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Reports earlier in the week by Sampiy10 claimed Everton are monitoring Christian Luyindama’s uncertain future at Galatasaray, but Marcel Brands would be barking up the entirely wrong tree by pursuing a January transfer of the DR Congo defender.

Everton are in the midst of a challenge for Champions League qualification under Carlo Ancelotti, having enjoyed their best start to a season since the 2013/14 campaign with 32 points after 17 games.

That season’s early efforts returned 34 points by the same stage of the campaign to sit level with Chelsea but in fifth on goal difference, and ultimately fell seven points shy of fourth-placed Arsenal after losing one in every three of their remaining 21 fixtures.

If this term is to end any different for Everton, Brands and Ancelotti ought to be utilising the winter market to strengthen the Italian’s squad with options who can prove the difference. However, Luyindama would more likely than not prove a wasted investment if signed.

Galatasaray are claimed to be open to parting company with Luyindama during the winter market amid claims of interest from Everton and Aston Villa, as the Turkish giants believe his departure will raise funds that can be put to better use elsewhere.

Yet the Turk Telekom Stadium natives will only sell for offers that exceed €10m (£9m), having seen head coach Fatih Terim utilise the 6 ft 3 titan in 65% of his starting line-ups, with Luyindama given opening roles in 11 of his 13 appearances in Super Lig fixtures ahead of Sunday’s derby with Besiktas.

Luyindama began the season as Terim’s first-choice option but lost his place in Cimbom’s backline after a 2-1 win at Sivasspor in November, which has helped Galatasaray to produce a title-chasing season with three points at Vodafone Park this weekend enough to move above their top-of-the-table rivals.

The likelihood of Luyindama moving to Goodison Park and improving Ancelotti’s defensive line would have to be questioned, especially in a season in which the Italian has a realistic chance of securing Everton’s return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2005/06 season.

Luyindama would not be arriving to offer any experience of playing for the best sides in Europe with his time at Galatasaray the highest level the 27-year-old has ever reached, while only ever making 15 outings on the international stage since making his DR Congo debut in 2017.

Yerry Mina may not have lasted long at FC Barcelona before departing the La Liga powerhouse in a £27m deal two-and-a-half years ago, playing just six times across all competitions, yet at least featured for the Camp Nou natives as they clinched the 2017/18 title.

He is now a firm fixture of Ancelotti’s backline, even though the Italian expects the occasional mistake from the 26-year-old, who has started 15 of Everton’s Premier League games, he would find himself hard done by to be displaced by Luyindama.

The Galatasaray man may be a colossus in the air with success in 3.6 duels a game in the Super Lig this term thanks to a 66% success rate, per SofaScore, enough to rank first at Goodison Park for the efforts of Everton’s current central defenders in Premier League games, but is not an unmovable force for opposition forwards.

Luyindama would rank last on the blue side of Stanley Park for successful tackles a game (0.6) if he were to bring his Super Lig performances to the Premier League, and would join Seamus Coleman as the only member of Ancelotti’s backline in having made errors that have led to opponents taking a shot.

Luyindama has also given away one penalty, which only Andre Gomes, Tom Davies and Ben Godfrey – when playing at left-back – have done to date in the English top-flight. Ancelotti further already has Godfrey, Mason Holgate and Michael Keane to contend with Mina for minutes after sanctioning a loan deal for Jarrad Branthwaite to join Blackburn Rovers for the rest of the season.

AND in other news, Everton have no reason not to sell a £7m outcast in the January transfer window.

Glasgow Rangers must give Leon Balogun a new contract as soon as possible.

Speaking after last Saturday’s Scottish Premiership win over Celtic, Steven Gerrard has made it clear he wants to retain the services of the Rangers defender, who has been in such fine form since he first arrived at Ibrox from Wigan Athletic in the summer.

The Light Blues boss said: “Leon is someone we want to keep hold of. He knows that, he is performing ever so well. He signed a contract with an option of an extension and we want him to be here beyond this season.”

Originally signed to provide injury cover for Nikola Katic, the Nigerian centre-back has been nothing short of a revelation since joining from the Latics on a free last year, even going so far as to supplant Filip Helander in the starting line-up.

Whilst Rangers have relied on several free-scoring players like James Tavernier, Kemar Roofe and Ryan Kent to steer them to the summit of the Scottish Premiership, it is the unsung heroes who should not go unnoticed for their contributions to the team’s title charge.

Take Balogun, for example. Under Gerrard, the 32-year-old has made 18 appearances across all competitions, scoring his debut goal for the Gers in the 4-0 victory over Aberdeen. But that’s not all, as he is currently averaging at least one tackle, one interception and one clearance per game in the Premiership, via WhoScored.

The Rangers manager struggled to contain his glee after Balogun put in a solid defensive shift against Lech Poznan in the Europa League to help his side earn their second straight win in Group D. He said: “He is an international player, he is very quick, he has got a fantastic profile, a profile that we like in that area, and he has come in and settled in really quickly and put in some real consistent performances.”

Ever the consummate professional, his importance to Gerrard’s Gers cannot be underestimated as he has become a colossal at the back. It does beg the question what would Gerrard do without him, but Rangers fans may not have to wait too long to find out, as his current deal will run out at the end of this season. Unless of course Ross Wilson gets his act together and offers him a new contract.

AND in other news, Rangers must secure Allan Campbell as a Scott Arfield alternative…

What Sunderland do in the January transfer market will be fascinating to witness.

One thing’s for certain, Lee Johnson and Kristjaan Speakman will look to sign a player that’s competent in attacking scenarios.

What’s the word?

Speaking last week about what he needed in his side, Johnson admitted that he could do with a player capable of stretching the play a bit more.

Of course, Jack Diamond’s introduction has helped somewhat with that but signing a more experienced professional certainly wouldn’t go amiss.

While this is all going on, Sunderland also have a takeover happening in the background. Prospective buyer William Storey outlined that if he sealed the deal, he’d look to bring in some Premier League players from respective U23 sides.

Thus, The Sunderland Echo have compiled a list of targets that could be available. One such player is Southampton’s Josh Sims.

The winger is currently on loan at Doncaster in League One but his deal with the club expires in January so may be available to move on loan elsewhere.

This deal depends on a host of things. Whether the Saints want to loan him again, or whether he just stays at Donny. Currently, Sims is rated at £1.4m.

The new Williams

Sunderland need to sign quick players in January and in Sims, they’d have their missing ingredient.

Speaking about the 23-year-old winger, Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “I think the system’s perfect for him. And he’s not so easy to defend, because he’s small, quick and has good movement.”

That must be music to the ears of supporters at the Stadium of Light, people who became accustomed to some laboured build-up play under Phil Parkinson.

However, most promisingly is his similarities to Jonny Williams. The Charlton attacker spent a period of time on loan with the Mackems in 2017/18 but unfortunately endured most of the season out injured.

That being said, when he did play, he demonstrated immense qualities with the ball at his feet. He was a creative spark and if he’d been fit all season, the Black Cats may have stayed in the Championship.

Sims has six strikes this season and has also created eight goals, and if we compare the two players more closely, there are clear similarities.

For Sunderland, Williams averaged one dribble per game while Sims is currently averaging 0.9 for Donny. Furthermore, they are both fouled with great regularity. The former was brought down 1.4 times a game during his spell in the north-east. Sims, on the other hand, is fouled 1.7 times a game.

Combine that with the fact they can play on either wing or through the middle and you have two creative players who can magic something out of nothing.

Sims would be an astute capture if Speakman can pull off a deal.

AND in other news, Storey would be staring at INSTANT disaster if Sunderland sign ace with “big energy”… 

When Manchester City allowed Douglas Luiz to join Aston Villa in 2019, it perhaps always seemed likely that the Brazilian would return once he started performing in the Premier League.

The Daily Star have reported recently that the Citizens are exploring the option of bringing him back to the club in January, following his impressive recent performances for Aston Villa.

Issues with the defensive midfielder’s work permit prevented him from making an appearance for the Citizens’ first-team during his time at the club and he opted to join Dean Smith’s side in a £15 million deal last summer (per BBC Sport).

Luiz joined City from Vasco da Gama in 2017 and after a two-year loan spell with Spanish side Girona, he finally departed for Villa, where he was able to secure a work permit.

Since then, the Brazilian has gone on to make 50 appearances for the Birmingham-based club, in which he has contributed three goals and four assists (per Transfermarkt).

His performances with Villa were enough to see him earn a call-up to the Brazilian national side, and he made his debut for Selecao in November of last year.

So far this season, the 22-year-old has appeared in all seven of Villa’s Premier League fixtures, in which he has provided one assist, with his performances earning him a solid average rating of 6.84 (per WhoScored).

Smith suggested last season that following the restart of the Premier League, the Brazilian had been “unbelievable” (per Hampshire Live), so he clearly holds him in high regard.

Unfortunately for the English manager, if City opt to activate their reported buy-back clause for Luiz, then there may not be much Aston Villa can do to keep him.

The youngster is perhaps touted as a long-term replacement for Fernandinho, with the 35-year-old’s best years certainly behind him now, and if he can have anywhere near the sort of impact the former Shakhtar Donetsk man has had during his time with the Citizens, then it will surely prove to be a good decision to bring him back.

If his impressive performances with the Villans continue, it certainly would not be a surprise to see him return to the blue half of Manchester in the near future.

Xherdan Shaqiri was linked with a move away from Liverpool throughout the summer transfer window and although no deal could be completed for the former Bayern Munich man, it looks as though he is still likely to depart in the near future, as he remains on the fringes of Jurgen Klopp’s squad.

Unfortunately for the German manager, and sporting director Michael Edwards, the 29-year-old’s performance for Switzerland against Spain on Saturday night showed signs that he may no longer cut it at the top level.

Although 10-man Switzerland were only pegged back in the 89th minute after a Gerard Moreno goal, the Liverpool man’s disappointing display must be cause for concern for those at Anfield.

As per SofaScore, the winger picked up a disappointing 6.6 rating for his display, losing possession eight times in the 72 minutes he was on the pitch.

Perhaps most worryingly though, was that he was able to make just 12 successful passes during his time on the pitch, suggesting that he was unable to have any real impact on the game.

The 29-year-old also had just 25 touches of the ball and missed one big chance during the game, so it is perhaps no surprise that he was substituted by Vladimir Petković.

If any potential suitors took note of that display, they may well be put off trying to sign the Swiss international in January or next summer, which could cause a headache for Klopp and Michael Edwards.

Since joining from Stoke City in the summer of 2018, Shaqiri has gone on to make just 46 appearances for the Reds, contributing eight goals and six assists (per Transfermarkt).

This season has seen the winger make just two substitute appearances in the Premier League, although he was able to contribute an assist in one of those games (per WhoScored).

The £14.4 million rated man did earn the praise of Pep Lijnders earlier in the season for his performance in the League Cup against Lincoln, with the Dutch assistant manager saying:

“He had a superb game against Lincoln in a different position to he is used to playing so that makes it even more recognisable and great.”

“Also, for himself, to play [after a difficult spell with injuries] and play in this manner. If we expect one thing from Shaq it is that he tries to dictate the game and search for attacking solutions and be involved in the build-up and creating.” (per Liverpool Echo)

Whilst he has had his memorable moments at Anfield, including a brace against Manchester United in the 3-1 win in December 2018, you would imagine that with the summer signing of Diogo Jota, he perhaps does not have much time left with the Merseyside outfit but this international performance will have done his chances of earning a move away from the Reds no favours whatsoever.

After yet another drab display in the Premier League saw Arsenal slip to an almost typical 1-0 defeat to Leicester City on Sunday night, there is still one lingering question that threatens to completely derail the Gunners.

Just how do they solve their creativity issue? As per WhoScored, their total of 8.8 shots per game is the fourth-worst record in the entire division – even Burnley are above them – and with Mesut Ozil not even being named in their 25-man squad, it’s something that Mikel Arteta is already having to face questions about.

Club legend Martin Keown even claimed that the Spaniard is making the same mistakes that Unai Emery did. Quite the turnaround from a couple of months ago when Arteta was on top of the world after clinching both the FA Cup and Community Shield.

But whilst the club may have missed out on a potential solution to their creativity problem in Lyon’s Houssem Aouar in the summer transfer window, they do have another player in their ranks who could hold the key: Emile Smith Rowe.

The academy product spent time on loan at Championship side Huddersfield last season, and the 20-year-old left a huge impression there, with Terriers boss Danny Cowley saying: “Emile is just a really lovely player, isn’t he? He has that ability to find space; he could find space in a telephone box; he speeds the play up for you and draws and commits and I think it would have been a brilliant performance if he had scored.

“I am always going to be demanding of him because, to me, he is a Premier League player so I have to treat him like that and demand Premier League standards from him – in training and in games, day in and day out.”

With the Gunners not really having another player in their ranks who looks capable of playing in between the lines and operating as a number ten – Ozil not included – Arteta could do a lot worse than unleashing Smith Rowe sometime soon.

The north Londoners have already seen a fellow academy product in Bukayo Saka flourish after being given a chance. Now is the time to do the same for Smith Rowe too.

Several Manchester United fans are unhappy with the club’s reported plans to offer a contract extension to Paul Pogba.

The Daily Mail reported that the Red Devils are set to activate a one-year option on the Frenchman’s contract in order to protect his value, with his current deal at Old Trafford set to expire in 2022. The news was later shared on Twitter by @utdreport.

While the club have yet to formally discuss a longer extension to the 27-year-old’s contract, they know that they have the safety net of extending his current deal (as per Daily Mail).

Pogba became the then-most expensive player in world football when he rejoined United from Juventus in 2016 for £89.2m and has scored 32 goals in 159 games for the club since then, as well as making the PFA Team of the Year in 2018/19.

However, the midfielder has also been a lightning rod for criticism from elements of the Old Trafford faithful for some mediocre performances and has been accused by some pundits of having attitude problems, with persistent rumours of a move away from the club. He also came under from numerous supporters over a less than stellar display in the recent defeat to Crystal Palace.

These United fans on Twitter voiced their opposition to the reported plans to extend his contract, with one supporter fearing that it will “get messy”:

Man United fans, what have you made of Pogba’s time at the club so far? Have your say by commenting below!

After signing him for a reported £15m, Newcastle were over the moon with Florian Thauvin’s arrival at St James’ Park in the summer of 2015.

Then Magpies boss Steve McClaren waxed lyrical about his new recruit, saying: “He is a perfect signing for this club – someone who is young, with great potential and is one of the best young players in Europe. He is an exciting, creative talent who can score goals and make assists, and we believe he will have a very bright future at Newcastle.”

Sadly for the Tyneside club, things didn’t quite pan out that way for Thauvin. The Frenchman struggled to adjust to life in English football, and in the end, made just 16 appearances for the club in his one lone season at St James’ Park.

Arguably his most iconic moment at Newcastle came when he turned up at the stadium in a tuxedo before the Magpies’ Premier League clash against West Ham – something club legend Alan Shearer didn’t take to kindly.

He slammed: “He turns up in a tux. This is a serious business we’re in here, it was funny on the first day of the season, it’s not funny any more. When Newcastle walked out they didn’t look focus or prepared, that was for the warm-up.

“Look at Nyom run past Thauvin. You might be able to do that in the French League, you can’t do that in the Premier League. You have got to track back.”

The 27-year-old would then re-join Marseille on a loan deal, before making that move permanent for a fee in the region of £9m. Thauvin has since shown the world that McClaren was absolutely right in seeing the potential in him all those years ago.

Now valued at £28.8m, the versatile winger has scored at least 15 league goals in every Ligue 1 season for the past three years, including a truly spectacular haul of 22 goals and 11 assists in the 2018/2019 campaign.

Whilst it’s difficult to blame Newcastle or Thauvin for why things failed to work out at St James’ Park – sometimes transfers can just be unpredictable – there’s no questioning that the France international has thrived.

And in other news, Newcastle must surely also regret selling this proven goal-scorer.

West Ham could do no wrong in adding a new central midfielder to David Moyes’ armoury this summer and they may have landed on the perfect candidate…

What’s the word?

According to the Sheffield Star, the Irons are one of several Premier League teams interested in goal-scoring Blades midfielder John Lundstram with the 26-year-old entering the final year of his contract at Bramall Lane.

It’s claimed that Chris Wilder is resigned to letting him leave this summer should he not agree to new terms with Burnley and Brighton also keen on his services.

There’s also a belief that they are lining up Reading’s John Swift as a potential replacement despite activiating the one-year option on the Englishman’s contract.

The Hammers could land themselves a bargain.

Lampard-esque midfielder

Moyes has already secured the loveable Tomas Soucek on a permanent deal but with Carlos Sanchez out the door and Mark Noble entering the twilight years of his east London career, it can’t hurt to add further options.

The 5 foot 11 enforcer delivered five goals and three assists from 26 starts this season, averaging 1.4 tackles, 1.3 clearances and 1.3 shots per game, via WhoScored.

Whilst this isn’t as prolific as former Hammers graduate Frank Lampard, he does still bear some similarities as a ruthless box-to-box type.

The Liverpool-born man has captained Oxford and some of the England youth teams and has that ability to pick a pass but also be tenacious in the tackle.

His performances this season has led to Wilder waxing lyrical on more than one occasion – against Palace in February, he was lauded as “outstanding” and then a month later, Lundstram was described as a “fantastic example of a professional player”.

Blades teammate Billy Sharp believes he’s a “real menace to other teams” and this is the sort of player who’d do well at the London Stadium in a similar vein to Noble, Lampard and so on.

Valued at just £7.2m by Transfermarkt, the Irons must swoop for Lundstram this pre-season.

AND in other news, Moyes ready to part with £45m star to fund new transfers

According to The Daily Mail, Newcastle are interested in Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha.

What’s the word?

The Ivory Coast international has long been linked with a move away from Selhurst Park, with reports last year suggesting that Arsenal were very much interested in luring him to the Emirates.

But, a move failed to materialise before the end of the deadline, leaving Zaha stuck with Palace. Now, The Daily Mail claim that the winger is primed for another summer of uncertainty, with the likes of Newcastle, Everton, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich all interested in securing his signature.

Can you name every one of the Magpies’ top goalscorers from the past 15 seasons? It’s a tricky one…

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

The report further adds that Steve Bruce’s side in particular are “monitoring” the situation, “though any move would likely be dependent on their protracted takeover”.

Exciting

With Zaha’s ability to play on either flank and even through the middle, the Magpies could well have an incredibly exciting attack of the Ivorian, Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron – the kind of fluid front three that could terrify most Premier League defences with their pace and directness.

In fact, Zaha’s Palace teammate James McArthur waxed lyrical about his abilities back in 2018, saying: “He is just unplayable at times and I wouldn’t like to be a defender playing against him. For us, he is a great asset when you can give someone the ball and he can run 40 yards with it.” Essentially, Zaha would bring a lot of the same characteristics that Saint-Maximin has in his locker.

In fact, his average of 4.5 dribbles per game in the Premier League this season is only bettered by two players: Wolves’ Adama Traore, and Saint-Maximin himself. Their abilities to play across the front-line could see them interchange positions, and make for the kind of modern forward-line used by the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona of yesteryear.

Zaha has been the standard-bearer at Palace for a number of years now, playing a whopping 359 games for the Eagles and scoring 57 times. Newcastle of course have had their own inspirational figure before in Hatem Ben Arfa, and the 27-year-old could bring that too.

Ben Arfa had his fair share of magic moments at St James’ Park, not least that wonderful solo goal against Bolton. Zaha is capable of similar magic, netting a beauty in Ivory Coast’s win over Russia. That ability to pick the ball up, drive forward but then deliver a superb finish is something the duo have shown in abundance. And so if Newcastle needed someone to be the final piece of their attacking jigsaw, then the Palace star could very well be that man.