Liverpool will face both Manchester City and Mikel Arteta’s formidable side this month giving them the chance to close the gap between themselves in 8th and the top two positions in the Premier League.

Not only that, the Reds return to action in the Champions League and Klopp will surely be hoping the extended break will give his team the rest they needed to refresh and rebuild their confidence after a difficult start on all fronts.

With that being said, taking all three points when they host Brighton at Anfield will be non-negotiable for Liverpool if they want to get a good start in a very congested month of fixtures as they cannot afford to lose many more points if they want to be in contention for the title.

Everton saw their six-game unbeaten run in the top-flight come to an end on Sunday evening, as Frank Lampard’s side were undone by Manchester United in what was an entertaining encounter at Goodison Park.

Searching for three successive Premier League wins for the first time in over a year, the Toffees took an ideal first step toward achieving that goal, with the “revitalised” Alex Iwobi – as dubbed by journalist Josh Bunting – netting a stunning curling effort early on.

The visitors would swiftly hit back, however, through former Ajax man Antony, before substitute Cristiano Ronaldo – who had only entered the fray as a result of an injury to Anthony Martial – lashed home his 700th club career goal just before the break.

Summer signing Amadou Onana notably headed wide as the home side searched for an equaliser after the interval, while James Garner also saw a curling effort clawed away by opposition stopper David De Gea, with the Red Devils having had a third goal ruled out for handball at the other end.

As it proved, despite a late rally there was to be no rescue act for Lampard’s men on the night, with the Merseysiders slipping to their first defeat in four meetings against United, having clinched a 1-0 win when the two sides met back in April.

One notable villain for the home side was that of Neal Maupay, with the £15m acquisition struggling to build on his clinical strike against West Ham United prior to the international break, having produced a wholly ineffectual performance against Erik ten Hag’s side.

The Frenchman recorded just 26 touches in his 84-minute outing – fewer than teammate Jordan Pickford (48) – having struggled to get the better of Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez, while also squandering possession 11 times as he failed to make a telling impact.

One moment, in particular, appeared to sum up his night as the 26-year-old just failed to get his head onto a delightful ball into the box from Demarai Gray early in the second half, with Liverpool Echo journalist Chris Beesley stating that the former Brighton and Hove Albion man had got ‘little reward for his efforts here as Everton appeared to be crying out for a more aerial threat.’

That aerial threat could well have come in the form of the returning Dominic Calvert-Lewin, albeit with the Englishman only introduced off the bench having been unable to feature so far this term prior to that due to injury.

While Lampard may rightly be keen to ease the 25-year-old back into action, the imposing forward has proven before just what a handful he can be against United – with two goals and two assists against the Old Trafford outfit to date – with the Toffees boss potentially ruing his decision not to start the 6 foot 2 titan ahead of Maupay.

Although the latter man proved his worth against the Hammers a few weeks ago, this latest display illustrated that he may well find it hard to keep his place once the aforementioned Calvert-Lewin is back to full fitness.

Journalist Dan Woffenden has slammed the ‘blatant decision’ ignored by referee Peter Bankes which went against West Ham United as they faced Southampton this afternoon.

The Lowdown: Disappointing result

The Hammers held out for a disappointing draw as Declan Rice equalised with a dazzling shot from 20 yards out after playing a quick one-two with Said Benrahma.

Despite the equaliser, the result was made all the more galling for David Moyes and co as the Saints’ goal, which came from Romain Perraud after 20 minutes, was laced with controversy.

The Irons argued that Kyle Walker-Peters’ foot appeared to be over the line for when he took the throw-in which led to their goal, with further shouts claiming that the referee impeded Jarrod Bowen from getting the ball moments prior.

The Latest: Woffenden’s claim

Woffenden slammed the referee’s decision to allow the goal, with the alleged impediment coming from Walker-Peters’ throw-in.

Taking to Twitter, the Irons-supporting journalist fumed: “Absolutely no surprise to see that West Ham have had a blatant decision go against them once again. The standard of officiating in the Premier League declines every week. Shambles.”

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The Verdict: Needed three points

With the chance to climb several places in the Premier League table, a point will come as a huge disappointment for David Moyes’ side, ending a run of four successive victories in all competitions.

With the Saints in the relegation zone and manager Ralph Hasenhuttl reportedly close to getting the sack, this felt like a must-win game for the Hammers, who now sit 11th in the league table.

After such a poor start to the season, three points at St Mary’s would have solidified West Ham’s form going into the final month of the campaign before the start of the World Cup.

Therefore, an apparent mistake by the refereeing team will come as a painful wound for the Irons, who were on the wrong end of a controversial call not for the first time in the season.

Leeds United could be set to unleash Patrick Bamford from the off against Leicester City in an exciting change to the team.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to Phil Hay, with the journalist revealing in a recent Q&A for The Athletic that, despite Patrick Bamford still not appearing to be back to 100% match fitness after starting the Arsenal game on the bench, following the impact the 29-year-old made upon his introduction against the Gunners, it would not be a surprise to see the Englishman given the nod this evening.

Regarding Leeds’ team news, Hay said: “Marsch has a decision to make about Patrick Bamford. Does he start ahead of Rodrigo? Bamford’s influence on Sunday – the better parts of his performance as opposed to his misses – suggest that he should and it won’t be a surprise if he does.”

Game-changer

Considering just how lively Bamford looked against Arsenal, coupled with the England international having previously demonstrated that, when fully fit and firing, he is one of the top centre-forwards in the league, should Marsch feel he is able to unleash the 29-year-old from the off tonight, it would undoubtedly be a game-changer for the Whites.

Indeed, while it is true that the £5.5m-rated forward has featured in each of Leeds’ last five Premier League fixtures, it is undeniable that Marsch’s side have missed a 100% match-fit Bamford up top – having found the back of the net just four times over their five most recent fixtures, with two of these coming in a 5-2 defeat at Brentford.

And, while it is true that the England international did miss a penalty in the 1-0 loss to Arsenal, he also earned widespread praise for the impact he made on the game, with Hay claiming that Sunday was a “classic example of a striker doing everything right, except the finish” and Martin Keown dubbing the forward’s introduction as game-changing on Match of the Day 2:

“Leeds were magnificent, certainly in the second half. The second half was a completely different game from the point of view of Leeds. It really did turn on Patrick Bamford coming off the bench. I just think that if he could play every week, Leeds would be somewhat higher in the table. I just feel sorry for him today a little bit.

“Of course, I’m sitting there as a former Arsenal player hiding behind the sofa at times because it was that good. Look how excellently they press. He’s a part of this press to get the ball back and Arsenal were just playing into their hands a bit. It’s a ferocious atmosphere [at Elland Road]. I haven’t seen anyone give these two central defenders this amount of problems.”

As such, should the £35k-per-week talent who finished joint fourth in the 2020/21 Premier League top scorers – with his 17 goals only ranking behind Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah and Bruno Fernandes – finally be back to full fitness, Marsch simply must unleash the 29-year-old in his starting XI today, as the striker proved at the weekend he is very much a game-changer.