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Everton have suffered the worst injury crisis in the Premier League this season which has ultimately led to many of their first team’s players being sidelined whilst the squad has struggled to pick up points.

Frank Lampard’s side are currently two points deep into the relegation zone sitting in 18th with just five games remaining to seal their fate, the potential of losing their top-flight status is at an all-time high, but now they have had an unexpected injury boost that could have a positive impact in keeping their safety hopes alive.

Tom Davies returned this weekend to the Everton bench against Chelsea at Goodison Park after suffering what was thought to be a season-ending knee injury, and his speedy recovery has stunned many.

Liverpool Echo journalist Joe Thomas tweeted: “Incredible effort from Tom Davies to get back into Everton matchday squad ahead of expectations.

“A surprise spot on the bench for him today – his injury was deemed so severe he was not even registered in Premier League squad in January, only returning after Gbamin left on loan.”

The Merseyside born midfielder’s return to action has given Lampard another lifeline in his pursuit to keep hold of Premier League football at the club this season, and the Toffees boss has revealed how he can play his part in the final fixtures.

Lampard told reporters (via Liverpool World):

“He’s been on the training pitch now for a couple of weeks and is so dedicated to the cause. It comes out of his veins, you can see it.

“Hopefully, he can contribute in the final, latter part of the season.”

Davies has only made five appearances in the league this season but was hugely effective in the centre of the pitch during his few performances, scoring once and proving successful in 100% of his dribbles and 59% of his duels combined, proving that he has the potential to be a promising force if he can get the opportunity to play again this season.

Ultimately, Lampard must do everything that he can in his few remaining opportunities to pick up points and save Everton from relegation this season and having Davies available to positively impact his side will surely be a huge relief and boost to the squad ahead of the last few weeks.

AND in other news: Source: Major EFC transfer development emerges that’ll leave supporters infuriated

Everton will travel to the West Midlands today to continue their fight against relegation this season, and Frank Lampard will surely be hoping that his side can emulate the fighting spirit shown in their victory against Chelsea last weekend.

After Burnley lost to Aston Villa yesterday, it has given the Toffees another golden opportunity to secure their safety in the Premier League and a win today could take them out of the bottom three, one point clear of their relegation competitors.

In terms of injuries, Lampard has ruled out Donny van de Beek alongside sidelined teammates Andros Townsend, Ben Godfrey and Nathan Patterson, however, Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be in contention to start this afternoon as he returns from a minor quadriceps injury.

With that being said, this is how Football FanCast expects Everton to line up at the King Power Stadium this afternoon…

We expect the Blues boss to make just one change to his team that beat Chelsea last weekend, with a 4-3-3 formation deployed against Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Despite not scoring since last August, Calvert-Lewin’s presence in the team will be hugely welcomed in the tough tie this afternoon, and his inclusion in the team allows his Brazilian strike partner Richarlison to reprise his role in his best position on the left-wing.

The £72k-per-week star who was hailed “cold” by Carlo Ancelotti has struggled with injuries throughout the season only managing 14 appearances so far, but with more goals (56) than any other player in the squad for the Toffees, the chances of the striker converting something against Leicester are higher even after an almost nine-month goal drought.

With that being said, it means that we predict Demarai Gray will lose his spot in the starting line-up to accommodate a spot for the returning centre forward.

The 25-year-old dud had a great start to the season and remains the third highest goal contributor in the squad, however, has not been able to maintain his goal-scoring form and has been unable to find the back of the net since he scored against Arsenal in December. Therefore, we expect that Lampard will drop the winger to the bench, but could easily make an appearance if the team find themselves chasing a goal.

Ultimately, there is no margin for error in the game today away from home and Lampard cannot take anything less than all three points from their trip to Leicester this afternoon if they want to maintain their chances of staying up in the Premier League next season.

AND in other news: Everton handed huge boost ahead of Leicester clash, Lampard will be buzzing

Aston Villa have held a fresh round of negotiations with Marseille’s Boubacar Kamara ahead of the summer transfer window, as per a report from The Daily Mail’s Simon Jones and Lee Davey.

The lowdown

Villa are able to negotiate pre-contract terms with the 22-year-old, whose deal is due to expire in the summer. Marseille, who ‘desperately need’ to reduce their wage bill, are resigned to losing the player.

Kamara is predominantly a defensive midfielder but he can also play as a centre-back, while Steven Gerrard and Villa chief executive Christian Purslow watched him in action against Nantes last month.

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The latest

The Daily Mail’s report states that Villa have held ‘further talks’ with the player’s entourage. Atletico Madrid are also courting Kamara, but he has expressed a desire to play in the Premier League.

Villa want to address the defensive midfield position quickly and also have Atletico’s Geoffrey Kondogbia, Brighton’s Yves Bissouma and Leeds’ Kalvin Phillips on their shortlist.

Once that position is resolved, sporting director Johan Lange can then move on to adding another defender and a striker.

The verdict

Would Gerrard have been impressed by what he saw from Kamara on 20 April?

The statistics from Sofascore certainly suggest so. The Frenchman was at the centre of the action that night, recording the second-most touches (124) in the match behind Arsenal loanee William Saliba (125).

He was solid out of possession, winning six of the nine duels that he contested, and also effective with the ball. Kamara successfully completed six out of eight long passes and 104 overall (94% accuracy), created a ‘big chance’ and even won a penalty for his team. It was truly an all-action display.

The £22.5m-rated maestro has been billed as ‘one of the best youngsters in Europe’ by European football expert Alex Barker, so his signing would surely be greeted with great excitement by Villa fans if the club can pull it off.

In other news, Steven Gerrard has made a ‘very important’ addition.

Celtic have their final Premiership game of the season this afternoon as the newly-crowned league champions welcome Motherwell to Parkhead.

Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against Dundee United was enough to confirm Ange Postecoglou’s side as the top dogs in Scotland and reclaim the league title.

Looking ahead to today’s showdown against Motherwell, it gives the home supporters one more chance to see their heroes in action before the season ends and celebrate the Premiership triumph.

On the chalkboard

Before the full celebrations can begin, the Hoops and Postecoglou will want to finish the season with another victory.

In terms of the starting XI, one man who didn’t start in midweek but should be in the team on this occasion is Jota.

After replacing James Forrest just after the hour mark at Tannadice, the Portuguese wizard – who was praised by Postecoglou for his “unbelievable” performances earlier in the season – had 25 touches of the ball.

With those touches, the winger completed 10 passes, had two shots at goal and won four of his five duels. This shows just how much of an attacking nuisance he can be for the Bhoys.

Since arriving at the Parkhead club on loan from Benfica, the 23-year-old has scored 12 goals and provided 14 assists in 39 games across all competitions.

To further highlight how deadly he has been for the Hoops, David Turnbull is the only player currently in the Celtic squad with a higher average for shots and crosses per game in the league this season than the Portuguese winger.

In terms of who the forward could replace, the fact that Liel Abada went off with an injury in midweek could pave the way for the 23-year-old to come back in if the Israel winger isn’t fit enough to play.

Also, in addition to being able to terrify Motherwell with his attacking prowess, another reason for Postecoglou to start Jota this afternoon is to give him what could potentially be his final game for the Hoops before he returns to his parent club in Lisbon.

However, this chance to end the season playing in front of the celebrating home fans could also sway the loan star into wanting to stay at the club and sign for Celtic on a permanent basis should Benfica allow it, which would be something extra for the fans to savour at Parkhead.

In other news: Postecoglou must axe wasteful £14.5k-p/w Celtic ace, he’s holding the team back

Manchester City have seen numerous important players leave in recent years such as Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Vincent Kompany among others who have all been crucial to the club’s previous domestic dominance.

Now that their latest Premier League season is almost over and the club have the chance to add another league title to their cabinet, the next summer transfer window is also close to opening.

While it has been confirmed that Fernandinho will be waving goodbye to the club after nine years of service, an update has emerged regarding the future of another important figure in the squad which will surely have Pep Guardiola buzzing.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from ESPN, the Citizens are “expecting” midfielder Ilkay Gundogan to remain at the club this summer after it was recently reported that he had been told by the club’s hierarchy that he could leave.

The report also said that “sources close to the club insist the midfielder has not expressed a desire to leave and the expectation is that the 31-year-old will stay until at least the end of his deal in 2023.”

Good news for Pep

Since joining the Manchester club back in the 2016 summer transfer window, the midfielder has gone on to make 252 appearances across all competitions.

In those appearances, the former Borussia Dortmund star has scored 47 goals, provided 33 assists and helped his side win several trophies in the process.

To further highlight the German’s importance to City, out of the 11 Premier League games that he hasn’t appeared in this season, Guardiola’s side have dropped points in six of them.

This shows that the Citizens are arguably a better side with him in the team rather than out of it.

With that in mind and the fact that City will already have to be on the lookout to bring a new midfielder in to replace Fernandinho this summer, having Gundogan stay in the squad for another season will be a big weight off the club’s shoulders

With the midfielder’s current contract at the Etihad Stadium set to expire in the summer of 2023, it’ll now be up to the club to decide when they discuss what the future could hold for the long-serving German.

In other news: Man City eyeing swoop for “immense” £60m “destroyer”, he’s better than Fernandinho

Newcastle United are reportedly set to have a free run at Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, as fellow suitors Arsenal prioritise a deal for Gabriel Jesus.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Football Insider, who claim that the Magpies have been ‘given new encouragement’ regarding a deal for the England international, with their main competitors – the Gunners – focusing on their bid to sign the Brazilian Manchester City ace.

The report suggests that talks have been held between the St James’ Park outfit and the 25-year-old’s representatives, while the Merseysiders are seemingly open to a sale as they look to begin a much-needed squad rebuild under Frank Lampard ahead of next season.

While previous rumours have suggested that it could take as much as £70m to prize Calvert-Lewin from Goodison Park, the report outlines that a £45m offer would likely be accepted.

Better than Ekitike

A new centre-forward addition appears high on the agenda for Eddie Howe and co this summer, with one – or even perhaps two – new faces set to walk through the door, with Reims teenager Hugo Ekitike another name who could be on his way to Tyneside.

Although both could be added to the former Bournemouth managers’ squad ahead of next term, should it become a case of one or the other it would be wise for PIF to favour the more senior forward, with the £37.8m-rated marksman having shone for the Toffees in recent seasons.

Despite a gruelling, injury-hit 2021/22 campaign, the £72k-per-week striker had previously been a lethal presence for his current club, netting 29 Premier League goals in just two seasons under Carlo Ancelotti.

Having been less than prolific prior to the Italian’s appointment, even the serial-winning coach was forced to admit his “surprise” at the flurry of goals from the 11-cap international, as the former Sheffield United man eventually blossomed into a key player for the now Real Madrid boss.

Ekitike, by contrast, has caught the eye for his form in the most recent campaign after netting ten Ligue 1 goals, although is still raw in terms of top-flight experience, with it set to be a real gamble to fork out the reported £38m fee on a player who has never played in England.

Not that Calvert-Lewin is simply just a safe pair of hands, having showcased his lethal finishing prowess in recent years, leaving that man Ancelotti to dub him “cold” for his unerring composure in front of goal.

Having also been compared to Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo by former Everton assistant Davide Ancelotti – Carlo’s son – Howe and co are seemingly set to have a real genuine talent on their hands should they progress their interest.

Ekitike remains something of an unknown quantity, while Calvert-Lewin is the real deal.

IN other news, Eddie Howe can now help NUFC sign “spectacular” £64m “nightmare”, he’s better than Saint-Maximin

Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Rasmus Kristensen to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Phil Hay’s latest report for The Athletic, in which the journalist claims that, with Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas both having lengthy spells on the sidelines ahead of them, Jesse Marsch is interested in the signing of a new right-back in the summer market – with Red Bull Salzburg’s Rasmus Kristensen believed to be a top target of the 48-year-old.

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Hay goes on to state that the Whites have been closely following the 24-year-old in recent months ahead of a potential move this summer, while Brentford and Borussia Dortmund are also mentioned as interested parties in the Denmark international – for whom Salzburg are believed to be demanding a £10m fee in order to part with in the coming weeks.

“Absolute leader”

Considering Marsch’s lack of depth on the right of his Leeds backline, coupled with the fact the American has a previous relationship with Kristensen, it is easy to see why the Whites would be interested in a move for the Dane this summer.

Indeed, over his 29 Austrian Bundesliga appearances this season, the £13.5m-rated full-back highly impressed, scoring seven goals, registering four assists and creating seven big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.4 shots, making 1.2 key passes and completing 1.3 dribbles per game.

The £14k-per-week defender also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, helping Salzburg keep 13 clean sheets, in addition to making an average of 1.1 interceptions, 1.3 tackles, 1.4 clearances, 36.1 passes, 4.3 long balls and winning 5.7 duels – at a success rate of 60% – per fixture.

These returns saw the player who Matthias Jaissle dubbed an “absolute leader” average a rather breathtaking SofaScore match rating of 7.31, not only ranking him as Salzburg’s second-best performer in the league but also as the fourth-best player in the division as a whole.

As such, it is clear to see just how impressive a signing the former Ajax starlet – who broke Michael Laudrup’s win percentage record during his time in the Netherlands – would be for Orta to get over the line this summer, as Kristensen’s presence on the right of Marsch’s backline would undoubtedly be a terrifying prospect for left-wingers up and down the country.

AND in other news: Leeds eyeing bid for “unreal” £20k-p/w talent, he’d be an “absolutely beauty” for Orta

West Ham United are believed to be interested in a move for Bologna defender Arthur Theate, according to reports in Italy.

What’s the word?

As per Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sports Witness), the Hammers have been handed a boost in their pursuit of the centre-back, as the 22-year-old ‘could be sacrificed’ by the Serie A outfit if manager Sinisa Mihajlovic opts for a change in formation next term.

The Belgium international only joined his current side, initially on loan, from Oostende last summer, although could well be moved on in the upcoming window, with the Hammers, who like the player, potentially set to be able to secure his services for roughly €10m (£8.5m), as per the report.

This follows previous speculation that the Premier League side had been offered the chance to sign the two-cap gem, as David Moyes seeks to bolster his defensive ranks ahead of next term.

Bye-Bye Diop

With rumours abound that the east London outfit are also closing in on the signing of Rennes centre-back Nayef Aguerd, it would suggest that the centre of defence has become something of a priority for GSB, with the club in need of both depth and quality.

That fact has been heightened by the concerning fall from grace for 25-year-old Issa Diop, the once-promising Frenchman having been restricted to just ten league starts in the most recent campaign, while he only made 15 top-flight starts the season before.

Once dubbed a “monster” by former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho, the £61k-per-week brute has endured a sad slump of late, having simply slid down the pecking order under Moyes behind the likes of Craig Dawson and Kurt Zouma.

When he has featured, however, the former Toulouse man – who joined the Irons on a then club-record £22m deal in 2018 – has largely failed to take his chance, averaging just a 6.69 average match rating in the league in the 2021/22 season – the 17th-lowest record among the West Ham squad.

Equally, in comparison to his fellow centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues he also fares poorly, notably ranking in just the top 78% for tackles made, the top 74% for aerials won, as well as only the top 90% for progressive passes, illustrating his struggles both in and out of possession.

By contrast, Theate compares far more favourably to his continental peers, ranking in the top 14% for pressures made and the top 15% for interceptions, while with the ball at his feet he has all shone, ranking in the top 6% for dribbles completed and the top 15% for progressive carries.

The “old school” defender – as he has been dubbed by Italian football Conor Clancy – has that unique ability to provide a rock-solid defensive presence as well as being comfortable in playing out from the back, a quality that only further enhances the bargain nature of his rumoured transfer fee.

There may be concerns as to why his current side are potentially so willing to cash in, although on the evidence of the past year or so it would be no major risk were GSB to strike a deal, with Theate seemingly a player who is only set to progress even further.

As for that man Diop, it would appear that his race is run in English football, with the player – who was once reportedly the subject of a £45m bid from the Red Devils – now valued at just £10.8m, a stark illustration of his decline.

IN other news, “Another target…”: Ex drops big WHU summer transfer claim that supporters will love

Journalist Matt Maher is expecting Aston Villa to make more signings this summer, but not at centre-back.

The Lowdown: Olsen signed permanently

Villa have already secured permanent deals for deals for Philippe Coutinho, Boubacar Kamara and Diego Carlos, and they have now added a fourth in Robin Olsen.

Like Coutinho, the Sweden international has made his temporary stay in the Midlands a full-time move following an initial loan spell, with Villa announcing the news on Saturday.

It is believed that the goalkeeper, who made his debut for the club on the final day of the Premier League season against Manchester City, has cost Villa around €3.5m (£3m).

The Latest: Maher’s Villa transfer claim

Maher, chief writer at The Express and Star, took to Twitter on Friday evening to report the imminent move for Olsen.

He added that Villa supporters should ‘expect more incomings’ this summer, but he claimed that another new ‘centre-back isn’t on the agenda’ at Villa Park.

The Verdict: Time to look elsewhere…

It was reported that Villa held talks with Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski towards the end of May ahead of a possible free transfer.

Carlos has since made the move to the Midlands and will become the fifth senior centre-back available to Steven Gerrard, which means that the Clarets defender probably won’t be following suit.

Therefore, provided that Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa, Calum Chambers and Kortney Hause all remain at the club, Villa chiefs may be better off looking at other areas of the pitch, with a new striker seemingly on the radar after links with Luis Suarez.

In other news: Sky Sports pundit now drops ‘crazy’ Luis Suarez claim after what he’s heard from Villa Park

Liverpool have potentially taken another vital step in securing the services of Barcelona midfielder Gavi ahead of next season.

What’s the word?

That’s according to La Porteria (via Forbes), who stated that the La Liga club offered a new contract to the 17-year-old in the region of €2m (£1.7m) per year, which he promptly rejected. The youngster reportedly wants a contract for four seasons, with the salary increasing after every year.

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Liverpool are willing to more than quadruple this offer from the Spanish giants and could pay the player’s €50m (£42.5m) release clause now, even though they could land Gavi for free next year.

Jurgen Klopp would love  him

Despite Liverpool having one of their best seasons in recent memory, Klopp is still looking at strengthening his squad ahead of another tilt at Premier League and Champions League glory next year.

With the Anfield club in the market for a central midfielder this summer, the interest in Gavi appears to be leading to a potential move.

With Liverpool missing out on one of their main targets in Aurelien Tchouameni, who looks increasingly likely to be joining Real Madrid, Klopp is quickly moving on to other players on his radar.

At just 17, Gavi has already shattered records, recently becoming the youngest-ever scorer for Spain, and he has been described as “spectacular” by his club manager Xavi following a performance against Elche in which he scored his first Barcelona goal.

The midfielder played in 34 La Liga matches last season, scoring twice and registering six assists in what was a breakthrough campaign for the £54m-rated teenager.

The teenage sensation ranks in the top 2% compared to positional peers in the top five European leagues for touches in the attacking penalty area (3.59 per 90) and in the top 6% for dribbles completed (1.56 per 90), illustrating at a young age that his focus is to break forward as much as possible.

He can also be effective in helping his team defensively, as the Spain international made 44 tackles and 573 pressures last season.

Klopp shouldn’t be waiting to get the player next year on a free transfer, as these statistics suggest that Gavi already has what it takes to succeed in the Premier League. At £42.5m, it’s a bargain not to be missed; and given the youngster’s extraordinary talents at such a young age, the Liverpool manager would surely love to have him alongside Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho as astute teenage swoops.

AND in other news, James Pearce drops “laughable” Liverpool transfer development, FSG will be furious