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Everton have enjoyed an upturn in form since Sean Dyche's appointment, with the 51-year-old taking over a squad admittedly lacking in quality and confidence and managing to steer them out of the relegation zone thus far.

Since the Toffees brought him in, they have yielded the fourth-most points, with only Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur having recorded more.

It marks a mini miracle, as the ex-Burnley boss seeks to continue this following the imminent conclusion of the international break.

However, disaster has once again struck for the Merseyside outfit, who were dealt a huge blow as their club captain Seamus Coleman was outlined as a doubt for his country's upcoming game.

The Irishman has seldom had much fortune when playing for the Boys in Green, with the 34-year-old suffering the worst injury of his career in a match against Wales where he sustained a broken leg.

Given that this potential ailment is of far less concern, despite him enjoying the best form he's had in recent years, it does now allow the returning Nathan Patterson to prove to the new boss why he is the perfect man to take over from him in the near future.

When will Nathan Patterson play for Everton?

Having joined for £16m back in January of 2022, the youngster has struggled for fitness throughout his tenure at Goodison Park. Just when opportunities seem to arise for him, the Scotsman is usually struck down with an issue of his own.

His latest came against Brighton and Hove Albion, where he suffered what Frank Lampard described as a "freak" injury that has seen him ruled out ever since.

But whilst one right back suffers on international duty, the other made his triumphant long-awaited return to senior football in a short cameo for Scotland.

The 21-year-old came on for the final portion of the game, having built up to a re-emergence by featuring for Everton's youth sides multiple times.

But by finally getting on the pitch again, for club or country, it bodes well for a strong finish to the season back at Everton.

Having only featured 13 times this season before the injury, Patterson's 6.74 average rating thus far in his debut Premier League season is impressive. He has already established himself as a capable defender, boasting three tackles and 2.1 interceptions per game (via Sofascore), but it is his youthful energy that marks him apart from the £55k-per-week "leader", as branded by journalist Paddy Boyland.

Although he has impressed this season, Coleman will eventually start to slow down. It, therefore, means that his young successor needs to be ready to step up, and this marks his huge chance to do so. With pundit Danny Murphy having lauded him as a "diamond" already for his displays in Royal Blue, should he find consistency then it could prove incredibly fruitful for Dyche and the club.

Leeds United's financial difficulties in the early 2000s were well-documented, and this woe translated into their devastating fall from grace.

In what seemed like an instant, the Whites went from Champions League semi-finalists and Premier League challengers to relegation fodder, culminating in their 2004 slump into the Championship.

During this period, in a desperate attempt to balance the books, many of their top assets were sold at a cut-price as other top clubs came circling around their sinking ship.

They saw opportunities to pick at the bones of this flawed institution that held no bargaining power, and as such their rivals essentially took what they wanted.

This did not end with their relegation though, as a year after then-manager Kevin Blackwell oversaw one of their most frustrating sales as academy graduate Aaron Lennon left for Tottenham Hotspur. Whilst his departure alone stung, the tiny fee paid only served to further twist the knife into their gaping financial wound.

How much did Aaron Lennon cost Tottenham Hotspur?

Having scored only once for the Yorkshire outfit, the 5 foot 5 winger had still captured the attention in their first season in the second division. His electric pace and quick feet made him a threat to any full-back, so it was unsurprising to see him coveted by the likes of Spurs.

However, because of their aforementioned fiscal deficiencies, the Lilywhites would only have to part with £1m to secure this diminutive speedster.

Given how important the 35-year-old became for them, a staple of the Premier League, marks just how big of a blow this turned out to be. Lennon would go on to feature 364 times for Spurs, scoring 30 and assisting 79.

Such was his influence on not just this club but the league as a whole, journalist Joao Vitor Castanheira branded him a "legend" despite only winning a sole EFL Cup.

He truly was capable of the spectacular, with fellow journalist Alasdair Gold reminiscing on the times when the winger would be "tearing defences to shreds with his pace" before finishing things off with a stunner; or as writer Ian Mitchelmore put it, an "absolute beauty".

A nomadic figure who is now synonymous with the English top flight, Lennon would also go on to play for Everton and Burnley whilst becoming a true pioneer in the mental health sphere within the sport.

His work on and off the pitch has made him a true cult hero figure at every club he has graced, but Leeds have the right to feel the hardest done by given the manner in which he was snatched from them only to be turned into a legend for everyone but them.

Leeds United invested heavily last summer, entrusting Jesse Marsch with vast funds to ensure he would guide them far away from the relegation battle he had just saved them from.

Of the seven new faces he brought in, the biggest task the American was faced with was replacing the goals of Raphinha, who had left that summer.

The Brazilian had turned into a truly world-class asset whilst at Elland Road, and his exploits were integral in their continued presence in the Premier League. He was their top scorer last season on 11, so to seek a direct replacement for him was somewhat foolish.

Few could replicate what he did, and with hindsight perhaps offsetting his goals across numerous purchases might have been a smarter move.

However, Luis Sinisterra was selected as his successor, as the Whites parted with £21m to tempt him to Yorkshire.

Whilst he had looked electric the season prior for Feyenoord, his spark has since dwindled out amidst injuries and a loss of form.

How much has Luis Sinisterra cost Leeds?

Whilst his initial fee is mouth-watering enough, the 23-year-old was also handed a £65k-per-week deal to partner it. This was a necessary evil, as if he was expected to be their main man, a figure such as this was to be expected.

However, given how the South American has not performed, it instantly makes the total sum seem foolish. All in all the forward will have cost £24.4m come the conclusion of this campaign, yet he has only mustered 13 appearances in the league, costing the club a depressing £1.6m for each showing he has made this season across all competitions because of his absences.

His return of just two goals is a far cry from what was desired when he first joined too. Frustratingly, this must be branded a failed deal thus far.

It is extremely disappointing to see how little impact he is having, given how he thrived in the Netherlands as aforementioned. Sinisterra's final season in the Eredivisie saw him notch 12 goals and assist a further seven, and in all competitions posted 37 goal contributions.

Clearly capable of magic, there have been brief flashes of the 5 foot 10 winger's potential, but not enough to merit his cost. For example, podcaster Conor McGilligan had brandished one of his goals for Leeds as "Paul Gasgoigne-esque"; high praise indeed.

The talent is obviously there, and were the club's number 23 fit and firing he could truly be the catalyst towards ensuring their safety. It will not be an easy task, but should Javi Gracia reignite the speedster it could be one of his most important feats as Leeds manager.

Leeds United winger Jack Harrison is believed to be on the verge of signing a new contract at Elland Road.

The Lowdown: Harrison’s future up in the air

The 26-year-old’s Whites future has been a big talking point for some time now, with some reports linking him with a move away from Elland Road, namely due to interest from Leicester City on January deadline day.

Harrison’s current Leeds deal expires at the end of next season, so this summer would have represented the most logical time to sell him if unable to agree a new deal.

However, a major update has now emerged, suggesting that he is going nowhere for cheap.

The Latest: New deal incoming?

According to Football Insider reporter Wayne Veysey, Leeds are ‘in talks’ with Harrison over a contract extension and are ‘closing in on an agreement’ with the Englishman.

The Whites don’t want to potentially lose the attacker for a ‘cut-price’ amount and a new deal would alleviate that issue.

The Verdict: Great news for Leeds

In truth, Harrison has struggled to consistently play well this season, scoring just twice in 24 Premier League appearances, but this is still great news.

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He has been a key figure at Elland Road for some time now, racking up 194 appearances and chipping in with 31 goals and assists apiece, not to mention being described as ‘fantastic’ by YouTuber Conor McGilligan.

At 26, Harrison still has another level to find and Javi Gracia could be the man to get even more out of him, ensuring he remains an important figure for years to come.

Should his form not improve, though, and Leeds decide they are happy to see him move on at some point, they would now have the luxury of demanding a big fee.

Chelsea have a special agreement with Roma to sign former striker Tammy Abraham if they meet a pre-agreed price, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Abraham return mooted

The Englishman enjoyed five years at Stamford Bridge between 2016 and 2021, scoring 30 goals in 82 appearances, as well as registering 12 assists.

Abraham eventually left in order to enjoy more regular playing time, however, joining Serie A giants Roma and bagging 17 league goals in his first season there.

It could be that he leaves the club this summer, however, with his form and minutes dropping off slightly from the previous term, and he has been linked with a reunion with Chelsea.

The Latest: Romano confirms buyback agreement

Taking to Twitter on Thursday, Romano confirmed an €80m (£70m) clause in Abraham’s Roma contract that exists only for Chelsea:

“Chelsea have €80m buy back clause for Tammy Abraham valid in summer.”

The Verdict: Is he good enough?

There is no denying Abraham’s pedigree as a striker – Gary Lineker once called him ‘classy’ – considering he has represented Chelsea and Roma, as well as scoring three goals in 11 caps for England.

Whether or not he is at the level required for the Blues this summer is up for debate, however, with the club needing to bring in a genuinely elite attacker to lead the line.

Abraham isn’t that, despite his aforementioned goalscoring prowess, with Napoli star Victor Osimhen on another level, having netted 19 times in 20 league starts this season, not to mention being linked with Chelsea also.

If the former Blues man is happy to come in as a backup option then that would work, but it is highly unlikely that he will be content with that, given the stage of his career he is at.

Aston Villa reporter Ashley Preece has shared an update on rumours regarding a move for Barcelona sporting director Mateu Alemany.

The Lowdown: Alemany offer

There has been plenty of speculation coming from Spain in regards to Villa adding to their boardroom. Reports suggested that club held discussions with former Real Betis director Antonio Cordon, with a recent update also claiming Alemany was of interest.

It was thought that Alemany rejected an offer to move to the Midlands from Barcelona, and Preece has shared what he knows.

The Latest: Preece’s comments

Preece shared a Q&A for Birmingham Live on Thursday morning, where he was asked about Alemany following the rumours of a move.

He said that ‘Villa have stressed’ there is nothing in the reports, although Preece said that the ‘noises’ coming from Spain makes him think Unai Emery wants another director in alongside Johan Lange.

“Re Barca sporting director Mateu Alemany, Villa have stressed to me that there’s nothing in those reports, likewise Cordon who left Betis last week. I am quite sceptical, though, given the noises surrounding the sporting directors. I do feel Emery wants another man to come in and perhaps support Lange.

“We’ll see what plays out in the summer… Let’s just say that. Emery wants another man he can trust by his side when it comes to the big decisions involving his playing squad.”

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The Verdict: Interesting

Villa allegedly ‘rate’ the work that Lange has done, however, even though the club have seemingly rubbished rumours about Alemany, an off-field addition could still be one to watch. Lange could be working long hours this summer, with Christian Purslow expecting an extremely busy transfer window at Villa Park.

Therefore, bringing in another sporting director to work alongside the 43 year-old may prove be a wise move, bringing a fresh approach to the club ahead of Emery’s first full season.

Emery has reportedly been given a level of control none of his predecessors have been allowed, so he may want to work closely with Lange and another director of his choice, so it could be an interesting few months both on and off the pitch.

Newcastle United have been enjoying a fantastic season so far and Eddie Howe will be absolutely thrilled with the rapid progression his squad has made in the short time they have been together.

The Magpies are currently fifth in the Premier League table following the incredible form that has seen them concede just two defeats over their 23 outings – fewer than any other side so far – as well as getting to their first domestic cup final since 1999 at Wembley last weekend.

Despite the success on Tyneside of late, there is still plenty of work to be done to fine-tune the squad so that Newcastle can really become competitive for trophies and comfortably compete in Europe, should they qualify this season.

As a result, Howe will surely be looking for areas of his team that can be improved upon and the left-back position is one of the most obvious places to start with centre-back Dan Burn currently occupying the spot on the left flank.

One player who has been linked to Newcastle and could replicate Kieran Trippier’s impact on the opposite side next season is Benfica’s Alejandro Grimaldo – a talented and versatile fullback who could make the move to the North East for free as his contract expires in the summer.

Could Howe repeat his Kieran Trippier masterclass with Grimaldo?

There is no doubt that Burn is solid in his defensive attributes but finding a player who can offer the progressive presence that Trippier provides on the right would be massively advantageous to Howe and could considerably improve the pressing machine that the manager has developed in every other area of the pitch.

Over 21 Liga Portugal appearances, Grimaldo has scored two goals, delivered six assists, and created a whopping 13 big chances, as well as averaging 86.4 touches, 50.5 accurate passes, 2.1 key passes, 1.1 successful dribbles, two tackles, and 4.7 duels won per game.

Meanwhile, Trippier has created 3.1 chances per match and produced 18 ‘big chances’ for his teammates in total, which shows that both players excel at making things happen in the final third on a regular basis.

Not only that, the Spanish sensation – hailed “incredible” by presenter Alexandra Jonson – ranks in the top 15% of his positional peers across the ‘Men’s Next Eight Competitions’ for non-penalty goals, assists, progressive passes, shot-creating actions and pass completion rate over the last 365 days, proving that he is extremely effective in progressive play.

When comparing Grimaldo with Burn over the season so far, it is clear that the Benfica ace would be a huge upgrade, outperforming the defender in a number of attributes including tackles and interceptions won (64 v 45), goal-creating actions (11 v 1), progressive passes (118 v 71) and ball recoveries (114 v 98).

Just like Trippier, the 27-year-old is extremely experienced in his position with 325 appearances tallied up in the left-back role, so not only can the powerbrokers at St James’ Park save millions by acquiring Grimaldo’s services for free but also add a player who is proven and confident in the position.

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Newcastle to secure the signing of Grimaldo this summer and if he can replicate his current output in the Premier League, it would add some great quality to the squad next season and could be a case of Trippier 2.0 for Howe.

Victor Orta has been spotted at Manchester airport heading to Belgium, suggesting that he could be sorting Leeds United’s move for Nicolas Raskin.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Raskin move

The 21-year-old has impressed for Standard Liege in the last 12 months, making 29 Jupiler Pro League appearances in 2021/22, chipping in with four assists from his defensive midfield role.

Raskin has been linked with a move to Leeds in recent days, as Jesse Marsch looks to fill the potential void left by Kalvin Phillips this summer.

Now, a fresh development suggests the Whites could be closer than ever to snapping up Raskin imminently.

The Latest: Orta’s airport trop hints at transfer

On Thursday, Leeds fan @Nathaniel2471 posted a photo on Twitter of himself and Orta at Manchester airport, with the Whites’ sporting director taking a flight to Belgium.

“Victor Orta in Manchester airport going Belgium”, the tweet read, accompanied by an all-important suggestive eyes emoji!

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The Verdict: Great summer addition

While there is no proof that Orta was flying to seal the signing of Raskin, it certainly seems like a coincidence at a time when Leeds are strongly linked with one of the Belgium top-flights stand-out performers.

If a deal can get over the line, the youngster could be an excellent signing by Jesse Marsch, providing a new combative presence in the middle of the park, particularly with Phillips possibly leaving and Stuart Dallas out with a long-term injury.

Raskin averaged 2.6 tackles per game in the league last season, a number higher than every Leeds player except Phillips, Dallas and Luke Ayling, and that all-action approach is needed in a team that leaked goals last term and could be without all three of those names come game-week one.

In other news, Orta is also believed to have stepped up his chase for another Leeds signing. Read more here.

The Athletic’s Chris Waugh has reacted to the latest transfer rumour linking Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles with a move away to newly promoted Premier League side Nottingham Forest.

The Lowdown: Lascelles falling down pecking order

Following the arrival of former Brighton defender Dan Burn at St. James’ Park, club captain Lascelles has fallen down the pecking order at Newcastle.

Since the closure of the January transfer window, the 28-year-old has made just nine appearances in the English top-flight, only five of which have come in Eddie Howe’s starting XI.

Considering the skipper had been a fixture in the side whenever fit before Howe’s arrival, it would be no surprise to see him go in search of regular playing time.

The Latest: Waugh’s reaction

Taking to Twitter, Newcastle journalist Chris Waugh shared The Athletic’s article linking Lascelles with a return to Nottingham Forest, eight years after he left the City Ground.

Reacting to the news, Waugh said: “Interesting on Jamaal Lascelles… NUFC may listen to a decent offer for their skipper.”

The Verdict: Losing a leader

Speaking about Lascelles after he was left out of his starting XI for the Magpies’ 1-0 loss against Everton, Howe claimed (via GeordieBootBoys): “His attitude has been spot on. He’s obviously our captain and he’s led like a captain even in a difficult moment for him because he would want to play every game.

“I always think that’s a true test of a leader is in the difficult moments, and I think Jamaal has been absolutely superb – he’s been positive in the changing room before the game, during training – I cannot speak highly enough of his reaction to that.”

Regardless of whether Lascelles is in Howe’s starting XI or not, the defender provides a leading presence in the dressing room at St. James’ Park, and we feel this could be a big loss for Newcastle even despite his of serious minutes this season.

In other news: Newcastle United: Magpies send scouts to watch Ben Nelson

Everton are set to make big changes this summer and have been linked with a number of players ahead of the transfer window, with a potential target now ruled out of a move to Goodison Park already.

What’s the latest?

According to football journalist Jacque Talbot, there is “no chance” that Manchester United midfielder James Garner will join Everton this summer.

Talbot tweeted;

“No chance James Garner goes Everton or Leeds. Man United won’t sell him permanently either.”

Supporters will be disappointed

The Toffees are in desperate need of reinforcements this summer following a poor Premier League season and signing a young talented player like Garner would have been a major coup for the club ahead of next season, so supporters will surely be disappointed.

The 21-year-old has had an impressive season at Nottingham Forest as a standout performer in the team that have now been promoted to the Premier League following a victory over Huddersfield Town in the play-off final at Wembley.

Garner scored four goals, delivered eight assists and created seven big chances as well as making 2 key passes, 1.4 interceptions and 1.8 tackles, winning the majority of his ground duels (53%), proving that he was a dominate force for Forest in both offensive and defensive play from his role in midfield.

Due to the difficult relegation battle, Frank Lampard will need to identify players that can come into the team and make an instant impact and Garner would have been an ideal move for the club on a loan deal from Old Trafford amid Everton’s reported financial troubles.

The urgency to find players that will be the right fit for the Toffees has been further heightened with rumours that Richarlison, Allan and Dominic Calvert-Lewin could make their move away from Merseyside this summer, so losing out on Garner early on with be a big blow for Farhad Moshiri in his attempts to add reinforcements.

Ultimately, the powers at Goodison Park have a lot of work to do during the transfer window to ensure they don’t find themselves in a similar situation as this season and will need to act quickly to make sure they can get the right players in as soon as possible.

AND in other news: Everton now plotting summer swoop for “infectious” £80k-p/w ace, imagine him & Gordon