Everton are tantalising hints of brighter fortunes under the tutelage of Sean Dyche, having spent much of the past two campaigns languishing in-and-around the Premier League relegation zone.
The Merseyside outfit remain in danger as the 2022/23 campaign enters the business end, but the January appointment of the former Burnley manager has cultivated a sense of optimism that top-flight status can be preserved yet again.
Three places but only two points above the relegation zone, the Toffees have avoided defeat across their past three outings and have in fact only lost three times from eight top-flight outings since Dyche magnificently beat table-toppers Arsenal in his first match at the helm.
In the most recent encounter, preceding the international break, Ellis Simms scored his first goal for the club in dramatic circumstances, restoring balance against Chelsea in the closing stages and earning the club a valuable point on the road, and with the 22-year-old finally unleashed after a string of loans since rising from the youth ranks, the prowess of Finch Farm academy is highlighted once again.
With this in mind, Everton's rugged boss would be wise to continue investing in youth and providing a platform for young stars to flourish, with one Jenson Metcalfe shining brightly ahead of an ostensible upgrade to the first-team fold.
Who is Jenson Metcalfe?
Hailed as "an energetic and technically-proficient central midfield player" by Everton's official website, Metcalfe has plied his trade at the outfit since he was 5-years-old, signing a new contract with the club in September 2022, keeping him on the books until 2026.
The 18-year-old has been impressing for the U18s, making 15 appearances in the U18 Premier League last season and scoring two goals and three assists from his industrious role.
The talented starlet suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury last year and has subsequently seen his recent progress hampered, though he returned in recent months to make three appearances for the U18s before being swiftly upgraded to Everton's U21 unit.
Everton manager Sean Dyche applauding the Toffees support.
Metcalfe is a self-professed admirer of Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets, with the club's website stating that the Spaniard is the prospect's "football idol".
Indeed, the teenager has previously stated: "I see myself as a tempo-setter, so I look up to Sergio Busquets. He’s so relaxed on the ball."
If the Evertonian, whose passing range is 'outstanding' – in the words of journalist Andy Hunter – can emulate the game of the 34-year-old, he will be in stellar stead to forge a career that will leave him a revered figure at Goodison Park.
Indeed, the great Spaniard has made an incredible 718 appearances for La Blaugrana, winning three Champions League trophies, eight La Liga titles and the World Cup and 2012 European Championships with Spain.
Busquets, whom long-time teammate Jordi Alba heralded for his "incredible leadership skills", has been the glue to hold his sides together over the years, scintillating in his robust and unnoticed work in the centre of the park, orchestrating as the anchor.
With WhoScored recording the 143-cap machine's average career passing accuracy at 90.8%, also making 2.5 tackles and 1.8 interceptions, there truly is no better positional peer for a "talented" – as praised by journalist Patrick Boyland – young midfielder such as Metcalfe to emulate the game of.
Glasgow Rangers’ transfer business under former director of football Mark Allen was mixed at best. The likes of Connor Goldson, Borna Barisic, and Joe Aribo have all been major successes in a Rangers jersey, with the Ibrox side even securing £10m for the Nigerian midfielder last summer.
However, there were more duds than success stories, with players such as Eros Grezda and Jake Hastie having next to no impact at the Light Blues and vast sums of money were wasted on transfer fees and wages during his two years at the club.
At the time, signing Filip Helander for £4m was looked upon as a deal that could benefit the Ibrox side for years to come, with the Swede aiming to form a solid defensive duo with Goldson.
Unfortunately, just three and a half years after his arrival, his valuation has plummeted due to a series of injuries that have seriously impacted his game time at the club.
What is Filip Helander worth now?
The 19-cap defender enjoyed a solid first two seasons at Rangers, playing 49 matches, and was an integral part of the side that secured the club’s first Premiership title in a decade during the 2020/2021 season.
Indeed, during that historic campaign, Helander featured in 22 league matches, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.1/10 and forming a partnership with Goldson that saw the Gers concede just 13 league goals, a British record.
The 6 foot 3 titan made 1.7 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, and 2.2 clearances per game while keeping 13 clean sheets and winning 68% of his total duels, underlining just how important he was to Steven Gerrard and the onus was on him to continue this rich vein of form into the 2021/2022 season.
What should have been the cementing of a fine defensive duo at the club barely got time to showcase its true potential, as since the title-winning season, Helander has missed 89 matches.
He hasn’t played at all this term and with his contract expiring at the end of the current season, it is highly unlikely that Michael Beale will retain his services, especially when he spends more time on the treatment table than the pitch.
It’s a pity his Ibrox career has ended like this, as when he signed, the player was looked upon as someone who could become a key part of the future, however, the move has turned into a blunder with him missing so many games.
Gerrard once described the 29-year-old as a “big asset to Rangers” however over the previous 18 months, he has become more of a hindrance and this has seen his value plummet from £4m down to just €0.8M (£710k) according to Football Transfers.
The Ibrox faithful will remember his part in the title-winning campaign, overall, however, Allen looks like he made a blunder spending that much on a player who has played just 60 times for the club.
Glasgow Rangers face a tricky away tie in the Premiership this afternoon as Michael Beale looks to maintain his unbeaten record in charge of the Ibrox side.
Their visit to Almondvale is their last fixture before the Viaplay Cup final in just eight days’ time, and with that presenting a chance for his first piece of managerial silverware, the Englishman may tinker slightly with his starting XI for today.
Indeed, with John Lundstram “touch and go” ahead of this afternoon’s clash at Livingston, and Nicolas Raskin and Ryan Jack both being assessed, it could give Glen Kamara the opportunity to come back into the starting line-up in Premiership action, having been brought on as a substitute for Rangers’ last top-flight match against Ross County.
Will Glen Kamara start against Livingston?
Considering the uncertainty surrounding three of his central midfielders, unleashing Kamara makes absolutely perfect sense for Beale, especially given some of the 27-year-old’s performances under him recently.
Against St Johnstone at the end of January, the Finland international put in arguably his finest display of the season so far.
His Sofascore rating of 7.8/10 ranked him second behind James Tavernier out of the Light Blues’ starting XI that day as he scored once, made three key passes, created a big chance, took 98 touches and made two tackles, looking revigorated under the 42-year-old following his struggles earlier in the season.
Just four days later against Hearts, the 27-year-old “monster” – as dubbed by Steven Gerrard upon Kamara’s arrival at Rangers in 2019 – put in yet another wonderful display.
Against the Jam Tarts, the Finnish colossus once again made two key passes and had a 92% pass success rate, which was crucial for the Gers to generate scoring chances, and he worked well alongside Lundstram in the Light Blues’ midfield engine room.
Despite his slender frame, the midfielder made four tackles and won 80% of his duels at Tynecastle, making good use of his physical presence. With Rangers likely to see plenty of the ball against Livingston, starting Kamara would make perfect sense.
The £21k-per-week gem was described as “perfect” by former Ibrox hero Neil McCann, and he could come in the starting XI with ease as Beale looks to rotate his squad. There is no doubt that the Finland dynamo could dominate Livingston and control the tempo of the game to suit Beale’s style of play.
A claim has emerged on Sunderland and one of their failed pursuits of a new striker to add to their squad during the January transfer window…
What’s the talk?
Hamburg centre-forward Andras Nemeth has confirmed that he rejected the chance to make the move to the Stadium of Light in favour of plying his trade in the second tier of German football – joining his current club for a fee in the region of €750k (£669k) from Genk.
Speaking to HSV24, the youngster said: “With Sunderland it was very concrete. But I made the decision to come to Hamburg because I think the project here is better for me and my development.”
The Sunderland Echo claimed that the forward was a ‘key target’ for the club as the gem had been identified as a ‘future star’ after extensive scouting in the build-up to the window, but Kristjaan Speakman was unable to convince him to sign for Tony Mowbray’s side after talks.
January howler
Speakman endured a howler with this failed swoop for the Hungary international as the Black Cats chief seemingly did not do enough to tempt the attacker into rejecting Hamburg.
Nemeth’s comments suggest that the German side mapped out a better long-term vision for his development as a player with that an indication Sunderland did not do enough to convince him that moving to Wearside was the best move for his growth.
Therefore, the club’s sporting director could potentially have done a better job of selling the prospect of playing for Mowbray’s side in the years to come.
Their error in doing so has only been exacerbated because of the events that have played out since the turn of the year. Indeed, Joe Gelhardt, who joined on loan from Leeds last month, is the only senior striker option heading into the second half of the season.
Ross Stewart has been ruled out of the remainder of the Championship campaign and Ellis Simms was recalled by parent club Everton, to help with their battle against relegation from the Premier League, at the start of January.
Gelhardt has played less than 100 matches in his senior career and the Mackems are asking a lot of the talented youngster to be Mowbray’s only number nine between now and May.
Bringing in another talented youngster, particularly one such as Nemeth, could have eased the burden on the Leeds loanee by adding to the club’s options in the final third.
The 20-year-old Hamburg striker, who talent scout Jacek Kulig once hailed as “complete”, has already scored his first goal in the second division in Germany, despite playing 12 minutes of football, after scoring three goals and providing one assist in four starts in the Pro League for Genk since the start of last season.
Nemeth, who has scored once in his solitary appearance for Hungary at senior level, is a promising young marksman who has shown that he has the potential – after also finding the back of the net eight times in 11 matches for his country at U21 level – to be a reliable goalscorer as his development continues.
Therefore, Sunderland may live to regret their failure to sign the talented gem, in the immediate future and the long term, with Speakman now potentially left to ponder what else he could have done to convince the 20-year-old.
In 2018, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp would have been licking his lips in anticipation of the impending confirmation of Nabil Fekir’s transfer to the club, in a deal that collapsed like a dilapidated barn at the 11th hour.
Indeed, in June 2018, right before the World Cup in Russia, The Guardian reported that the Merseyside giants had agreed a fee to sign Olympique Lyonnais’ Fekir for €60m (£53m) following the club’s 3-1 defeat in the Champions League finale to the hands of the imperious Real Madrid.
Despite completing the lion-share of formalities and even conducting interviews ahead of the official announcement of the transfer, Fekir was left dismayed after Liverpool decided to pull the plug on the prospective acquisition, citing concerns over a long-term knee injury that has plagued the 29-year-old throughout the duration of his career.
Following the collapsed deal, Fekir would go on to play his final season in Ligue 1, scoring 12 goals and providing nine assists from 39 appearances across all competitions, before later moving to La Liga outfit Real Betis for an initial fee of only £17.5m, where he plys his trade to this day.
The exact reason that Liverpool decided to steer clear of the transfer remains a contentious topic, but undoubtedly, his dynamism and creativity from midfield would only enhance the current crop of beleaguered Merseyside players.
Liverpool’s desire for a midfielder has been a prominent fact this season, and one can’t help but wonder if Fekir had been granted his transfer in 2018, there might be a spark from the centre that the outfit does not quite wield right now.
Fekir, who has an impressive return of 96 goals and 72 assists across 327 appearances at club level, has cast aside the previous trepidation surrounding the strength of his knee and has managed to restrict his time shackled to the medical department to but a handful of matches each campaign, indeed emerging as one of Betis’ most integral cogs.
The £26m-rated playmaker, who has won the World Cup with France – weeks after the Liverpool deal collapsed – and the 2020/21 Copa del Rey with Betis, has recorded an impressive average career match rating of 7.26, as per WhoScored, indicating a stellar consistency that would have left Anfield “like fire” – in the words of Sadio Mane – with the burning intensity of his labours.
And over the past year, as per FBref, the “incredible” gem – as once dubbed by former Brazilian forward Malcom – ranks among the top 2% of positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions, 9% for dribbles completed and the top 12% for passes attempted – which highlights the level of progressive play and attacking emphasis that would only enhance the fortunes of the Reds.
With all of this in mind, Liverpool and FSG will undoubtedly rue their mistake as his particular skill set is exactly what Jurgen Klopp craves at present, and had they signed the ominous clouds that linger over Anfield may have never materialised.
Scottish champions Celtic are reportedly closing in on their fourth signing of the January transfer window…
What’s the word?
According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, the Old Firm giants are believed to have struck a deal to sign Suwon Bluewings striker, Oh Hyeon-gyu, with a fee of around £2.5m having been agreed upon for the 21-year-old.
Writing on Twitter regarding that developing story, the transfer insider revealed: “Celtic have agreed a £2.5m deal with Suwon Bluewings to sign striker Hyeon-Gyu Oh. The South Korea international, 21, has verbally agreed personal terms and is expected to finalise the move this week.”
That seemingly imminent move comes amid the uncertainty surrounding the future of fellow forward Giorgos Giakoumakis at Parkhead, with the Greece international having been mooted for a move to J-League side, Urawa Red Diamonds of late.
Postecoglou must be ‘incredibly excited’
Even without the potentially impending exit of the current Hoops marksman, there had been reports back in November that the Glasgow side were seeking to bolster their attacking ranks even further, with manager Ange Postecoglou seemingly set to continue his bid to keep improving his title-winning squad.
The addition of the aforementioned Oh could well prove a particularly astute capture for the 57-year-old, with the 6 foot 1 starlet having blossomed in his native Korea in recent times.
The one-cap international has proven himself a clinical presence in front of goal in his embryonic senior career to date, having scored 14 goals in 53 games for his current side, while also netting nine goals and laying on six assists in 40 games while on loan at Gimcheon Sangmu.
The most recent K-League campaign saw the emerging asset net 11 times in 32 league games, having enjoyed a particularly impressive end to the season with eight goals in his last ten top-flight games.
That sparkling form has unsurprisingly caught the attention of those at Celtic Park, with it looking as if he is set to progress even further in the years to come.
Such is Cho’s standout talent, journalist Jason Lee only recently stated that he is “incredibly excited” at the prospect of the Korean making the move to Scotland, with the same likely to be said of Postecoglou who will have the chance to help nurture and develop yet another impressive youngster.
With fellow forward, Kyogo Furuhashi currently delivering the goods with 20 goals in all competitions already this season, it will be a mouthwatering prospect to have even greater competition in the attacking ranks with the addition of the Suwon sensation.
Journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed that Liverpool have not placed a bid for midfielder Enzo Fernandez due to his ‘crazy’ transfer valuation.What’s the latest?After a brilliant World Cup where the Benfica man not only won the tournament but was also named the competition’s best young player, the 21-year-old has been linked with a big January move.For instance, according to reports in Italian media, Liverpool were preparing a notable bid for Fernandez in the hopes of signing him this winter.However, any rumours of the club’s interest reaching that stage may have been a little premature. Indeed, according to Jacobs, the Reds ‘never went in’ for the player due to the expected cost.He told the Born And Red podcast: “Liverpool never placed a bid. I know there are some reports out there that say to the contrary, but my Liverpool sources have categorically stated that they never went in for Enzo Fernandez because they know the valuation is crazy.”£106m player?Reports suggest that Benfica have a £106m release clause – having only signed the River Plate for an initial €10m (£8.8m) last summer – as they had no intention of selling him any time.Even so, after his stunning displays in Qatar at the World Cup, Fernandez has become one of the hottest properties in the game. What’s more, Liverpool have long been said to be in the market for a new midfielder.Still, it seems as though the Argentine just isn’t a realistic target for the Reds and so he may well be about to join Premier League rivals Chelsea instead. At least there is still hope for Jude Bellingham of course.
Tottenham Hotspur are edging closer to completing the signing of Atalanta’s Ruslan Malinovskyi, according to reports from Italy.
The Lowdown: Conte eyes Malinovskyi
Malinovskyi has been a long-term target of Antonio Conte, with Italian outlet Il Giorno previously reporting that Tottenham representatives were working on a deal at the start of November, via Daily Express.
Further details have now been brought to light, indicating that the move could be close to being concluded…
The Latest: Getting closer
As per Calciomercato, the Ukrainian’s current club were initially holding out for a fee in the region of €18m (£15.5m) to part with him, but they would now be willing to settle for €15m (£12.9m).
Other interested suitors Marseille are also said to be distant in regards to a switch, paving the way for Spurs to sign him in the January transfer window.
With the 29-year-old seemingly unwilling to commit to extending his stay with Atalanta beyond 2023, the Serie A side’s loss could be Spurs’ gain, as he would be a fantastic attacking midfield option for Conte.
Hailed as having a ‘wondrous left foot’ by journalist Emmet Gates, the £19k-per-week ace is a forward-thinking player, always trying to drive his team on by moving the ball forward, as indicated by an average of 5.72 progressive passes per 90 minutes over the past year, placing him in the 96th percentile.
In their pursuit of Champions League football, Tottenham could do with some fire attacking firepower, which the Ukrainian would almost certainly deliver, registering a stunning 20 goal contributions in 36 appearances in the 2020/21 Serie A season.
Although he is likely to play second fiddle to the likes of Dejan Kulusevski and Heung-min Son, Malinovskyi would provide excellent depth to Conte, and the reported price of just £12.9m seems an absolute steal for a player of his calibre.
Liverpool have been credited with an interest in Yunus Musah and now a new update has emerged on the club’s pursuit of the player ahead of the transfer market reopening next month.
What’s the latest?
According to 90min, Liverpool have now made contact with the Valencia and USMNT midfielder’s representatives to register their interest in the player ahead of the January transfer window.
As per the report, the Reds are joined in their efforts by fellow Premier League club Chelsea who have also made contact with those managing Musah’s future after the player had an impressive World Cup campaign with his national team.
It is also claimed that Valencia have now opened contract talks with the American in an attempt to fend off the mounting interest emerging from the Premier League.
Naby Keita replacement
It is no secret that Liverpool are in desperate need of reinforcements in the centre of the pitch which has been heavily reflected in their performances over the Premier League season so far.
The Merseyside giants are currently sixth in the league table after a run of inconsistent form and disappointing displays that have left them unable to challenge at the highest level to compete for the title with Manchester City and Arsenal, with the latter currently 15 points ahead of Liverpool at the top of the tree.
Liverpool have a number of midfielders that are coming into their last six months of their contracts at the club with James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain currently set to leave Anfield at the end of the season.
As a result, the Reds could have a brilliant opportunity in their pursuit for Musah’s signature and could sign the perfect replacement to fill the boots of Keita should he leave the club either in January or at the end of his contract in the summer.
The £86m-valued youngster has been capturing the attention of the world during his international campaign in Qatar at the World Cup with the USMNT, and his output has been so impressive, giving interested clubs a glimpse of his talents and capabilities.
Over four World Cup appearances, Musah – who was hailed the “real deal” by CBS Sport writer Ives Galarcep – won possession back 23 times, won eight tackles and prevailed in a whopping 18 duels, proving his combative force.
Furthermore, he has thrived offensively, making 13 passes into the final third, 12 passes into the opponent’s box, attempted ten take-ons, took four shots on goal and created three big chances.
Unfortunately, Musah’s hard work wasn’t enough to secure the USA their spot in the quarter-finals as they were knocked out by the Netherlands in the round of 16 earlier this week. However, the powers at Anfield should have seen enough to know that the 20-year-old midfielder is a star worth capturing.
With that being said, the signing of Musah would be a great piece of business for Liverpool in their midfield rebuild over the coming months ahead, but FSG will need to make a lucrative and tempting offer to secure his services over their competitors also interested in signing the player.